‘Seems like a waste of the license fee’: Viewers baffled by BBC’s Spy in the Ocean concept quiz

Baffled viewers have taken to Twitter to criticize BBC1 wildlife show Spy in the Ocean.

Filmed in the Indian Ocean and other locations including Thailand, Japan and the Caribbean, the four-part series uses high-tech robots built to look like animals to capture footage of wildlife.

Costing tens of thousands to make, these spycams were able to swim closer to animals than human divers, capturing unprecedented footage.

However, some viewers were unimpressed with the technology, with some describing the animatronic animals as “pointless.”

This is because traditional cameras were also used to capture footage of the robots interacting with the animals, as well as showing off the spycam robots themselves.

A disgruntled viewer took to the social media platform to write, “#spyintheocean but there is another camera filming the spy. Doesn’t it destroy the whole idea?’

Another added: ‘Who is filming the spy? Doesn’t this just defeat the object? #spyintheocean.’

In a similar vein, a third wrote, “uh, aren’t these mostly normal cameras taking video from expensive (Lic’ Payers cost) ‘spy’ cameras taking a small amount of video of the animals?” The spy cameras seem pointless. #spyintheocean.’

And another Twitter user agreed, adding, “When you see the fake animal cameras.. Remember it’s filmed with a regular camera and cameraman so….. WHAT IS IT F***** * POINT … # spying in the ocean.’

Another similar Tweet read: ‘#spyintheocean So you always need a cameraman to shoot videos of the animated sea creatures. I think I’m missing something here.’

One seemed annoyed with the episode, revealing, “A few things annoy about this series. 1. It’s mostly about the animatronics, not the anomalies. 2.Who films the spycams filming the animals?’

And another viewer questioned whether the program was an effective use of resources, writing, “So they make models of animals and put cameras in them and then film the spy camera interacting with the animals.” licensing fees #spyintheocean.’

However, many viewers seemed delighted with the footage, which captured a number of creatures in their natural habitat.

Among those seen last night were sperm whales, macaque monkeys, wild boars and hermit crabs.

During the first episode, puffer fish and a coconut octopus also appeared on the small screen.

One impressed viewer wrote, “The people who create the creatures in #spyintheocean are extraordinary! I love the bond between the real octopus and the spy; the monkey was cute and the swimming pig just genius. This is fantastic TV!’

Another agreed, adding, “Oh wow, Spy in the Ocean is @BBCOne at its best. The pufferfish gets a helping hand from the spy to find a mate! And Spy Octopus saves his friend from a shark meal! #SpyInTheOcean #BBC #Ocean.”

A third added: ‘Watching #SpyInTheOcean on BBC1 and the spy creatures have given us such beautiful views and landscapes of the ocean.’

And a fourth wrote, “The technology involved in making the spies is absolutely amazing! #SpyInTheOcean.’

Another Twitter user was equally impressed with the technology, saying, “The amount of detail and effort that went into making these animals is incredible, even down to the smallest detail of the pig tail wiggling a little #SpyInTheOcean. “

The BBC described the program as follows: ‘In this brand new four-part series, an amazing new generation of spy creatures set out to explore the ocean and meet the ingenious and emotional animals that have made this habitat their home.’

Spy in the Ocean airs on BBC One on Sundays at 7pm. It is also available to watch via iPlayer.