SEA LIFE LONDON AQUARIUM PARTNERS WITH BBC EARTH TO CREATE A MULTI-SENSORY POLAR EXPERIENCE

FROZEN PLANET: FACE TO FACE OPENING 25th March 2016

SEA LIFE London Aquarium will be inviting visitors to experience the magical polar ice worlds of BBC Earth’s epic natural history series: Frozen Planet in a new permanent attraction opening for Easter 2016.

Visitors will follow in the footsteps of the BBC’s intrepid film crews, encountering a polar bear and her cubs and killer whales, as the incredible icy wilderness featured in the series, comes to life using breathtaking augmented reality.

Frozen Planet: Face to Face uses the latest entertainment technology to take visitors above and beneath the ice through spectacular polar landscapes in an interactive walk through experience introduced by actor and wildlife enthusiast, Ewan McGregor. Guests will be brought face to face with polar bears and orcas for a magical journey as they interact with some of the planet’s most extraordinary creatures.

Cutting edge scent, sound and visual effects are used to immerse visitors in the frozen worlds of their polar expedition. Each interactive stage of their journey will reveal something new: chilly air prickling their skin as arctic frost grows before their eyes, a deadly brine icicle descending to the sea bed, a gigantic orca whale rising from the waves, polar bears roaming the ice and an astonishing display of Northern Lights flickering overhead.

“We want to create an unforgettable Frozen Planet experience for our visitors,” commented Toby Forer, General Manager of SEA LIFE London Aquarium. “BBC Earth’s spectacular film footage has been brought to life using advanced technology to create a unique multi-sensory experience that will bring families closer to our planets magical polar ice worlds than they ever would have thought possible.”

Mat Way, Commercial Director, Live Entertainment at BBC Worldwide adds, “We are delighted to partner with SEA LIFE on Frozen Planet: Face to Face. It’s an incredible concept and perfect for an iconic series such as BBC Earth’s Frozen Planet. Our team is looking forward to working with SEA LIFE to bring the dramatic Polar Regions and its amazing animals to life.”

The Frozen Planet: Face to Face experience will be a permanent addition to the SEA LIFE London Aquarium and included in the entrance price. Visitors can also enjoy getting up close to over 6000 colourful aquatic inhabitants representing over 500 species in 65 immersive displays.

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Notes to Editors:

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 111 attractions, 12 hotels/4 holiday villages in 23 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its almost 63 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and c26,000 employees (peak season). Among Merlin’s attractions are - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, DreamWorks Tours SHREK’s Adventure, The London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park Resort, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit for more information.

About BBC Earth

BBC Earth seeks to inspire you by sharing the incredible wonders of our universe. It will take you on a thrilling journey of discovery, from the smallest creature under the microscope to the limitless expanses of space. BBC Earth will bring you face to face with heart pounding action, mind blowing ideas and the wonder of being human. Commercially and internationally the brand is managed by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC. Since launch the brand has grown across multiple platforms including BBC Earth branded channels and channel blocks on television, live events, visitor attractions, theatrical releases for cinema and giant screen films and online on BBC.com and social media sites, all dedicated to bringing audiences premium factual content.

About BBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.

In 2014/15, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £138.6m and headline sales of £1,001.8m and returned a record £226.5m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website:

bbcworldwide.com

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