William and Hannah Waddingham to feature in new Earthshot documentary

The Prince of Wales and actress Hannah Waddingham are to feature in a new documentary on William’s Earthshot Prize.

The Earthshot Report will be screened on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on December 15 and showcase the environmental solutions the competition has inspired around the globe, offering a “dose of urgent optimism”.

Heir to the throne William will appear in a special introduction, while Ted Lasso star Waddingham is the programme’s host.

In a trailer posted on Earthshot’s social media, the prince, filmed as he stands in a forest holding an umbrella, says: “Our planet needs our help and every year counts.”

He adds: “So what have we achieved in 2024?”

Waddingham, also a supporter of the initiative, says in her voiceover: “Join us in a special look back at the year, exploring the game-changing solutions on our journey to a sustainable future.”

The documentary, which will also be aired on PBS in the US on December 18, will feature interviews with Earthshot finalists and winners including Notpla, Amazon Sacred Headwaters, Restor and Mukuru Clean Stoves, and share personal stories behind the ideas.

William founded the Earthshot Prize four years ago to discover and scale up groundbreaking solutions to repair the planet, with a £50 million prize fund spanning 10 years.

He travelled to Cape Town at the start of November to host the glittering award ceremony in a sustainable eco-dome alongside stars such as Heidi Klum.

Hannah Jones, chief executive of the Earthshot Prize, said: “At a time when there is so much pessimism about the environment, The Earthshot Report is the dose of urgent optimism we need.

“We are proud to be able to amplify the inspiring stories of Earthshot innovators and showcase the growing global movement of climate creativity they are leading.

“We are honoured to collaborate with the BBC and PBS to bring these compelling stories of Earthshot innovators and entrepreneurs to millions of people across the globe.”