Sony BBC Earth to air special on Attenborough's 'Life on Earth' to mark his 100th birthday

Sony BBC Earth will air a one-hour special marking the 100th birthday of legendary natural historian and presenter Sir David Attenborough on May 8, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Life on Earth, the landmark wildlife series that redefined natural history filmmaking.

Sony BBC Earth will air a one-hour special marking the 100th birthday of legendary natural historian and presenter Sir David Attenborough on May 8, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of ''Life on Earth'', the landmark wildlife series that redefined natural history filmmaking. ''Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure'' will premiere on May 8 at 1 PM and 9 PM, coinciding with Attenborough's centenary. The special features exclusive interviews with Attenborough and members of the original crew, revisiting the making of a series that took filmmakers across some of the world's most challenging terrains -- from political unrest in Comoros and Rwanda to threats in Iraq. First broadcast in 1979, ''Life on Earth'' was watched by over 500 million viewers worldwide and is widely regarded as a defining moment in factual storytelling. Attenborough's encounter with gorillas in the mountains of Rwanda during the series is frequently cited as one of the greatest moments in television history. In the special, Attenborough reflects on the series' significance. ''There was one series that changed everything -- 'Life on Earth'. It was the most ambitious wildlife expedition ever undertaken, the first truly global natural history series filmed entirely in colour. What we set out to do was tell the greatest story to all the world. That was a turning point in my life,'' he says. The premiere will mark the culmination of Sony BBC Earth's ''100 Days Tribute'', a curated programming initiative featuring some of Attenborough's most iconic works across decades. ''Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure'' is executive produced by Mike Davis, with Victoria Bobin as producer-director. Over the years, Sony BBC Earth has aired several of Attenborough's acclaimed productions for Indian audiences, including ''Planet Earth I and II'', ''Blue Planet II'', ''Frozen Planet'', ''The Hunt'', ''Dynasties'' and ''Life''.