Following its debut during the World Premiere of Blue Planet II in London, a five-minute prequel for the landmark series has become the BBC’s first ever natural history global simulcast – with 75 countries around the world transmitting it on TV today including the U.S., China, India, Canada, Singapore, Sweden, Poland and South Africa.

 

The exclusive curtain-raiser for the seven-part series features a Hans Zimmer and Radiohead musical collaboration, titled (ocean) bloom, which is a fusion of Blue Planet II’s main theme with a reimagined version of Bloom, a song Thom Yorke was prophetically inspired to write having watched 2001’s The Blue Planet.

 

The short film is narrated by series presenter Sir David Attenborough, and features an array of some of the most awe-inspiring shots and highlights from the new series, as well as several exclusive scenes that will not feature in any of the seven episodes which are set for UK broadcast on BBC One later this year.

 

Blue Planet II’s World Premiere took place at the BFI IMAX in London in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and guests included Sir David Attenborough, series composer Hans Zimmer, members of Radiohead, UK and international media from 32 countries, and the Natural History Unit team who spent the last four years making the epic series.