Sir David Attenborough might be edging ever closer to 100 years old but he's showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The legendary broadcaster, 97, has revealed that he has a new series due to hit screens later this year - meaning we have more of his dulcet tones to look forward to.
Sir David has been on screens for almost 70 years straight, having begun his broadcasting career in 1954 as the host of Zoo Quest.
And now, just three years shy of his 100th birthday, Sir David has been confirmed as the presenter Planet Earth III for the BBC.
The new series comes 17 years after Sir David first narrated the original Planet Earth series in 2006, as well as its sequel in 2016.
A third series had originally been commissioned in 2019 but faced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdowns within the industry.
Now, according to new reports, Sir David has filmed his introductory scenes and will be recording the narration for the popular nature series.
According to The Mirror, executive producer Mike Gunton said: "Planet Earth wouldn’t be Planet Earth without David, so I’m delighted he is presenting the third series.
"As ever, he has brought his huge enthusiasm and wisdom, has been encouraging about our new perspective and has, I know, really enjoyed seeing the extraordinary new wonders brought to the screen."
Gunton revealed that the opening scenes of the series had been filmed "in the beautiful British countryside in exactly the location where Charles Darwin used to walk whilst thinking over his Earth-shaking ideas about evolution."
He added: "It seemed the perfect place for David to introduce Planet Earth III and remind us of both the wonders and the fragility of our planet. For him, of course, the sun shone under blue skies …one of the only days it did all summer!"
The third series will consist of eight episodes, with the first seven showing the behavior of animals across the world, from the spirit bear of Canada to tropical Mobula rays, and African Jacana birds.
It will showcase the strategies these animals have evolved over the years as well as the new challenges they face in the modern world.
The final episode in the series will honor the human "heroes" who dedicate their lives to saving certain species from going extinct.
It's no wonder Sir David is keen to continue his career on screen as he previously joked in 2013: "If I was earning my money by hewing coal I would be very glad indeed to stop. But I'm not. I'm swanning round the world looking at the most fabulously interesting things. Such good fortune."
And given we all love the shows he presents, long may he continue to do it.
Featured image credit: John Phillips/Getty Images
