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'''Life in Cold Blood''' is a forthcoming television series written and presented by David Attenborough, about the natural history of amphibians and reptiles.
The series will comprise five 50-minute programmes, each one followed by ''Under the Skin'', a 10-minute section that will feature Attenborough interviewing the scientists whose groundbreaking work has led to the sequences included in the main programme. It will also examine the challenges faced by the crew and reveal some of the techniques used to film the series.
There are to be five episodes.
'Episode One' - The first episode will discuss the keys to the success of the reptiles and amphibians, looking at thermoregulation, parental care and the timescales on which reptiles operate.

'Episode Two' - The second episode explores the world of amphibians — from the crocodilian-like wrestling of the Japanese Giant Salamander to the 'semaphore' used by the Golden Panama Frog (''Atelopus Zeteki'').

'Episode Three' - The third episode takes a look at the immense diversity, social skills and displays of the lizards.

'Episode Four' - The fourth episode will look at the most modern reptiles, the snakes, exploring how they have managed to become so successful despite their elongated body plan and lack of limbs. It includes what is thought to be the first recorded predation by a wild rattlesnake in any documentary.

'Episode Five' - The final episode covers the most ancient of the reptiles: the crocodiles and turtles.

Contents

Production

References

Production

Filming for the series began in the early part of 2006 and it will be broadcast in Spring 2008.^[1] On ''Parkinson'' broadcast by ITV on 16 June 2007, Attenborough confirmed that filming had finished and the project was now in post production.
In May 2006, Attenborough celebrated his 80th birthday in the Galápagos Islands while filming giant tortoises, one of which, called Lonesome George, is thought to be the same age.^[2]
''Life in Cold Blood'' is planned to be Attenborough's last major TV series, as he will be 82 years old when it is completed. In an interview to promote ''Life in the Undergrowth'', the naturalist stated:

Once I have completed the reptiles series [...] that will be enough. It would complete the survey for me. I will have given a series to every group of animals and when that is done there would be 100 or so hours of DVDs on the shelf.^[3]

References

1. BBC News: Reporter's log, Edinburgh TV Festival
2. BBC David Attenborough biography
3. Times Online: Attenborough names ape girl as his heir to TV jungle