Attenborough film involving UWE Bristol graduate is most watched on Apple TV+
A nature programme worked on during lockdown by former UWE Bristol student Lindsey Parietti has become the most watched documentary on Apple TV+. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, The Year Earth Changed looks at nature’s response to the global lockdown. Lindsey, who graduated with a master's degree in wildlife filmmaking in 2017, worked as assistant producer on the programme as part of BBC Studios Natural History Unit (NHU).
Work began in March 2020 when they came up with the original idea, inspired by evidence that members of the public were paying closer attention to birdsong last spring and filming unusual sightings of wild animals.
The team then carried out research for the programme. “Our role was to reach out to about 160 scientific researchers and 100 camera operators to find out what was happening with wildlife populations in their backyards and what kind of animal behaviour they were noticing.”
Given the pandemic, it was assumed initially some of the filming would be coordinated remotely but that by the second half of 2020, members of the team would go on location to direct and organise the film shoots.
“But that’s not how it played out,” said Lindsey, “as we did all 20 shoots remotely. I am proud that we didn’t take any international flights, which shows it’s possible to make our films with less of a carbon footprint.
“However setting up and directing film shoots, with daily check-in calls to the camera operators was a very challenging way to work,” she added.
Since it has begun streaming on Apple+ from 16 April, the film – which lasts just under 50 minutes – has reached the top spot for most watched documentary.
“I think people really responded so much to nature during a difficult year, and maybe this programme gave them hope. Also having David Attenborough narrating added so much,” said Lindsey.
The Year Earth Changed includes striking footage of penguins crossing a deserted city road, documents the success of turtle hatchlings able to start their lives unhindered by beachgoers, and a leopard at a South African tourist lodge.
“The leopard walked right in front of the camera and that was crazy that he was so close, as these are elusive animals that usually you spend weeks trying to film on location,” said Lindsey.
In 2018, Lindsey won a student BAFTA for her film Blood Island.
Related news
16 April 2025
UWE Bristol academic paper named as one of this century’s most-cited
A UWE Bristol academic has co-authored the third most-cited academic paper of this century, according to new analysis released by research journal Nature.
16 April 2025
More than 80 UK projects receive nearly £1.2 million in first Immersive Arts funding round
Almost £1.2 million has been allocated to 83 artist-led projects across the UK.
11 April 2025
UWE Bristol academics among emerging scientific leaders to receive share of £7.6m funding for health research
Two UWE Bristol researchers are among the recipients of a £7.6 million investment from the Academy of Medical Sciences aimed at tackling urgent health challenges.
09 April 2025
New research to support a thriving health and care workforce is launched
A national research partnership will explore ways to support wellbeing and sustainability in the NHS and social care same day and urgent care workforce.
08 April 2025
Associate Professor named among newest members of UK Young Academy of emerging leaders
The Royal Society has named UWE Bristol’s Dr Alexandros Stratakos, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator in Sustainable Agri-Food Production, as one of the emerging leaders across the UK who are the newest members of the UK Young Academy.
03 April 2025
Interdisciplinary studio bridging the gap between creative industries and technology opens at UWE Bristol
A new £3.6m laboratory has opened at UWE Bristol which will provide a unique arts, humanities and technologies multi-disciplinary space for researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses across the West of England.
28 February 2025
Paramedics in GP surgeries may ease workload but not NHS costs, study finds
Paramedics working in GP surgeries help reduce GP workload but do not contribute to cost savings to the NHS, according to the first major study of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of paramedic compared with GP consultations.
11 February 2025
Comics could help explain science in court, study finds
Comics explaining the complexities of forensic science in simple terms could improve understanding for jurors in court cases, research conducted at UWE Bristol suggests.
06 February 2025
Opinion: ‘We’re ensuring people have access to diverse images for healthcare’
Flicking through the pages of academic medical textbooks back in 2022, our team spotted a surprising omission: a stark absence of images of health conditions on darker skin tones.
03 February 2025
Groundbreaking UWE Bristol project based on children’s lived experiences of racism in the UK set to transform police training
UWE Bristol researchers have worked with over 1,000 primary-aged children to explore everyday experiences of racism to inform future police training.
30 January 2025
Women exercising in gyms face barriers including body image and harassment, study finds
Women exercising in gyms often feel judged for their appearance and performance, leading to a persistent sense of inadequacy, according to a new study.
22 January 2025
Can DIY greening solutions transform your street and combat climate change?
Do-it-yourself (DIY) greening kits could help safeguard the country's most vulnerable communities from the impacts of a rapidly changing environment, according to a new project supported by UWE Bristol.