David Attenborough urges action on plastics after filming Blue Planet II

Naturalist says experience making second series of BBC show revealed devastating threat posed to oceans by plastic

Sir David Attenborough has called for the world to cut back on its use of plastic in order to protect oceans. His new BBC TV series, Blue Planet II, is to demonstrate the damage the material is causing to marine life.

Speaking at the launch of Blue Planet II, which will be broadcast 16 years after the original series, the broadcaster and naturalist said action on plastics should be taken immediately and that humanity held the future of the planet "in the palm of its hands".