BBC confirms start date for all-new Naturewatch series starring Chris Packham and more

The year-round wildlife show lands on BBC Two next month.

Megan McCubbin and Kyle Thomas sat down next to each other, smiling ahead, with Chris Packham crouched down behind them.

BBC/Sarah Louise Bennett

Published: Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 10:31 am

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Naturewatch, a new weekly celebration of British wildlife fronted by Chris Packham alongside Megan McCubbin and Kyle Thomas, will debut on BBC Two next month.

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The first episode arrives on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds from 6am on Friday 6 November, before airing on BBC Two at 7:30pm. Produced by the BBC Studios natural history unit, the show broadcasts from a studio pod in the British countryside near Bristol, where the three presenters are joined each week by experts tackling viewer questions.

The series has been described as "a weekly celebration of British wildlife", bringing together "the stories that make us curious, the behaviours that make us wonder and the unexpected discoveries about the wildlife we think we know".

The trio, described as "three curious minds, a wealth of expertise and one shared obsession with the natural world", will cover everything from why birds eat rocks to what really happens during the rutting season. Alongside the big questions, the show will "explore the stories making waves in the natural world, uncover the science behind the headlines and bring the audience into the conversation".

Every television episode will be followed by a special audio-only Naturewatch Q&A, exclusive to BBC Sounds, giving audiences a chance to put their questions to the experts.

Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and Kyle Thomas resting against a tree, smiling ahead.

Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and Kyle Thomas. BBC/Sarah Louise Bennett

The commission follows the BBC's decision to end Winterwatch after 14 years, with the broadcaster moving towards a year-round format to keep audiences connected to British wildlife across every season. Springwatch, meanwhile, will return for three weeks in May 2027.

Packham, a long-standing fixture of the BBC's Watches, said: "Packed with fresh science, guaranteed nerdiness and a lively, conversational spirit, this is a new nature adventure I can't wait to share with audiences. I'm so excited, I'm practically breaking out in a rash!" He added that, from "newts to nightingales, nudibranchs to noctules", the show would "blow minds, have a laugh, deepen our understanding and fall head over heels for the wildlife on our doorstep".

McCubbin, who has co-presented Springwatch since 2020 and is Packham's stepdaughter, commented: "I couldn't be more excited to be co-hosting this new show, Naturewatch! The natural world is full of incredible surprises, fascinating characters and lots of jaw-dropping moments." She said having "a weekly programme dedicated to UK wildlife means a lot" and that she hoped it would "inspire viewers to get outside and reconnect with the wildlife around us".

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Thomas, a wildlife presenter and animal advocate, added: "Wildlife has always been my biggest passion, so to be part of Naturewatch alongside Chris and Megan is incredibly exciting. I hope we can inspire a new generation to fall in love with the natural world."

Naturewatch is available to stream on BBC iPlayer from Friday 6 November 2026 at 6am and will air on BBC Two at 7:30pm on Friday 6 November.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Katelyn Mensah, smiling against a lime green background.

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

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