BBC Factual announces Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster (working title), a 60’ film for BBC One and iPlayer, made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and co-produced by PBS and the WNET Group.

Following on from the huge success of Wild Isles, Sir David Attenborough is now turning his attention to explore more about the UK’s prehistoric era.

The documentary follows David as he unearths the discovery of a lifetime: the skull of a giant Pliosaur, one of the most ferocious Jurassic predators ever known. This enormous prehistoric marine reptile ruled the seas at the same time dinosaurs reigned on land, 150 million years ago.

Fossil experts believe this Pliosaur to be a completely new species and working at a secret location are setting out on a perilous expedition to excavate the skull , and uncover the secrets lying deep within.

David says: “Pliosaurs were the biggest and most formidable hunters in the Jurassic seas, the marine equivalent, you might say of T. Rex. The skull of this one is, by itself, over two metres long and armed with massive fangs. Frustratingly, skulls, which can tell us most about an animal, are only too easily smashed before fossilisation but this one is virtually undamaged and promises to reveal all kinds of new details about these terrifying hunters that preyed on Lyme Regis’ better known ichthyosaurs.”

David will follow this compelling story, joining a team of top scientists and palaeontologists as they unlock clues about this apex predator - from understanding how it looked and behaved, to uncovering the strategies it used to hunt and kill its prey - while cutting-edge Visual effects sequences will bring the sea monster to life, showcasing its astonishing size and enormous strength.

Filmed on location across the UK, Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster will combine ground-breaking science with gripping storytelling and state-of-the-art CGI to tell the tale of this most phenomenal predator of the Jurassic world…one that hunted in the seas just off the coast of Britain!

Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, says: “David has filmed some of the world’s very best fossil animals, so the fact he’s so interested in this skull makes me unbelievably excited. This film promises to be a thrilling trip through time to a moment when monsters ruled the seas around Britain. I can’t wait for viewers to experience it.”

Mike Gunton, Executive Producer, says: “It’s wonderful to be back on location with David - his eyes absolutely lit up when we told him about this amazing find – he couldn’t wait to join the ‘dig’ and get a first look at the fossil bones for himself.”

Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster (working title), a 1x60’ for BBC One and iPlayer, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and co-produced by PBS and the WNET Group. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. The Executive Producer is Mike Gunton, Series Editor is Tom Jarvis, Producer Director is Victoria Bobin, and Production Manager is Arpana Paterson. The Commissioning Editor is Tom Coveney. The executive in charge for PBS is Bill Gardner. For PBS Nature, the Executive Producer is Fred Kaufman, Series Producer is Bill Murphy, and Series Editor is Janet Hess.