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Birds Britannia is a four-part BBC Four television series about the birds of the United Kingdom, first shown in 2010. It was produced by Stephen Moss. Each of the four, sixty-minute episodes concentrates on one kind of bird: garden birds, waterbirds, seabirds and birds of the countryside. The series has no presenter, and is narrated by the Scottish actor Bill Paterson, with filmed interviews with a wide range of experts and bird enthusiasts, including David Attenborough, Mark Cocker, Jeremy Mynott, Tim Birkhead, Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, Christopher Frayling, Kate Humble, Rob Lambert, Desmond Morris, David Lindo, Helen Macdonald, Andrew Motion, Tony Soper, and Bill Oddie. It has been announced that a book of the same title, by Stephen Moss, will be published by Collins in April 2011.
2010
This episode starts with an insight into how the robin became the nation's favourite bird, the relation between blue tits and milk bottles during the 20th century, and the decadence of the sparrow. Narrated by Bill Paterson, with contributions by Bill Oddie, David Attenborough, Tony Soper, Jenny Uglow, Chris Baines, David Lindo and Chris Frayling
An insight into how a seventh-century saint became the first avian protector when he realised feathers kept him warm at night, and how a group of `ornithological suffragettes' changed women's fashion - and saved Britain's birds. Plus, the role of the creatures as tourist attractions. Narrated by Bill Paterson with contributions by Bill Oddie, David Attenborough, Tony Soper, Kate Humble, Helen MacDonald and Robert Lambert.
Exploring the relationship between people and seabirds, including a look at how the great auk became extinct and why a British stately home owes its existence to bird droppings. The programme also examines how the Torrey Canyon disaster brought coastal birds back into the public eye, and reveals how seagulls began to populate city centres following the Clean Air Act.
Countryside birds like the skylark, pheasant and nightingale are amongst the most iconic of all Britain's birds. For centuries, they have been celebrated in music and poetry, used to forecast the weather and been hunted for food. They have not just shaped the British countryside, but also defined its nature.
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Bill Paterson
