Attenborough (89) goes on the hunt

television

Eleanor Bley Griffiths

It's hard to imagine a close-up shot of hippos sparring or penguins huddling, without a David Attenborough voiceover patiently explaining the ways of nature and the circle of life.

Now the 89-year-old naturalist's dulcet tones will return to BBC One for new series The Hunt, which will focus on predators and their prey.

Though he started at the BBC 64 years ago, Attenborough has gone further afield in recent years, working with Sky and UKTV.

But having recently signed a letter to the prime minister, David Cameron, calling for the BBC's future to be safeguarded, he's back at the station to provide his well-known voice-overs.

The Hunt will be modelled on movie car chases - although it won't all be brutal and gory.

"Most animals fail to get their prey so we will see a lot of failure," executive producer Alastair Fothergill said.

"I very much want this to focus on the prey as well as the predators and the techniques they use to survive."

The Hunt is due to air on BBC One in autumn 2015.