Philip Stevens looks into producing live nature series Springwatch in extraordinary times
By Philip Stevens
Published: June 3, 2020
Philip Stevens looks into producing live nature series Springwatch in extraordinary times
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Philip Stevens looks into producing live nature series Springwatch in extraordinary times
https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/keeping-a-watch-during-lockdown title=Share via Email class=share-email>
Springwatch returned to BBC Two on Tuesday 26th May for a three-week run. The series, produced by BBC Studios, is broadcast Tuesdays to Fridays until 12th June, along with three daily live digital shows every weekday, in addition to the 24-hour live streams.
Now in its 15th year, this educational, entertaining, live, nature series is designed to give audiences a fascinating insight into the science behind the UK's wildlife.
However, as with many other programmes, production has been affected by the restrictions required to cope with Covid-19.
We are continuing to provide best of British wildlife viewing with expert presenters, hidden cameras and, this year, stories from special guests' presenters based all over the UK, explains BBC Studios executive producer Rosemary Edwards. At a time when many UK residents may be suffering a sense of isolation, this year's Springwatch is helping to alleviate some feelings of loneliness as it joins the nation through stories of our doorstep wildlife. The series is offering people a chance to join in the celebration of our native wildlife during this period of lockdown.
Rigging for bird's nests requires a head for heights Edwards goes on to say that because of the coronavirus crisis the BBC needed to find an innovative new way to ensure the series' core USP (Unique Selling Point), to stream live on social media, BBC iPlayer and the Springwatch webpages continued for a month - alongside the live BBC Two broadcasts. In addition, with the presenters no longer able to gather together at a Springwatch hub, they are filming on home-turf and broadcasting live from their local areas, across the country.
Across the UK The presenters broadcast live from around the UK. Chris Packham is in the New Forest, Iolo William is in the west Wales, and Gillian Burke is at the Cornwall Beaver Project near her home.
Chris Packham, Gillian Burke and Iolo William present this year's Springwatch In addition to this, we have three guest presenters - wildlife presenter Steve Backshall joins the team from his home patch on the Thames, ecologist Ellie Harrison from her Cotswold base and wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan covers nature stories from Loch Lomond and The Trossochs National Park, Scotland, explains Edwards. Michaela Strachan, who is in lockdown in South Africa, also appeared in the first episode, calling in from South Africa to present some of her favourite moments from past series. There are very small camera crews with each of the presenters, that includes guest presenters.
Throughout the making of this series the Springwatch team followed all the advice laid out by the UK government to ensure no one was put at any risk. These guidelines include maintaining the appropriate social distance at all times, only travelling to film when necessary, and constantly interrogating the distance people needed to travel.
The series also features a number of pre-recorded films, captured prior to the Government restrictions on social distancing. More recent content being shot in accordance with official guidance.
The habitats Part of the appeal of the series is the live shots of various wildlife habitats. So, has this been possible to the same extent with the revised format?
Yes. We have a highly experienced wildlife and nest camera team who have been working together for over a decade, says Edwards. This year the extra guidelines on social isolation and travel have been considered when choosing locations where remote cameras could be sited. Together they have successfully rigged cameras in two key wildlife areas of the UK, one in the Mendip Hills and the other in Monmouthshire, Wales. Using new technology, we have been able to ensure the team that monitor these cameras 24 hours a day are able to individually view them remotely in a safe environment. The output is then fed into the live gallery in London where staff are also following strict social distancing measures.
Specialist teams install cameras to capture 24-hour coverage. A small team of key production workers are required to travel to this centralised gallery. The BBC has ensured that the same team has been kept together to further avoid multiple contacts and has travelled to the studio location independently. As the gallery environment is large this can accommodate crew across multiple rooms to ensure social distancing.
There are currently no government guidelines on wearing of face masks. However, should that advice change then they will be provided. We are constantly reviewing government guidance, says Edwards.
World class Julian Hector the head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit added, We are so proud to be able to share the wonderful wild characters of British wildlife to the nation. Live natural history television is testing at the best of times, so to broadcast Springwatch during a global pandemic is driving our teams' imagination, innovation and technical expertise to a new level - and all within the social distancing instruction of the UK government. The world class Springwatch team bring the joy of our natural world to everyone in a surprising and utterly brilliant way.
Edwards concludes, In these extraordinary times, we have found ourselves engaging with the wildlife in our nearby surroundings like never before. We're thrilled at how well Springwatch is do
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Liberty University on why broadcast technology isn't just a technical invest...
08/05/2026
COW Jobs: UGC, On-Camera Video Content
Brie Clayton May 7, 2026
0 Comments
UGC, On-Camera Video Content
April 17, 2026Documentary Editor - US,......
