Reflections on making Blue Planet III

Series Producer Lara Bickerton reflects on creating Blue Planet III, from filming extraordinary new ocean stories to collaborating with Sir David Attenborough.

Nearly four and a half years ago, I was given the opportunity to start Blue Planet III as Series Producer - I'm still pinching myself now! The two previous series, Blue Planet and Blue Planet II are some of the most loved and influential of all natural history programmes ever made. Still today they bring the underwater world into homes across the globe and help people connect with an environment that most of us will never experience firsthand.

Of course, that legacy is also quite daunting. From the day I started, there was a real sense of expectation around what a third Blue Planet series could be, but I knew with the right team and the right stories, we could build on that legacy. Today, I am immensely proud of what this creative, ambitious, and talented team have achieved. Blue Planet III stays true to everything audiences have always loved about the previous series whilst taking exploration, innovation and discovery further than ever before.

In every episode we reveal new species and new behaviours and film in places we've never been before. We use the latest technology and develop our own kit to elevate the cinematography. But beyond the spectacle, we tell richer, more intimate stories about the animals themselves and help audiences connect with their lives in a deeper way.

The ocean can feel vast, unfamiliar and intimidating, but in this series, we inspire the same sense of wonder that Blue Planet has always delivered, while offering a fresh perspective on the marine world and our relationship with it.

When we started making Blue Planet III, I never imagined we'd be lucky enough to work with Sir David Attenborough again, so having him narrate the series has been incredibly special.

What makes Sir David unique is his ability to connect with audiences of all ages. My eight-year-old daughter loves him, so do I, and so does her grandmother. There aren't many people who can bring generations together in quite the same way. He has an extraordinary gift for making complex natural history feel accessible, emotional and endlessly fascinating, whether you're eight or eighty.

What's even more remarkable is that he's doing this at 100 years old. Watching him record the commentary has been genuinely inspiring. The enthusiasm, curiosity and energy he brings to every line are extraordinary. Some of my favourite moments have been hearing him narrate the lighter, funnier sequences. He delivers them with such warmth and personality that, more often than not, he has the whole room laughing.

I've spent my entire professional life working in a world shaped by Sir David's programmes, so having the opportunity to work with him on Blue Planet III is a real privilege. The fact that, at 100 years old, he's still as curious, engaged and passionate about the natural world as ever is deeply inspiring.