Ewan McGregor to narrate Hebrides TV show

The Perthshire-born actor broke the news on his twitter feed that he has been working on the four-part series of programmes.

Some three years in the making, Hebrides - Islands on the Edge will be screened by BBC Scotland in the spring.

Acclaimed wildlife film-makers Nigel Pope, John Aitchison and underwater specialist Doug Anderson have all worked extensively on the show, which will be part of a major “Wild Scotland” series on BBC Scotland over the next few months.

They captured basking sharks, white-tailed eagles and seals struggling to protect their newborn pups for the series, which is being made by Glasgow-based production company Maramedia.

The company has promised that the series - which will combine footage of stunning scenery and wild animals - will portray Scotland “as you have never seen it before.

It added: “The Hebrides series unites unforgettable landscapes, ravishing imagery and powerful storytelling.”

The programme will also feature gannets on Ailsa Craig, red deer on the Isle of Rum, swallows that set up home on a whisky distillery in Islay and the unique flowering meadows of North Uist.

Trainspotting and Star Wars actor McGregor posted on his twitter feed, which has a quarter of a million followers: “I’ve spent the last two days narrating a doc about the Hebrides.

“It’s one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. Majestic. Should be seen in Scotland in May.”

Meanwhile Sir David Attenborough has agreed to narrate a sepaprate series which will depict how Scotland’s landscapes have inspired some of the world’s leading cameramen.

The BBC Scotland series will feature the work of acclaimed film-makers like Aitchison and Anderson, as well as Gordon Buchanan, Doug Allan and Mark Smith.

Each week of the four-part series, Wild Camereman At Work, will take a different theme – Ice, Land, Sky and Sea – to illustrate the challenges and the triumphs of their endeavours.

A final live programme will be broadcast on 21 June - the longest night - from the Callanish standing stones on the Isle of Lewis, with presenter Dougie Vipond leading an exploration of how long days can affect nature.

Neil McDonald, executive producer of the Wild Scotland season, said: “Scottish viewers will just not have seen Scottish scenery and wildlife reflected in such cinematic majesty before as we have in Hebrides – Islands on the Edge.

“It is very much a landmark series for BBC Scotland in conjunction with independent TV company Maramedia, providing unprecedented images of the greatness and minutiae of the islands’ wildlife.

“This is the flagship for a season of programmes , which celebrates the televisual gift of the Scottish scenery and wildlife for viewers and for the people, behind the camera, that it inspires.

“Across the season,we are also delighted to have such star names as Ewan McGregor and Sir David Attenborough involved as well as some of the top names behind the camera alongside the main attraction – the landscape and wildlife.”

The BBC Scotland season is expected to provide a huge boost for the £5.4 million “Year of Natural Scotland” campaign which VisitScotland is spearheading on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Chief executive Malcolm Roughead said: “This awe-inspiring new series is great news for Scotland, and will act as a tremendous boost as we celebrate this, the Year of Natural Scotland.

“We have already been working closely with the producers of Hebrides – Islands on the Edge and viewers can see some of this stunning footage within our new V and cinema advert, which is currently airing to millions across the UK and Ireland.”