Beauty and the feast

THE facts and figures are impressive – three years in the making, more than 70 locations in the farflung corners of the globe, and never-before-seen stories of human endeavour.

And, of course, the photography is sure to be stunning. This is, after all, a BBC documentary series from the natural world and wildlife unit – and we’ve come to expect a lot from them.

Human Planet doesn’t look like it will disappoint as it looks at man’s ability to live to survive in the most extreme environments – from oceans to jungles, from poles to deserts.

The first episode, Oceans: Into The Blue, explores the extraordinary adaptability and ingenuity that enables humans to survive in the marine environment. It also looks at the effect living by the sea has had on cultures.

Robson Green has done several series of Extreme Fishing, but how about fishermen in northern Spain who risk life and limb collecting highly-valued goose barnacles. They abseil down cliffs to reach their prizes which can fetch more than 200 euros a kilo at market.

In Indonesia, subsistence whalers from the village of Lamalera are also after a marine bounty – a huge sperm whale. Using bamboo harpoons, in their wooden boats, the men take on the whale in an almighty battle of wit and skill. If they succeed, their village will have food for months.

The fishermen of Laguna in Brazil have learnt to harness the ocean’s natural resources. Working in skilful harmony with dolphins, many of which they know by name, they’re able to increase their seasonal harvest of mullet.

In the distant islands off Papua New Guinea, “shark-caller” Blais – one of the last of his kind – also works with nature to use his ancient spiritual skills to hunt sharks.

In the Philippines, a highly dangerous mass fishing technique is used by Paaling fishermen in the coral seas. The area is overfished, so the only way to catch enough fish for the village is to dive to depths of more than 40 metres. A generator, with its intricate web of hose pipes, provides the only air supply for the divers, who risk the all-too-lethal effects of the bends.

Few people in the world have such an intimate relationship with the sea as the elusive Bajau Laut sea gypsies, who spend most of their lives afloat. Rarely visiting the mainland, the Bajau Laut live in stilt huts over the coral reefs and on houseboats.

Some still have an incredible ability to hunt underwater holding their breath. Cameras follow one Bajau spear fisherman as he defies the usual laws of nature with an incredible underwater hunt, 20m down, lasting two-and-a-half minutes.

The series is narrated by John Hurt and features music by worldrenowned composer Nitin Sawhney.

Series producer Dale Templar says that filming in HD presents challenges for documentary programmemakers.

Human Planet was particularly difficult because the team had to operate the sensitive HD cameras in some of the most challenging and remote locations on the planet.

“The superb picture quality of HD demands means that finding perfect focus is critical to the camera operators,”

he explains.

“Unlike the controlled conditions of television drama productions, we are filming real people doing real things. Our cameramen were often working on the end of a camera lens, in far from perfect light conditions, using a black and white view-finder, which makes focusing a nightmare.

Often, there is simply no room for error, no option of a Take 2.

“We don’t get to see the footage in full HD quality until late on in the post-production process. We have to go through every shot with a finetooth comb. What we end up producing for the BBC HD channel is truly magnificent. Human Planet is filmed in the most stunning locations on Earth with the most amazing people and animals. The pictures jump off the screen, almost like 3D, transporting the audience to these extraordinary places.”

THERE’S a shock for Lee in Not Going Out when a 20-year-old turns up on the doorstep announcing that Lee might be her father.

Nobody’s more shocked than Lee himself, though, as he immediately goes into complete denial.

Rational and logic soon have him remembering a one-night stand at a party thrown by Tim to celebrate the end of his accountancy exams, a long time ago in the Eighties.

The supporting cast includes Tim Vine, Sally Bretton as Tim’s sister Lucy, Katy Wix as his girlfriend Daisy, and Ricky Grover as fearsome newcomer Larry.

WHAT makes someone a New Yorker? Apparently it’s said that there are certain things one must have done before they’re qualified. Stealing a cab from someone who needs it more, crying on the subway and killing a cockroach with your bare hand are the big three.

According to sitcom How I Met Your Mother, living in the Big Apple doesn’t automatically qualify you, but being a Woody Allen fan is a definite advantage.

So, when the gang hears that the director has been spotted in a Manhattan restaurant, there’s a race between the members to be the first on the scene – all using different modes of transport to arrive there.

Everyone’s determined to win, but Robin appears to be the most competitive as she sets out to prove she really is a New Yorker now.