The new series comes sixteen years after the original Blue Planet aired, and filmmakers have taken advantage of the latest marine science and cutting-edge technology to mount 125 expeditions across 39 countries, and spent more than 6,000 hours diving.

The crews managed to film animal behaviour that until now has been rejected as just sailors myths.

Mark Brownlow, Series Producer, said: “What’s exciting is we are working with scientists and we are helping them further their science.

“Often the logistics is too massive for them to independently launch their own expedition but by collaborating we work together.

“A really good example is the common octopus near Cape Town and when this octopus feels threatened it picks up stones, and shells on the seabed and wraps them around itself and it seems to be a protective coat.

“Not only does it camouflage but it actually seems to be using the shells as a shield and we filmed that for the first time.”