The BBC’s Hamza Yassin has admitted that some of his animal scenes are faked to elicit sympathy from viewers.
The 33-year-old cameraman, who won Strictly Come Dancing last year with his professional partner Jowita Przystał, said the shows were edited to give TV viewers more emotion.
Yassin has been touted as the next Attenborough, having worked on programs such as Animal Park and Countryfile – and more recently his documentary Strictly: Birds of Prey.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, he revealed that footage is “dramatised” to create a story.
Hamza said: “So often we film a family of cheetahs and they have three babies and we just zoom in a little bit and cut out the last baby.”
Films: BBC’s Hamza Yassin has admitted that some of his animal scenes are faked to elicit sympathy from viewers
Talented: The 33-year-old cameraman, who won Strictly Come Dancing last year with his professional partner Jowita Przystał, said the shows were edited to convey more emotion to TV viewers
Who is Hamza Yassin?
Hamza Yassin is a presenter, nature photographer and cameraman.
He has appeared in a number of BBC shows including Countryfile and Animal Park.
Humza’s first gig as a presenter for the channel came when he worked as a wildlife cameraman on The One Show.
He also has his own popular live-action shows on children’s channel CBeebies titled Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest and Let’s Go For A Walk.
Hamza previously worked for BBC rival ITV when he shared his filmmaking knowledge on This Morning.
As a cinematographer, Hamza has filmed for documentary series including Springwatch, The Hunt and the BBC’s Sky series Predators.
He holds a master’s degree in biological imaging and photography with honors and a bachelor of science in zoology with conservation.
“Then you bring in a lion and the lion goes, “Grr,” and you think, “Oh, the lion killed the baby!”
“And then five minutes of drama, and we just zoom out again, and then you’re like, ‘Ah, it’s all a happy story.’
‘NO. That didn’t happen. “We dramatize what we see.”
The reason for the edit is to raise awareness of environmental concerns among viewers.
Hamza continued: “I want to tell the truth.” “I want to say what is happening in this world.”
Viewers were blown away by Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey when it premiered in September and said the presenter could become the next Sir David Attenborough.
The BBC1 show saw wildlife cameraman Hamza, who was a little-known cameraman before his win on Strictly Come Dancing in December, traveling around the UK to track down and film his favorite birds.
In a touching moment, Hamza visited nature photographer David Plummer’s home in East Sussex, where he saw an owl swoop down and snatch prey right under his nose.
Many viewers of the show were impressed by Hamza’s passion for British wildlife and some said the program even made them cry.
One wrote: “Surely Hamza must be the next David Attenborough when David steps down. “Brilliant program so far.”
Viewers were blown away by Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey last night – with claims the presenter could be Sir David Attenborough
Hamza has previously revealed his dream of becoming like legendary wildlife presenter Attenborough, 97, after his dyslexia stopped him from becoming a doctor.
In 2022, he said: “I followed in my family’s footsteps and pursued the profession of doctor, but then decided on zoology after a heart-to-heart conversation with my parents.”
“I said to them, ‘Look, I’m severely dyslexic, this is going to be an absolute nightmare.'” As much as I love to please everyone by becoming a paramedic, I still need to pursue my dream of being a wildlife cameraman and zoologist to become.
“I am someone who has fallen deeply in love with Mother Nature and wants to care for her thanks to people like Sir David Attenborough and Steve Irwin, God bless his soul.” They have given me the love of Mother Nature and I would like to pass it on to them pass it on to the next generation.”
BBC’s Hamza Yassin admits animal scenes are faked to elicit sympathy from viewers: ‘We dramatize what we see’