In this brand-new series co-produced by The Open University (OU) and BBC for BBC One and iPlayer, wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin will reveal wildlife gems from across the four countries of the UK.
In Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles, Hamza will find and film incredible species and spectacles hidden amongst both our urban and wilder landscapes. From hidden nocturnal encounters, to perfectly camouflaged creatures hiding in plain sight, he will reveal that wildlife is everywhere; you just need to know where to look for it.
Through Hamza, we’ll share a sense of awe and wonder as he guides us into the natural world and we’ll discover that wildlife is everywhere, you just need to know how to look.
With Hamza’s trademark knowledge, warmth and enthusiasm, he’ll share tips and advice, encouraging viewers to connect with nature, wherever they are.
Stunning aerial photography provides a special sense of time and place combined with blue-chip cinematography and footage from wildlife camera crews filmed on their local patch. Each of the four episodes will follow a seasonal narrative as nature’s calendar unfolds across the year.
Dr Yoseph Araya and Dr Philip Wheeler from the OU are contributing to the production of the series as Academic Consultants, providing expert insight and research to support the creation of Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles.
Dr Yoseph Araya, Senior Lecturer in Ecology & Environmental Sciences, commented:
“I am delighted to be working on this programme, which hopefully will enthuse our audience and help them spot, appreciate and learn about the many interesting and wonderful organisms that occupy their neighbourhood, and often are just hiding in plain sight.”
“One doesn’t have to go too far or too deep into exotic places to spot interesting and wonderful organisms.”
The series is produced by Silverback Films, the team behind BBC One’s landmark series Wild Isles, and the stand-out success Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey. It is co-produced by the National Trust and The Open University.
Another OU / BBC natural history series is also in early production. Twenty years after the ground-breaking series Life in the Undergrowth, Hidden Planet will dive into the secret world of the most successful and important animals on Earth – Insects. Building on the remarkable advances in camera technology pioneered by The Green Planet, the series reveals the beautiful and dramatic lives of insects in unprecedented detail.
