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'Blue Planet II' So Popular It 'Slowed Down The Internet In China'

'Blue Planet II' So Popular It 'Slowed Down The Internet In China'

David Attenborough is being described as one of the ‘most viewed creatures on earth’.

James Dawson

James Dawson

BBC figures have shown the new Blue Planet series has attracted around 80 million viewers in China alone, making Sir David one of the 'most viewed creatures on earth'.

The Sunday Times has reported that the shows popularity with Chinese viewers on the Tencent Video online channel, temporarily slowed down the country's internet, as people rushed to download it.

The second episode of Blue Planet II was compared to a 'horror movie' by viewers. Credit: BBC/Blue Planet II

Following its release, Muhou Jun, a film blogger from Beijing with a following of four million, wrote: "I watched with my mouth hanging open.

"Blue Planet contains a profound humanistic appeal to protect our environment.'

And Fankucha Zhendi, also of Beijing and with 1.4 million followers, wrote: "I've been crying all the time... it's just so beautiful."

Credit: BBC/Blue Planet II

Kelvin Yau, BBC Worldwide's manager for China, told the Sunday Times that Blue Planet was attracting families who watch it together

He said: "With the fast growth of cities, many Chinese, especially younger generations, want to reconnect with the natural world."

The news comes after it was revealed that Blue Planet II is the most watched UK TV show of the year, so far.

Credit: BBC /Blue Planet II

The first episode of Blue Planet II hit our screens on 29 October and reeled in a whopping 14.1m people, with the second episode reaching an audience of 10.8m.

The first episode was the third most viewed show of the past five years - beaten only by the 2014 World Cup Final and last year's Great British Bake Off.

The David Attenborough-narrated wildlife series is a follow up to Blue Planet, which aired in 2001. The long-awaited second series took ten years to research, film and produce, but has been well worth the wait.

Speaking about the show, Sir David previously told the BBC: "I am truly thrilled to be joining this new exploration of the underwater worlds which cover most of our planet, yet are still its least known."


Featured Image Credit: BBC / Blue Planet

Topics: World News, Entertainment, TV and Film, Blue Planet, attenborough, david cameron, China,

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

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@thejaytoday