With his most recent BBC Studios Natural History Unit landmark series still enthralling UK viewers – and to celebrate The Green Planet AR Experience, powered by EE 5G opening its doors at 55 Regent Street – Sir David Attenborough loomed large in London on Thursday evening by appearing on Piccadilly Lights to turn grey into green, temporarily reclaiming the famous Piccadilly Circus location for the plant world.
As dusk set in the capital, the 20-minute takeover saw the celebrated naturalist dominate Europe’s largest advertising display to remind passers-by that plants are the basis of all life, are the heartbeat of the planet, and that humanity depends upon them for every mouthful of food and lungful of air.
The giant 3D animation then saw an entire concrete backdrop gradually burst into green life – with an abundance of foliage eventually covering the iconic screen. And Sir David’s message – carried using 4K DeepScreen technology on the moving billboard that’s bigger than a tennis court – was clear: “We must now work with plants, make the world a little greener, a little wilder. If we do this our future will be healthier, safer and in my experience, happier.”
In the fifth and final episode of The Green Planet broadcast on Sunday (6 February), Sir David was seen visiting the iconic London intersection to reveal how plants manage to survive and thrive in spite of the city’s inhospitable infrastructure.
The ‘greening’ of the legendary Piccadilly Lights – courtesy of owners Landsec and operators Ocean Outdoor – was complemented by a huge plant installation from The Crown Estate at the adjacent Fountain of Eros.
Opening today (11 February) and running until 9 March, The Green Planet AR Experience will offer visitors a window into the secret kingdom of plants through an immersive augmented reality journey accompanied by a virtual Sir David transformed into a 3D hologram.
The free to attend attraction – created by Factory 42 with BBC Studios and inspired by The Natural History Unit landmark series, The Green Planet – will travel through six digitally enhanced worlds including rainforests, freshwater and saltwater worlds, the changing seasons and desert landscapes, culminating in the human story and how we can all affect positive change.
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