EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a new trailer at Whale with Steve Backshall, the upcoming Sky Nature doc about the graceful underwater animals. Fremantle has sales rights for the blue-chip nature series, which comes from Sky Studios-owned factual specialist True to Nature, and has launched the trailer on the eve of World Earth Day (April 22).
In the clip, we see presenter, conservationist and wildlife expert Backshall interacting with whales, dolphins and porpoises, saying in voiceover: “I want to challenge what we think we know about these most persecuted and endangered animals.”
The show was part of Fremantle’s London Screenings line-up in February and is scheduled to launch in the UK on Sky Nature in the fall.
We hear Fremantle has now added certain distribution rights to the show’s predecessor, Shark with Steve Backshall. That show has reached an audience of 3.3M across Sky Nature and Showcase since its launch in November 2021, and Fremantle will now look to widen its international reach.
Whale will see Backshall freediving with huge sperm whales and intelligent humpback whales, smart but deadly orcas and ingenious bottlenose dolphins across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. High-end tech such as diver propulsion vehicles were used during filming, along with tiny, high-quality drone cameras and split-rig cameras that allow crews to film above and below the surface simultaneously. Contributions from pioneering scientists and conservationists are also included, as the doc explores how whales and dolphins overcome challenges such as overfishing, pollution an habitat destruction.
“True To Nature has done a first-class job of delving into the lives of these fascinating mammals that are often shrouded in mystery,” said Angela Neillis, SVP of Non-Scripted Content, International at Fremantle. “Shark with Steve Backshall was a huge hit with audiences on Sky Nature and Whale with Steve Backshall is set to repeat that success and blow audiences’ minds.”
“There is no-one better to take us on an ocean voyage of discovery of whales, dolphins and porpoises than Steve Backshall, sharing his world-class wealth of knowledge, expertise and passion for these awesome marine mammals, who are surprisingly like us,” added Wendy Darke, founder and CEO of True to Nature.
“Innovation is at the heart of this premium series for Poppy Dixon and Sky Nature in both storytelling, filming and sustainable production techniques. True To Nature is delighted to be working with Angela Neillis and her world-class Fremantle International team in bringing Whale with Steve Backshall to the world.”
True to Nature and Sky Studios produced the show, with Ellen Husain and Tom Whitworth attached as directors. Darke is the executive producer and Simon Nash is series producer. Fremantle have the global distribution rights for the series.
