BBC Studios and concert promoter FKP Scorpio UK have announced a further update to their previously rescheduled Planet Earth II Live In Concert arena tour of the UK & Ireland.
The original Spring 2020 tour was initially postponed and rescheduled to Autumn 2020 following government advice and the closure of venues across the UK as part of the nationwide effort to combat the spread of corona virus (COVID-19). Due to the continuing uncertainty regarding the unlocking of larger mass gatherings for events in the entertainment sector, it has been decided to reschedule the shows to Spring 2021.
Barry Campbell, UK promoter from FKP Scorpio commented, “Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and uncertainty around concert mass gatherings, we felt it was important to move our Planet Earth II tour once again, to spring 2021. We want these shows to be a great experience and it is important to us that the public should feel safe and to be able to attend the shows without worry. We promise it will be a spectacular tour well worth waiting for and thank all ticket purchasers for their patience and understanding in these most difficult times.”
Hosted by science and natural history TV presenter Liz Bonnin, with behind the scenes insights from Mike Gunton, the executive producer of the BAFTA and EMMY® award-winning BBC television series, these live concerts will highlight the incredible power and beauty of mother nature in all her glory. Featuring breath taking specially-selected footage shown in 4K ultra high-definition on a gigantic LED screen, the City Of Prague Philharmonic
Orchestra conducted by Matthew Freeman, will perform the remarkable music by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea & Jasha Klebe for Bleeding Fingers Music. These not to be missed shows will be an empowering visual and musical experience.
Says host Liz Bonnin, “The last few months have been incredibly difficult for everyone and we are reeling from the impact of this pandemic. Our hope is that, once we begin to recover from this extraordinary situation, our tour can play a small part in offering joy, healing and optimism. It will be an uplifting experience, celebrating the majesty of life and all the beauty and wonder that Mother Earth has to offer. I’m all the more excited to be able to share it with you.”
As the event’s host Liz Bonnin, who has presented prime time BBC series including Horizon, as well as the Blue Planet Live, explains, it’s a hugely emotive venture.
“It hasn’t really quite sunk in that I’ll be involved with this, so to be stepping out as part of the tour for this and getting to see it all on a gigantic screen with a full orchestra playing as well – I think I’ll be quite emotional,” she remarks of the project. “I believe it’s going to have quite an impact, and it will be a great medium for both entertaining and educating people about the issues that it addresses.
“People are much more aware of what is happening to our planet now – which we’ve seen through young people fighting for their future,” adds the presenter. She has not been afraid to tackle difficult issues, such as with her recent Drowning In Plastic screen series.
As Liz reveals, there has been an incredible amount of work placed into bringing audiences closer to the natural world than has ever before with Planet Earth II.
Its finely realised storytelling has been particularly highly praised, leading to the programme winning several BAFTA awards, as well as gaining Emmy honours.
“It was just a game-changing series with some iconic moments that stay with you, like when you see creatures like the marine iguana which was incredible, so getting to see them on the on the big screen is going to be an amazing experience,” adds Liz of the upcoming tour, which showcases the key highlights from the series.
The 43-year old presenter, who has a master’s degree in animal biology, admits she has enjoyed a very fortunate career with opportunities to travel the world and test her skills and knowledge to their fullest extent.
As far as Planet Earth II is concerned, she says one of its magic ingredients is the narration by Sir David Attenborough, whom she praises for continuing to lead the way for nature documentaries into his 90s.
“I’ve met Sir David on a few occasions now, and I will never forget the first time I saw him about 12 years ago when he was talking at an event – I was a bit star struck, but it was great to go on to discuss some of those programmes like Blue Planet with him.
“He was my hero when I was growing up. He went from production work into inventing natural history programming with the BBC. There really is nobody else like him and I doubt there ever will be again. He’s not just a national treasure, but one for the whole world.”
As for her own early experiences, she says that she was fortunate to grow up with her sister in rural French surroundings near Nice, which proved influential in forging her love of the natural world. Having the chance to communicate her clear passion for nature through her work is something that she finds especially rewarding.
However, Liz is under no illusion of the major challenges facing our environment, which she believes series such as Planet Earth, and Sir David’s latest BBC series, Seven Worlds, One Planet can have a dramatic influence on how we treat our environment.
Liz adds: “We are facing an existential crisis in terms of the effects that human behaviour is having on the planet. We have reached a tipping point in terms our impact, and one of the things that I am most astounded in relation to this is by the fact that petrochemical companies are just seemingly carrying on as if it is business as usual.
“I believe we can make a difference, but we need to be aware of the facts of what is happening to our planet, and how we can change. I think series like Planet Earth can both move and inspire people.”
All previously purchased tickets shall remain valid for these rescheduled dates.
The rescheduled 2021 tour dates are as follows:
Now Fri Mar 19th Glasgow SSE Hydro (Moved from Oct 28th 2020)
Now Sat Mar 20th Leeds First Direct Arena (Moved from Nov 2nd 2020)
Now Sun Mar 21st London O2 (Matinee & Evening show) (Moved from Nov 1st 2020)
Now Tues Mar 23rd Dublin 3 Arena (Moved from Oct 29th 2020)
Now Wed Mar 24th Birmingham Resorts World Arena (Moved from Nov 3rd 2020)
Now Fri Mar 26th Cardiff Motorpoint Arena (Moved from Oct 31st 2020)
Now Sat Mar 27th Manchester Arena (Moved from Oct 27th 2020)
For further ticket information go to www.planetearth2live.uk
All children under 14 entitled to a £10 discount per ticket (Excluding London Evening and Dublin show).
