Sir David Attenborough's new series Wild Isles will be released on March 12. PA
Sir David Attenborough's new series Wild Isles will be released on March 12. PA
Sir David Attenborough's new series Wild Isles will be released on March 12. PA
Sir David Attenborough's new series Wild Isles will be released on March 12. PA

David Attenborough's new BBC show Wild Isles could be his last on-location series


Hayley Skirka
  • English
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A new wildlife series by David Attenborough will be on air next week.

Wild Isles is a BBC documentary series that shows the legendary wildlife presenter exploring the UK’s wild islands, forests, rivers, beaches and meadows.

And while fans will be excited to hear the famed, soothing Received Pronunciation tones of the naturalist on their screens again, it is likely to be his last on-location series, reports The Observer.

The new show is the first to feature Attenborough on camera on location since the filming of Green Planet, which was shot more than four years ago.

The presenter's family and representatives say he is not retiring but The Observer reports that his international travels will cease.

A representative for Attenborough said he had plenty of things in the pipeline.

David Attenborough's new BBC series Wild Isles by Silverback Films could be his last on-location series. Photo: BBC
David Attenborough's new BBC series Wild Isles by Silverback Films could be his last on-location series. Photo: BBC

The first episode of the new BBC series will be shown on March 12 and is Attenborough’s first studying British natural history. Filmed over a three-year period, it shows the wildlife enthusiast taking viewers from a bluefin tuna gathering off the coast of Cornwall, to black grouse spotting in Scotland’s Cairngorms.

Producers used the latest technology to capture dramatic footage that shows unique animal behaviours from sea eagles mid-hunt to beautiful butterflies engaging in battle.

“In my long lifetime, I have travelled to almost every corner of our planet. I can assure you that in the British Isles, as well as astonishing scenery there are extraordinary animal dramas and wildlife spectacles to match anything I have seen on my global travels,” Attenborough said about the series.

Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference, or Cop26, in Glasgow on November 1, 2021. Reuters
Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference, or Cop26, in Glasgow on November 1, 2021. Reuters

Reported to reveal a previously unseen side of British wildlife, the show is a collaboration between the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the World Wildlife Fund and The Open University.

After a nearly seven decades-long career, Attenborough previously told friends and family that he planned to retire from the camera after speaking at the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021, reported The Independent.

Wild Isles begins on March 12 at 11pm (UK time) on BBC One

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series

All matches at the Harare Sports Club:

1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10

2nd ODI, Friday, April 12

3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14

4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Updated: March 09, 2023, 10:46 AM