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Sir David Attenborough spoke of the “tragic, desperate mess” humans have made of the earth ahead of the launch of his new natural history series.

Seven Worlds, One Planet has been four years in the making and places a conservation message “at the heart” of every episode rather than at the end, breaking with the tradition of past BBC Studios Natural History Unit shows.

The seven-part series will spotlight new species and behaviours and is the result of 92 film shoots in over 40 countries.

http://players.brightcove.net/1348423965/default_default/index.html?videoId=6096379052001 Seven Worlds One Planet

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Sir David said: “We are now universal, our influence is everywhere. We have it in our hands, and we made a tragic, desperate mess of it so far.

“But, at last, nations are coming together and recognising that we all live on the same planet… and we are dependent on it for every mouthful of food we eat and every breath of air we take.”

© Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited Groundbreaking: Attenborough filming the new series in Iceland (PA)

He revealed that he was considered a “crank” when he first implored viewers to take care of the natural world.

“But as it’s gone on, and we’ve repeated it on and on and on - not wasting things, not polluting things - then suddenly, for no reason that I can understand… suddenly you hit the right note,” he said.

“You don’t understand how it happens but with Blue Planet II, suddenly the world was electrified about the crime of chucking plastic into the ocean that can throttle creatures, that can poison creatures, including ourselves.”

When asked what we can do to help the planet, the veteran broadcaster said that the “best motto” is “not to waste things.”

“Don’t waste electricity, don’t waste paper, don’t waste food - live the way you want to live, but just don’t waste,” he explained.

© Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited Animal dramas: Producers used drones to capture never-before-seen behaviour(PA)

“Look after the natural world, the animals in it and the plants in it too. This is their planet as well as ours. Don’t waste.”

Producers took drones over volcanoes, waterfalls and icebergs and underground into caves to capture “animal dramas” including an “extraordinary” gathering of great whales in Antarctica and a lone grey-headed albatross chick being blown off its nest in a storm.

Other highlights include a new species of Australian jumping spider with impressive dance moves and polar bears using a never-before-seen strategy to catch beluga whales.

Antarctica, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia will feature over the course of the series.

Seven Worlds, One Planet begins on Sunday, October 27 at 6.15pm on BBC One.

​Additional reporting by Press Assocation.