As the old saying goes that nothing is certain in life but death and taxes, I think it’s fair to add that Sir David Attenborough narrating a heartfelt moment between a gorilla and her newborn baby is sure to bring a tear to your eye.
Our favourite natural historian is back again on our screens as a new five-part BBC series called Parenthood is set to come out next month.
The 99-year-old has continued to delight fans in the UK and across the world with his fascination for the weird and wonderful.
This latest docu-series will explore the trials and tribulations of parenting within the animal kingdom.
It will also highlight how it can be a ‘high-stakes game in which some animal parents must come up with extraordinary strategies to give their young a head start’.
Filmed over three years and across six continents, and narrated by Sir David, fans have been offered a sneak peek at the series.
The clip, which shows a female western lowland gorilla and her newborn baby, is adorable from start to finish.
Just moments old, the baby sleeps on his mother’s chest surrounded by plants and trees in the jungle.
Narrating, David says: ‘Her journey will be challenging, full of excitement, uncertainty and complete commitment.
‘There will be mistakes. There always are. But success for her and indeed for all parents has perhaps the greatest of consequences. It ensures the future of life on our planet’.
Parenthood is set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, beginning on August 3 at 7.20pm.
It promises to show viewers never-before-seen animal behaviours while delivering a ‘universal message about preserving the natural world.’
Speaking to The Mirror, BBC head of specialist factual commissioning, Jack Bootle, described Parenthood as ‘wonderful, warm, engaging, and surprising’.
He said that it is ‘made by some of the very best wildlife filmmakers in the world,’ adding: ‘I’m thrilled Sir David is joining us again to narrate it.’
Director Jeff Wilson added that the whole team is ‘incredibly proud’ that Sir David was involved in the series.
‘Silverback Films did a deep dive into the subject over 2.5 years, uncovering extraordinary new behaviours and jaw-dropping dramas using the world’s best wildlife cinematographers and directors,’ he explained/
‘We are incredibly proud that Sir David was on board with us to bring to the screen a landmark series that has something for everyone – moments of heart-warming tenderness, high stakes narrative, and a timely guide from a huge cast of unbelievably engaging cast of characters on how to navigate the complex world of Parenthood.’
This comes after David’s latest documentary, Ocean, coincided with the broadcaster and biologist’s 99th birthday.
The Blue Planet creator explored ‘the untold story of the ocean’, and how we can make a huge difference in its preservation.
Speaking about the series to Metro, Planet Earth III executive producer Mike Gunton hailed the ‘unbridled curiosity’ that the documentary exhibits, adding that ‘he’s still absorbing science, absorbing knowledge’.
Parenthood begins on August 3 at 7.20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
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