ITV Commissions Steve Backshall Animal Series

LONDON: Naturalist Steve Backshall is getting his first series on ITV with the commission of Fierce.

Produced by Shiver, this 6×60-minute series follows Backshall on six adventures, to Guyana, Mexico, Namibia, Indonesia, Australia and South Africa. Along the way he encounters the world’s most venomous snake, gets perilously close to the largest carnivorous reptile in South America, attempts to track down the endangered Giant River Otter and stakes out the feisty Honey Badger.

Backshall said: “In the wildest corners of our planet, lethal predators stalk their prey. With scalpel shark teeth, venoms and poisons, camouflage and super-senses, these are the beasts of nightmare and legend. In this, my first series for ITV, I’m on an expedition to find these ‘fierce’ predators, discover what makes them tick, and meet the people that share their world.”

Andrew O’Connell, ITV’s commissioning editor of factual, said: “In this brand-new series, Steve Backshall will share with our viewers his depth of knowledge of wildlife, his expertise and his sense of adventure. He is a natural at handling the most dangerous of animals and Fierce promises to see him meeting a range of new challenges that will give us fresh insight into some incredible creatures.”

Executive Producer Sally Evans said: “We’re really excited to be working with Steve. His knowledge and fascination of fierce animals along with the people who encounter them promises to make compelling television.”