An environmental legacy

To many people, the ocean can appear to be one vast expanse of blue, but in reality, it is made up of an extraordinary variety of habitats, each supporting its own unique communities of wildlife and each playing a vital role in keeping our planet healthy.

Through out all 6 episodes of Blue Planet III we celebrate the distinct identity of the different ecosystems while also exploring the challenges they face and the reasons they matter. We don't lecture though, that's important to us. Instead, we tell these stories through the eyes of animal characters. By experiencing the world from their perspective, I really believe that audiences can connect not just with the beauty of these places but with what is at stake for their future.

We also want viewers to experience the full emotional range of life beneath the waves. There are moments that are joyful, surprising and genuinely funny; others that are filled with tension and drama; and some that are profoundly moving. That emotional richness runs through every episode and reflects the incredible diversity of the marine world itself.

Throughout the series, we balance stories of wonder, resilience and hope with the realities of a rapidly changing ocean. Viewers fall in love with the ocean and the animals that live there. They experience moments that are joyful, surprising and genuinely funny, others filled with tension and drama, and some that are deeply moving. That rich emotional journey runs through every episode, reflecting the extraordinary diversity of life beneath the waves.

While the challenges facing our seas are undeniable, so too is nature's remarkable capacity to adapt, recover and surprise us. We encounter both the winners and losers of our changing oceans, revealing not only what is at stake but also reasons for optimism. Ultimately, we hope audiences come away with a deeper connection to the ocean and a renewed sense of why this extraordinary world is worth protecting.

The ocean is more than a subject for us. The team behind Blue Planet III are passionate ocean advocates who care deeply about the future of the marine world. Spending years filming alongside marine scientists, conservationists and local communities only strengthens that sense of responsibility. Reducing the environmental impact of our filmmaking is therefore not an afterthought but a core part of how we work. As we tell stories about the importance of protecting our seas, we also strive to minimise our own footprint while bringing audiences extraordinary ocean behaviour from around the world.

A key part of this was collaboration. Wherever possible, we join existing scientific expeditions rather than launching our own, particularly for episodes such as The Deep, Future Seas and Polar Seas. Working alongside researchers not only reduces the resources required for filming but also creates opportunities to share footage that can support science, education and conservation.

We also rely heavily on local expertise. By working with local filmmakers, guides and operators, and by incorporating footage captured by crews already on location, we were able to reduce travel while benefiting from unrivalled knowledge of the environments we were filming.

New technology is helpful too. Remote camera systems, drones and innovative filming techniques allow us to capture wildlife behaviour with less equipment, fewer people and lower emissions than more traditional approaches. Behind the scenes, crews also used solar-powered charging systems and rechargeable batteries in some of the world's most remote locations. Alongside these practical measures, Blue Planet III contributes to wider BBC Studios sustainability initiatives, including Project Songbird.

Throughout the making of Blue Planet III, we've been meeting many scientists, conservationists and filmmakers from all over the world whose passion for the ocean began with The Blue Planet or Blue Planet II. Time and again, we've been reminded of the extraordinary impact these programmes can have, not just in shaping how people see the natural world, but in inspiring them to dedicate their lives to understanding and protecting it. As a mother of two young daughters, I see how important that connection is. The ocean may feel distant from our everyday lives, yet it plays a fundamental role in all our futures.

For me, success would not simply be creating a series that people enjoy watching. I hope Blue Planet III inspires the next generation of ocean explorers, scientists, storytellers and advocates. If even a small number of young viewers come away with a lasting curiosity about the marine world and a desire to protect it, then we will have achieved something truly meaningful.

More than anything, I hope Blue Planet III reminds people that the ocean is not a distant world separate from our own. It is a living system that connects us all, and one that remains as mysterious, surprising and inspiring today as ever.