Tom Hanks narrating "The Americas"

Govind Tekale

BBC's wildlife series "The Americas" replaced David Attenborough with Tom Hanks, sparking heated viewer debate.

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Many viewers switched off after hearing Hanks' narration style, with one tweeting: "Makes you realise how good David Attenborough is.

Photo Source: NBC (You Tube)

Hanks expressed enthusiasm about the role: "When the opportunity arose to be the voice of The Americas, I said: 'I think I've lived for that opportunity.

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Some critics made dramatic comparisons, likening the narrator switch to "making Keir Starmer a PM, when you've once had a true Brit in Sir Winston Churchill.

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Loyal defenders praised Hanks' work: "First episode was stunning, great narration by Tom Hanks. Beautiful work!"

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The series was created by the same production team behind acclaimed documentaries "Blue Planet" and "Planet Earth."

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What makes viewers so attached to a narrator's voice when watching wildlife footage?

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At 97, Attenborough has reduced his workload while maintaining select projects, creating space for new voices in nature documentaries.

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Hanks brought previous narration experience from projects like "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon" and "Band of Brothers."

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One supporter noted: "If they get you interested in the natural world, they did their job."

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The American accent in British nature programming represents a significant shift in the documentary landscape.

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Can wildlife footage quality overcome viewer attachment to a familiar narrator?

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Another viewer praised the content regardless of narrator: "The trash pandas were so cute."

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How might this narrator change affect future BBC nature documentaries and global audience strategies?

Photo Source: NBC (You Tube)