Benedict Cumberbatch shares experience presenting new environmental documentary

UPDATE - follow-up to Benedict Cumberbatch interview: Why 'How to Live on Earth' left him 'turbocharged': Actor Benedict Cumberbatch discusses his role as presenter in the Open Planet documentary 'How to Live on Earth', which premiered on YouTube on September 20. Speaking from London, Cumberbatch admitted he felt slightly nervous taking on the project because Sir David Attenborough is widely seen as the primary presenter of natural health documentaries. Executive producer Jonnie Hughes explained that Cumberbatch was chosen for his global reach and intellectual storytelling style. The film is built around three core pillars: how to feed the future, how to value nature, and how to be human. To support his presentation, Cumberbatch collaborated with several experts, including wildlife filmmaker Dan O'Neill, climate activist Xiye Bastida, and former White House chef Sam Kass. Cumberbatch noted that working on the project greatly deepened his understanding of the natural world, particularly after witnessing events like the removal of dams on the Klamath River and seeing tribespeople react to the return of salmon. He emphasised that humanity must remember we are a part of nature rather than apart from it, criticising modern capitalist systems that treat people like units in a factory. The documentary was released for free on YouTube, supported by the Villars Institute Foundation and Silvania, to ensure it can be easily shared with educators, policymakers, and the public without a paywall.