Eyewitness (UK TV series)

Format

Eyewitness is a documentary series. Each half-hour episode focuses on a single subject in the field of natural science, such as the Solar System or the various functions of the human body. The information is presented in the "Eyewitness Museum", a CGI science museum. Various exhibits are shown, and stock footage is usually seen through large windows or other depressions in the wall. The book series and the show share a striking visual style making notable use of the color white. In addition, almost every episode features a "Hero". The Hero is a character or object which drives the action of the show and is continually referred back to. These include the weathervane chicken from Weather, the claymation Legs the Tyrannosaurus from Dinosaur, the paper boat from Pond and River, the salmon from Fish and the robotic Human mime artist from Human Machine.

Andrew Sachs was the original narrator for the series in the United Kingdom. Martin Sheen narrated it for American audiences during the first two seasons, before Sachs took over doing both versions (with separate accents for the countries) in the final season. The series producer was Bill Butt.

When the series was released on video, episodes from the first two seasons featured brief behind-the-scenes clips after the main program. In 2003, eight episodes of the program were released onto "interactive DVDs". The UK narration were kept in the American releases of these interactive DVDs.

There are also four Eyewitness Virtual Reality software based on the show: "Cat", "Bird", "Dinosaur Hunter", and "Earth Quest". One of these, "Shark", although seen on the elevator console, was never made.

Series 1 (1994)

1. Amphibian (Frogs, Toads, Newts, and Salamanders) – 5 September 1994
2. Bird (Birds and how they survive) – 12 September 1994
3. Cat (Members of the feline family) – 19 September 1994
4. Dinosaur (the age of the dinosaurs) – 26 September 1994
5. Dog (canines) – 3 October 1994
6. Elephant (elephants and how they survive) – 10 October 1994
7. Fish (the world of fish) – 17 October 1994
8. Horse (horse life) – 24 October 1994
9. Insect (species of insect) – 31 October 1994
10. Jungle (Rainforests) – 7 November 1994
11. Reptile (Turtles, lizards, crocodilians, and snakes) – 14 November 1994
12. Shark (species of shark) – 21 November 1994
13. Skeleton (bones of various animals) – 28 November 1994

Series 2 (1996)

1. Ape (primates) – 2 September 1996
2. Arctic and Antarctic (polar regions) – 9 September 1996
3. Butterfly and Moth (species of moth and butterfly) – 16 September 1996
4. Desert (deserts) – 23 September 1996
5. Mammal (the world of mammals) – 30 September 1996
6. Pond and River (rivers, lakes, and ponds) – 7 October 1996
7. Prehistoric Life (how life on earth evolved and changed) – 14 October 1996
8. Rock and Mineral (geology) – 21 October 1996
9. Seashore (beaches) – 28 October 1996
10. Shell (Animals that have shells) – 4 November 1996
11. Tree (trees) – 11 November 1996
12. Volcano (volcanoes and earthquakes) – 18 November 1996
13. Weather (the sky) – 25 November 1996

Series 3 (1997)

1. Bear (bears and how they live) – 25 August 1997
2. Flight (flying machines) – 1 September 1997
3. Human Machine (the human body) – 8 September 1997
4. Island (islands of the world) – 15 September 1997
5. Life (biology) – 22 September 1997
6. Monster (mythical and real-live monsters) – 29 September 1997
7. Mountain (mountains of the world) – 6 October 1997
8. Natural Disasters (great disasters) – 13 October 1997
9. Ocean (seas and oceans) – 20 October 1997
10. Planets (Solar System Mercury to Pluto) – 3 November 1997
11. Plant (the world of plants) – 10 November 1997
12. Sight (eyes) – 17 November 1997
13. Survival (how animals cope with their surroundings) – 24 November 1997

Specials

1. The Making of Eyewitness (1998)
2. The Making of Eyewitness Living Earth (2000)
3. The Making of Eyewitness Worlds (2003)

Reception

It has won several awards:

Following its release on video and the end of its run on PBS, however, the show faded into relative obscurity. By contrast the book series which inspired the program has continued, and about 150 unique titles are now available.