BBC Studios announce new mindfulness series
with Headspace Studios
• Mindful Escapes: Breathe, Release, Restore to air on BBC Four on September 7, 2020
• The series will also be re-edited into ten minute series Mindful Earth for Headspace app
• The series will also be re-edited into ten minute series Mindful Earth for Headspace app
BBC Studios Natural History Unit have announced a pioneering four part series Mindful Earth in collaboration with Headspace Studios, a multi-platform content studio from global leader in meditation and mindfulness, Headspace.
The series will premiere on BBC Four from September 7, 2020, and will also be re-versioned into 10 x 10-minute episodes, Mindful Earth, for the Headspace app later this year. BBC Studios will handle international distribution.
Mindful Earth will offer the viewer immersive mindful experiences within the natural world and will be narrated by Headspace co-founder and former Buddhist monk, Andy Puddicombe.
The four standalone 30 minute films - Breathe, Change, Joy and Rest will feature archive footage from the treasure trove of the Natural History Unit’s films, including never before seen sequences. Narration from Andy Puddicombe will guide the viewers on a series of gentle journeys, inviting them to engage in captivating animal behaviour and eco systems from around the world. A unique collaboration that relaxes and rejuvenates the viewer, each episode features archive footage that is encapsulated by a mindful theme
The four standalone 30 minute films - Breathe, Change, Joy and Rest will feature archive footage from the treasure trove of the Natural History Unit’s films, including never before seen sequences. Narration from Andy Puddicombe will guide the viewers on a series of gentle journeys, inviting them to engage in captivating animal behaviour and eco systems from around the world. A unique collaboration that relaxes and rejuvenates the viewer, each episode features archive footage that is encapsulated by a mindful theme.
Alice Keens-Soper, BBC Studios Executive Producer, says “This sort of collaboration is a world first for BBC Studios. In what is effectively a new genre of television the audience is invited to fully immerse in stunning imagery of the natural world and experience it through a mindful lens. It’s perfect programming for these strange times”
Jill Kellie, BBC Studios Commercial Director, says. "We know that our nature content brings joy to viewers and reduces stress levels. The partnership with Headspace Studios enables us to take that to the next level, and bring a much needed oasis of mental calm during these challenging times”
Andy Puddicombe, co-founder of Headspace, says: “The BBC’s Natural History Unit has an exceptional ability to transport viewers from their homes to some of the most extraordinary places in nature. Collaborating on this series is very exciting, because we can now take people on a whole new journey, an immersive experience that merges the external world with our internal landscape.”
Mindful Escapes: Breathe, Release, Restore, a 4 x 30 BBC Studios Natural History Unit and Headspace Studios Production for BBC Four, was commissioned by Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four, and Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning Science and Natural History. The Executive Producer for BBC Studios is Alice Keens-Soper and the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Sreya Biswas. The producers for Headspace Studios are, Morgan Selzer and Sam Rogoway. Mindful Escapes: Breathe, Release, Restore is a continuation of Headspace Studios’ production efforts to create original mindful living content on multiple platforms.
For further information please contact: Sonia.cooper@bbc.com / 07809 598 364
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About the BBC Studios Natural History Unit
BBC Studios Natural History Unit produces the world’s most iconic natural history programmes, such as Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II, which have been watched by more than a billion people globally. Ranging from technically challenging live shows and super-landmarks to long-running series and children’s content, The Natural History Unit programmes include Seven Worlds, One Planet presented by Sir David Attenborough, Primates, Earth’s Tropical Islands, Dynasties, Blue Planet Live, Springwatch, Bears About the House, Andy’s Aquatic Adventures and third-party commissions for Discovery, Apple, NBC, Quibi, National Geographic and BBC America.
BBC Studios Natural History Unit produces the world’s most iconic natural history programmes, such as Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II, which have been watched by more than a billion people globally. Ranging from technically challenging live shows and super-landmarks to long-running series and children’s content, The Natural History Unit programmes include Seven Worlds, One Planet presented by Sir David Attenborough, Primates, Earth’s Tropical Islands, Dynasties, Blue Planet Live, Springwatch, Bears About the House, Andy’s Aquatic Adventures and third-party commissions for Discovery, Apple, NBC, Quibi, National Geographic and BBC America.
The Natural History Unit is part of BBC Studios, a subsidiary of the BBC, which develops, produces and distributes bold, British content, making over 2500 hours of content each year, operating in 22 markets globally and generating revenue of around £1.4bn. In the year to March 2019, it returned £243m to the BBC Group, complementing the BBC’s licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programmes are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including six production bases in the UK and production bases and partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which makes 2500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector. BBC Studios has revenue of £1.4bn, and returns around £200m to the BBC Group annually, complementing the BBC’s licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.
About Headspace
Headspace was created with one mission in mind: to improve the health and happiness of the world. Reaching more than 65 million users in 190 countries, Headspace was one of the first meditation apps in the world and remains a leader in mindfulness and mental training. Headspace is committed to advancing the field of mindfulness through clinically validated research, with one of the largest research pipelines of any digital health and wellness company. Headspace operates a B2B business (Headspace for Work) to offer its mindfulness products and services to more than 1,100 companies, such as Starbucks, Adobe, GE, Hyatt and Unilever, to help them build healthier, more productive cultures and higher performing organizations. Headspace supports government entities like New York State and the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to offer digital mental health tools. Headspace partners with many of the world’s most-recognizable brands, including Apple and Amazon, as well as with Nike, NBA and the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team to offer sport and movement content. Headspace Health is Headspace’s digital health subsidiary pioneering new ways to incorporate the Headspace mindfulness experience into digital medicine. Headspace has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies, Apple's Best of 2018, Samsung's Best of 2019 and one of CB Insights' top digital health companies, along with being selected for five Webby Awards in health and fitness between 2018 and 2019. For more information please visit us at www.headspace.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.