Sir David Attenborough to present Asia on BBC One and iPlayer

We are incredibly excited to have Sir David Attenborough as the host of our amazing new series, Asia, for BBC One. Asia is a continent filled with stunning landscapes and fascinating features, showcasing some of the most varied environments on Earth.

BBC Factual has revealed that Sir David Attenborough will be the host of "Asia," a seven-episode documentary series for BBC One and iPlayer that explores the wildlife of the world's largest continent. The series will travel across various regions of Asia, showcasing its stunning landscapes and diverse animal life while highlighting exciting, never-before-seen behaviors.

Spanning nearly four years of filming, this is the first major wildlife series by the BBC dedicated entirely to Asia. The series explores an incredible range of environments, from the expansive Gobi Desert and the lush jungles of Borneo to the frigid wilderness of Siberia and the vibrant coral waters of the Indian Ocean, highlighting the stunning diversity of Asia's most remote and untamed regions.

The series consists of seven one-hour episodes showcasing captivating wildlife tales from different regions across the continent. In Nepal, we'll observe rhinos engaging in a playful “kiss chase” as part of their unique courtship behavior. In the Himalayan foothills, surrounded by bamboo forests, we’ll encounter the red panda, known as Asia’s most reserved and arguably cutest mammal. At an altitude of 5,000 meters on the Tibetan Plateau, we’ll see a solitary wolf on a relentless pursuit of a herd of antelope for several hours. In Sri Lanka, we’ll follow elephants that have discovered how to become highway bandits, stopping buses to snag snacks from passengers. Lastly, in the bountiful waters of the Western Pacific, we'll dive alongside sea snakes and fish that have learned to cooperate in large groups for hunting.

The shooting spots feature Lake Baikal, known as the oldest and deepest lake on the planet; the expansive taiga forest that covers northern Russia; the Lut Desert in Iran; the Empty Quarter of the Arabian Peninsula; as well as a number of lively cities across Asia, including Tokyo, Bangkok, Taipei, Bhopal, Hanoi, and Singapore.

Asia is the biggest continent, and it boasts an unparalleled array of remarkable features. It contains the tallest mountain range, the deepest ocean, the tallest forests, and the largest cave.

The continent boasts an incredible variety of wildlife. It hosts six different bear species, three types of rhinos, and five kinds of big cats, surpassing Africa in this regard. Additionally, it’s a place filled with surprises, featuring unique creatures like the enigmatic sea bunny, the amusing mudskipper, the hard-to-find purple frog, and the glowing deep-sea firefly squid.

Stunning scenery and close-up interactions will be captured with cutting-edge technology, giving viewers an unprecedented opportunity to appreciate the beauty and marvels of Asia.

This modern perspective on Asia will delve into the environmental issues the continent is encountering and discuss possible ways to address them. With more than half of the world’s population residing in Asia, there is an increasing effort to safeguard its natural landscapes and wildlife. The series will highlight inspiring stories of conservationists who are making a difference.

Sreya Biswas, the BBC’s Head of Commissioning for Natural History, expressed her excitement about Sir David Attenborough hosting the new monumental series, Asia, for BBC One. She described Asia as a continent rich in beauty and fascination, home to some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. She emphasized how thrilling it has been to showcase these stunning landscapes and wildlife, including behaviors that have never been captured on film before.

"Asia" is a seven-part series, each episode lasting 60 minutes, created for BBC One and iPlayer. The show is produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit in collaboration with BBC America, France Télévisions, and ZDF. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, who is in charge of Specialist Factual programming. The series is overseen by Executive Producer Roger Webb, with Matthew Wright serving as Series Producer, and Sreya Biswas, the Head of Commissioning for Natural History, as the Commissioning Editor.