Prince William’s Earthshot doc gives us hope, followed by sex education from Attenborough in The Mating Game

Prince William launches a hopeful new initiative and later on David Attenborough shows animals getting physical
The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet
Prince William in The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet
BBC

Prince William and Sir David Attenborough make an engaging double act. William introduces this BBC documentary by striding out across a moonlit coast and delivering a heartfelt speech about the reason why humans are fascinated by the idea of going to the moon. For William, it is because we like to try to do difficult things. In this case, the hard task we face is repairing our planet.

No, William isn’t trying to compete with his brother’s Netflix deal and upcoming Apple TV+ series by also launching a TV career. He is here to introduce the Earthshot Prize, which he founded to do something about the destruction of our planet. Each year for the next 10 years, five projects that have a positive impact on the natural world will be awarded £1 million each. Sir David is a member of the prize council and inspired the whole enterprise — Prince George was so upset by what he saw in one of his shows that his father decided took action. Sir David comes in here as the headliner, doing what he does best — describing the wonders of the world, with some warnings. But this is solutions-driven.

We see how individual projects are helping offset the effects of climate change — travelling from the Kenyan Maasai to Yellowstone Park and back to the UK to see the Knepp Estate. Fans of Attenborough’s programmes will not be disappointed. There are sweeping shots and close-ups of extraordinary animals. It is informative and inspiring, without being too worthy. Brazilian footballer Dani Alves, who is a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, is particularly likeable. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef and Alves explains how it isn’t that we all need to go vegetarian (he still eats meat), but the way we raise cattle needs to change. There is a similar story in Borneo, where conservation manager Cat Barton is working out how to make sustainable palm oil and not endanger the orang-utans.

The only jarring thing is the dramatic music which makes it overwrought. But overall, you feel tentative hope and want to learn more. It is public service broadcasting at its best.

If you want more Attenborough, Earthshot was followed up by The Mating Game, where he takes a decidedly saucy turn, spicing up the long dark autumn evenings. This is the most X-rated thing I’ve seen on television this year. Oh, did you think nature documentaries were supposed to be safe to watch with all the family? This is pure filth. The exploits of these horny kangaroos, ostriches and seahorses make Sex Education look tame. When the zebras started going at it I had to turn the volume down in case the neighbours wondered what I was watching.

Like all Attenborough programmes, it looks spectacular – we see close ups of wonderful creatures, including a rare frog getting all puffed up ready to meet its mate and crowds of flamingos. There is the obligatory epic music, which felt familiar from the Earthshot programme.

BBC/Studio Silverback

The most interesting bit is the message, which is packed into the end. The pandemic meant Silverback Films, who make Attenborough’s programmes and are based in Bristol, was not able to fly its crews around the world to make it and instead relied on local film-makers. Global warming meant that they were surprised by what they saw. Ostriches, for example, must breed in advance of the annual rain to ensure enough food for their chicks to hatch but last year there was no rain in Namibia. It experienced the worst drought it has had in 90 years and it is moving to see the destroyed trees and people talking about it. The ostriches sensed that any attempt at breeding would end in failure.

More of this editorialising would have helped the programme, which for the first forty minutes is just watching different animals’ mating habits. It reminded me of Seduce Me, a surreal series of short films by Isabella Rossellini where she shows us the seduction rituals of animals, with the aid of paper puppets, foam and costumes. They were put on display at the Natural History Museum, who said: “You’ll be amazed at what nature gets up to.” Yes, it is extraordinary to see what they do but it would be better to pack less in and hear more of Attenborough’s voice. There is none of the pacing or mystery that makes a successful courtship - they reveal too much too soon.

Both available to stream on BBC iPlayer

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