Director of BBC Vision Jana Bennett said it promises to be "spectacular television".

The BBC hopes the eight-part high-definition series will have the same success as Blue Planet and Planet Earth.

Geldof honoured for tackling poverty - Jan 5 2007
Bob Geldof is to be honoured for his work in tackling world poverty, it was announced today.

The star is among five people receiving honorary degrees from Newcastle University to mark the work of the Make Poverty History campaign.

Chancellor Gordon Brown will also be honoured. He and Live8 organiser Bob will each receive an honorary doctor of civil law degree from the university’s chancellor, Lord Patten, on January 8.

They will be honoured alongside political economist Susan George, former president of Tanzania Benjamin William Mkapa and David Golding, of Make Poverty History North East, in a ceremony at the Sage Gateshead music centre.

The Chancellor was instrumental in getting the G8 countries to agree a debt relief package at Gleneagles in 2005 for some of the world’s poorest countries.

As the politicians met in Scotland, Bob and U2 frontman Bono organised the Live8 concerts, which formed part of the Make Poverty History campaign.

Professor Christopher Edwards, vice-chancellor of Newcastle University, said: "The university is delighted that Gordon Brown has accepted our invitation to receive an honorary degree."

F**king Bob - Mar 05
Bob Geldof has told Tony Blair to swear at George Bush. Bob shocked visitors to the launch of the Prime Minister’s Commission for Africa by launching in to an expletive ridden tirade about third world debt. "Tony and Gordon have to prepare to ring up George and say, ’Do this, George, do this one thing for me, it’s going to cost you f**k all, do it for me," he ranted. Tony Blair got on to the podium later to say that he agreed with the sentiments of Geldof’s statements even if the wording did make him wince.

A pint of bitter - Mar 05
Bob Geldof takes a dig at The Clash. In a recent interview Bob Geldof chose to launch in to one of his well known colourful rants - this time aimed at punk icons The Clash. Bob complained that the band had overshadowed his own attempt at success with The Boomtown Rats. "All that Hey right, the revolution tripe drove me mad. F**k off you c**t. Joe and Mick wanted to be Mick and Keith plain as f**king day yet we were frozen out." He went on to have a dig at the iconic bands songs as well, "I’d say ninety nine persent of the music was s**t and I was right. It hasn’t survived." Unlike your own, eh Bob?

Make Poverty History - Feb 05
Bob Geldof appears at yet another aid event. Saint Bob appeared at the Make Poverty History event in London alongside Nelson Mandela, Jamelia, June Sarpong and many others. See pictures here

Mr bloody Africa - Jan 05
Bob Geldof is sick of his African connections. Political activist Bob Geldof has told press that he is "sick of being Mr bloody Africa." He went on to complain that "Africa bores me profoundly," and that he and U2 frontman Bono get more press for their work with Africa than for their music (we hate to ask Bob but when was the last time you did anything musical other than rehashing flippin’ Band Aid?). The full rant can be read in the Radio Times.that’s right kids, not The Guardian, nor the NME, the Radio Times. You rebel Bob.