The 10 best David Attenborough series to watch now
To mark the great naturalist's 100th birthday, we look back on 10 of his best TV series since we first saw him on air in 1954 — from Zoo Quest to Dynasties…
BBC/Sam Barker
- Radio Times Staff
10 items
Ad
Showing 1 to 10 of 10 results
-
1954
Nature
Documentary
David Attenborough explores various remote habitats around the globe in search of various rare and endangered animals.
-
1979
Education
Documentary
Naturalist David Attenborough travels around the world to tell the story of the evolution of life on the planet, beginning in the South American rainforest.
-
1993
Nature
Documentary
David Attenborough observes the plight of wildlife during a seasonal cycle of Antarctica, looking at the lives of wildlife including penguins, whales and seals.
-
2002
Nature
Documentary
Acclaimed naturalist David Attenborough encounters a wide range of mammals in a journey that takes him from some of the warmest to some of the coldest environments in the world.
-
2005
Nature
Documentary
Documentary series that uses innovative methods to examine invertebrates. Presented by David Attenborough, it reveals how the tiny organisms became the first creatures to colonise dry land.
-
Nature
Birds of paradise are one of David Attenborough's lifelong passions. He was the first to film many of their beautiful and often bizarre displays, and over his lifetime he has tracked them all over the jungles of New Guinea. In this very personal film, he uncovers the remarkable story of how these 'birds from paradise' have captivated explorers, naturalists, artists, film-makers and even royalty. He explores the myths surrounding their discovery 500 years ago, the latest extraordinary behaviour captured on camera and reveals the scientific truth behind their beauty: the evolution of their spectacular appearance has in fact been driven by sex. And in a final contemporary twist to this story of obsession and royalty, he travels to the desert of Qatar, to a state-of-the-art facility which houses the largest breeding group of these birds in the world - a sheikh's very own private collection. There he has his closest ever encounter with a greater bird of paradise and its dramatic display, reliving the experience that captivated him in the forests of New Guinea more than 50 years ago. 'For me birds of paradise are the most romantic and glamorous birds in the world. And this is a film I have wanted to make for 40 years.' - Sir David Attenborough.
-
2018
History
Documentary
PG
Nature series. David Attenborough narrates footage of five of the world's most endangered species, including chimpanzees, lions, tigers, penguins and painted dogs.
-
2006
Nature
Documentary
PG
In this documentary series David Attenborough provides the voiceover to images celebrating the spectacular scenery and natural history of Earth, and also the diverse habitats it sustains.
-
2019
Documentary
Family
PG
David Attenborough looks at life on each of the seven continents, revealing how each distinct land mass has shaped the creatures found there.
-
2025
Nature
Documentary
PG
Documentary in which the master of natural history film-making explores the beauty of our blue planet and offers both a warning and some hope for the future of Earth's ecosystem.
See more The 10 best David Attenborough series to watch now
Authors
Radio Times Staff
Ad
Ad
Ad
Subscribe for £1 per week
Too much to watch this autumn? Let Radio Times magazine and app do the choosing, with expert picks across TV, streaming and film.
Ad