Main content

Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure

In 1976, David Attenborough embarked on the most ambitious television series he had ever attempted. This is the hair-raising story of how the first wildlife blockbuster was born.

In 1976, David Attenborough embarked on his most ambitious project ever, Life on Earth. No-one had ever attempted a natural history series on this scale before, and David’s reputation was on the line.

This is the remarkable story behind the BBC’s most famous wildlife blockbuster. A three-year, hair-raising odyssey around the world, travelling to 40 countries and filming over 600 species, including the famous mountain gorillas. First broadcast in 1979 and watched by 500 million people, it launched David Attenborough’s career as the most successful and influential wildlife film-maker of our time.

Release date:

Available now

59 minutes

Audio described

On TV

Today20:00

Credits

RoleContributor
Production ManagerLisanne Marks
Executive ProducerMike Davis
ProducerVictoria Bobin

Broadcasts

  • Today20:00
  • Tomorrow23:00
  • Tomorrow23:30
  • Tomorrow23:35

Featured in...

Attenborough’s Life on Earth: The series that started it all

Attenborough’s Life on Earth: The series that started it all

David Attenborough sets out to tell “the greatest story in all the world”