The BBC has done its best to allay concerns over the wellbeing of Sir David Attenborough, 98, following his return to screens on Sunday evening.
The legendary presenter returned to the Beeb to front a new wildlife series titled Asia, exploring the continent's picturesque landscapes and getting up close and personal with its wildlife.
Kicking off the first episode this past weekend, Attenborough made a rare appearance in the flesh rather than as merely a narrator.
He introduced the series from the Natural History Museum, telling BBC viewers that Asia "holds more riches than any other".
The 98-year-old went on: "It covers almost a third of the land on Earth. In the south, stand vast forests. And to the north, lies an immense frozen wilderness.
"Much of the centre is dominated by deserts and at its heart are the world’s highest mountains. Off the coast of this continent, stretches the richest seas on Earth.
BBC Asia: Sir David Attenborough returned to front the new documentary series
BBC
"And that’s not all. This is the most populous place on the planet. Here, animals live alongside humans in the most remarkable ways.
"If you think you’ve seen the best the natural world has to offer, there’s nowhere else on Earth with so many untold stories. Welcome then, to Asia," he signed off as snippets from the upcoming series played over his narration.
The action then transported viewers to the seas of the West Pacific Ocean, with Attenborough providing the voiceover from the comfort of a recording booth.
However, as Attenborough delivered his latest narration, fans grew concerned something was amiss due to a supposed change in his voice from his introduction.
Before long, X, formerly Twitter, was inundated with concerned fans looking for answers, with many suggesting Attenborough may have been replaced by artificial intelligence.
"Anyone else confused as to why the voice of the amazing David Attenborough sounds different?" one fan questioned. "It’s like it’s been auto tuned? #Asia."
Soon after, someone agreed: "Yes! We are. It’s not quite right, is it? It’s definitely been tweaked in some way. To begin with I thought it was someone else narrating."
"Definitely been tweaked," a third weighed in before a fourth said: "Agree. I also wonder if it’s Ai, trained on 60 years of DA, and they’ve done it to see if we notice? It’s too young, too sprightly, too high-pitched."
Elsewhere, a fifth also posed the question: "Why does Attenborough's voice on his new show, #Asia on BBC one sound like someone doing an Attenborough impression? Another fascinating show, but I wonder if his 98 year old voice has needed a bit of post-production?"
And a sixth was convinced they'd already found the answer, hitting out: "These AI voices are ruining Sir David Attenborough's voice," followed by face-palm emojis. (sic)
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BBC Asia: Sir David Attenborough's voice led some fans to query whether it had been "changed"
BBC
However, the BBC has insisted Attenborough provided all vocal work on the show and that it was broadcast just as it was recorded.
In a statement to Metro, a spokesperson for the corporation said: "No AI or auto tune has been used on Sir David’s voice, which was recorded in exactly the same way it has been for years."
