Blue Planet II

Offline Editor on Reef, One Ocean & Series Making-Ofs

Blue Planet II

BBC One

My Role

As offline editor on Blue Planet II, I contributed significantly to episode 3 (Coral Reefs) alongside Matt Meech and played a substantial creative role on episode 1 (One Ocean). My editorial involvement extended across the series — from generating initial rough cuts to shaping narrative momentum — and into the making-of content for two key “behind the scenes” episodes. Collaborating closely with producers and directors, I helped sculpt sequences that balance science, spectacle and emotional resonance, ensuring that each episode delivered clarity without sacrificing the marine world’s intrinsic complexity.

Editorial Approach

The editorial grammar of Blue Planet II is shaped by rhythm and counterpoint: moments of quiet, contemplative observation are juxtaposed with kinetic behaviour that surprises and delights. Structural pacing was calibrated to sustain curiosity across layers of discovery, whether it was tracking ephemeral reef interactions or conveying the vastness of the deep sea. Across sequences, emotional beats are realised through the interplay of image, Attenborough’s narration and natural sound, allowing the audience to inhabit the sensory world of the ocean without undue exposition.

Why This Project Matters

Blue Planet II did more than chart marine life; it reframed how audiences perceive their relationship to the oceans. By bringing unseen phenomena into sharp focus and threading environmental realities through its narrative, the series contributed to public and political engagement with issues such as plastic pollution. Its impact was recognised not only in audience numbers but across industry and societal conversations about ocean health, reinforcing the capacity of natural history storytelling to inform and inspire.

Credits Block

Broadcaster: BBC One
Production: BBC Natural History Unit
Year: 2017
Executive Producer: James Honeyborne
Series Producer: Mark Brownlow
Producers: Jonathan Smith, Rachel Scott
Role: Offline Editor
Software: Avid Media Composer

Awards & Recognition

  • Winner — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator (Sir David Attenborough, One Ocean)
  • Winner — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program (Coral Reefs)
  • Multiple Primetime Emmy nominations including Outstanding Documentary Series and Cinematography
  • BAFTA Television Award nominations across Specialist Factual and Craft categories