Popular presenter Richard Hammond uses large-scale visual effects and global travel to explain the geological forces that shape the surface of the Earth. An energetic and visually inventive science documentary that aims to make geology accessible to a broad audience. Hammond is a lively guide, moving from his Yorkshire hometown to the fossil-rich peaks of California to illustrate the volatile nature of the ground beneath our feet.
The use of a 3D virtual earth provides a clear, engaging way to look at tectonic plates and volcanic activity. While the tone is populist, the information is solid, successfully making the case that our lives are constantly dictated by subterranean shifts. It is a polished example of the BBC’s ability to turn natural history into high-definition spectacle.
Production Details
UK / BBC 1 - Discovery, BBC Worldwide / 2x60 Minute Episodes / 2011
Executive Producer: Greg Lanning, Will Aslett
Music: various
With: Richard Hammond