07/05/2026
Journalists reporting on Sudan are working in one of the most complex and fast-m...
07/05/2026
Multi-year partnership positions Victory+ as a free home for Dallas Cowboys orig...
07/05/2026
From sideline reporting to directing and producing, the talented sophomore is building a well-rounded foundation for a career in live sports production
In the ...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital has received two Future Best of Show awards at NAB Show 2026. The COBALT blueCORE platform was recognized by TV Tech, and the COBALT PACIFIC ULL-...
07/05/2026
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the televised semifinals and finals of the 202...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI, the global film streaming platform, has selected Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner. Bitmovin's encoding infrastru...
07/05/2026
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and the U.S. Soccer Federation have announced...
07/05/2026
Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and Victory have announced a regional broadcast partnership bringing live match coverage to fans across the greater Los Angeles...
07/05/2026
Spiideo has announced the launch of AI Highlights inside Spiideo Play, its automated sports production platform. AI Highlights combines video, event data, audio...
07/05/2026
Leostream Corporation has announced a unified remote access ecosystem for high-p...
07/05/2026
The Atlanta Dream has partnered with Victory to stream all locally broadcast Dream games for free, expanding the team's digital distribution strategy and g...
07/05/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the appointment of Marc Engroff as Chief Fin...
07/05/2026
SES and ARD, Germany's largest public broadcasting network, have announced a long-term extension of their satellite distribution partnership through 2039. U...
07/05/2026
UpLight Technologies delivers a flexible video and lighting system for a new televised sportLaunching the Pro Cheer League required more than creating a compell...
07/05/2026
Full Day Productions and GSE Worldwide have announced Spikes Under the Lights, a...
07/05/2026
Seit dem Start im Jahr 2023 hat DJ (Beta) das personalisierte H rerlebnis von 94...
07/05/2026
Da quando stata presentata nel 2023, DJ (beta) ha aiutato a definire un'esperienza d'ascolto pi personalizzata per 94 milioni di utenti Spotify Premi...
07/05/2026
Since launching in 2023, DJ (beta) has helped shape a more personalized listenin...
07/05/2026
Desde o lan amento em 2023, o DJ (beta) j ajudou a deixar a experi ncia de ouvi...
07/05/2026
From our earliest days, Spotify has been built on a simple principle: Great audio should be easy to reach. It's what's driven us to expand from music to...
07/05/2026
Asian and Pacific Islander artists continue to shape the global soundscape, pushing creative boundaries and connecting with fans worldwide. This Asian & Pacific...
07/05/2026
Company announce long-requested choir instrument
In the latest expansion of their Symphonic Elements series, UJAM have introduced an all-new vocal instrumen...
07/05/2026
Modular-inspired sound generation with digital control
Buchla have introduced Ziggy, a new compact synthesizer built around the company's complex oscill...
07/05/2026
Combines analogue voices with digital synthesis and sequencing
Polyend have announced Drums, a new hybrid analogue and digital drum machine that combines sy...
07/05/2026
Control surface now officially supports four DAWs
When Nektar launched the Panorama CS12 control surface, it worked exclusively with Apple's Logic Pro, ...
07/05/2026
In the first quarter 2026, SGL Carbon generated consolidated sales of 184.5 million, which was 49.8 million, or 21.3%, lower than in the prior year (Q1 2025: ...
07/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Greenerwave achieve precise and fast ESA antenna characteriz...
07/05/2026
Two multi-role L3Harris products - the Red Wolf launched effects vehicle and SK...
07/05/2026
L3Harris will be developing key features of a secure and resilient digital infra...
07/05/2026
Alysa Liu and Shohei Ohtani Help Drive Viewership as 91 of the Top 100 Broadcast...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital Wins Two Future Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show
Manufacturer Recognized by TV Tech and TVBEurope for Innovation in signal processing
Cobal...
07/05/2026
Software and hardware platforms, AI power and user-friendliness on show...
07/05/2026
Intinor will demonstrate its latest technical enhancements for the Direkt series at BroadcastAsia 2026. With a continued focus on reliable contribution and remo...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI has chosen Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner, replacing MUBI's legacy on premises encoding setup to improve scalab...
07/05/2026
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2026 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next.
...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
At BroadcastAsia 2026, Interra Systems will demonstrate its latest innovations in automated quality control (QC), real-time monitoring, and captioning. The comp...
07/05/2026
At this year's Broadcast Asia, PlayBox Neo is set to unveil recent innovations across its PlayBox Neo Suite and integrated range of broadcast media solution...
Philip Stevens looks into producing live nature series Springwatch in extraordinary times
