MERCURY PRIZE-WINNING rapper Dave, Sir David Attenborough and renowned composer Hans Zimmer are collaborating on a new BBC nature programme designed to “lift viewers’ spirits during a time of international uncertainty”.

Planet Earth: A Celebration will take viewers on a journey to some of the wildest places on earth, using eight of the most extraordinary sequences from the Bafta award-winning Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II – the most watched natural history series of the last 15 years.

The programme features new narration by documentary-maker Attenborough, and new compositions created by Zimmer and performed by Dave and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Dave, who played the grand piano on the score, said: “I’ve always been a fan of powerful natural history documentaries. This is a programme where nature and music come together, so it was only right that I lent my talent, my time, and my attention to this project. It was a pleasure to work alongside Sir David Attenborough and Hans Zimmer.”

‘Thrilling’

Zimmer said: “Working with David on so many of his magnificent programs celebrating nature and our planet has been a joy for me. I am constantly inspired by what he is able to capture, and the collection of sequences featured in Planet Earth: A Celebration is truly special. It was an honour to once again work with David, Jacob Shea and the BBC Concert Orchestra to highlight these incredible stories once again.”

The hour-long one-off programme will feature sequences filmed everywhere from the East Cape of South Africa to the north of Norway, from Chile to the Indian Ocean, to showcase how animals overcome adversity to survive and thrive in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Tony Hall, BBC director-general, described the programme as a “spectacular treat for the viewers”.

He said: “With brand new narration from the brilliant David Attenborough, a new score from Hans Zimmer and the team at Bleeding Fingers played by the BBC Concert Orchestra with Dave on the piano, this thrilling journey around the world promises to lift everyone’s spirits.”