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What is Natural World about?

Natural World is a nature documentary television series broadcast annually on BBC Two and regarded by the BBC as its flagship natural history brand. It is currently the longest-running series in its genre on British television, with more than 400 episodes broadcast since its inception in 1983. N...

Natural World

Name: Natural World
Genre: Documentary
Released: 1983-10-30
Rating: 7.3
Cast: David Attenborough, John Hannah, Juliet Stevenson

TV Show 1983 7.3 /10

Directed by Andrew Graham-Brown, Mike Birkhead

Where to Watch "Natural World"

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Streaming availability last verified: January 14, 2026

About Natural World

Natural World is a long-running BBC Two documentary series that presents a new wildlife subject in each episode, from single species portraits to wider habitat studies. Launched in 1983, it pairs location footage with expert commentary and voiceover to make natural history approachable for a mainstream audience. Episodes are produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, though many are made by independent teams or co-produced with other broadcasters and later acquired by the BBC. Over 400 installments have aired, and the series has often been shown in the US under the PBS Nature banner. Presenters and narrators have included David Attenborough, John Hannah and Juliet Stevenson, and most entries have been filmed and broadcast in high definition since 2008.

First broadcast in 1983, Natural World was created by Brian Jackman and has been directed by filmmakers such as Andrew Graham-Brown and Mike Birkhead. Production is centered in the BBC Natural History Unit but episodes often result from international partnerships or independent commissions, reflecting the practical needs of global wildlife filmmaking.

Individual films within the Natural World strand have received recognition from broadcasting bodies and festival juries, with awards and shortlistings varying by episode and year. Honors tend to be given to standout single films for cinematography, sound design or conservation impact, and many contributors have been acknowledged by national and international television festivals.

As the BBC's flagship natural history brand and the longest-running series of its kind on British television, Natural World helped shape audience expectations for wildlife programming and raised the profile of conservation stories. Its association with established presenters, plus frequent US broadcasts via PBS Nature, made many sequences familiar to viewers beyond the UK and influenced how later series approached narrative and access.

Viewer ratings and critic response have generally been favorable, reflected in the series' 7.3/10 average from viewer votes. The series tends to focus on animal behavior, ecological change and human-wildlife relationships, with quality and tone varying episode to episode because of differing production teams, but overall it remains a respected and enduring reference in television natural history.

Details

Release Date: October 30, 1983
User Ratings: 28 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 39
Episodes: 543
Genres: Documentary

Official Trailer

Cast

David Attenborough

Self - Host

John Hannah

Narrator (voice)

Juliet Stevenson

Narrator (voice)

Director: Andrew Graham-Brown, Mike Birkhead

Created by: Brian Jackman

Seasons (39 seasons, 543 episodes)

Season 1

10 episodes - 1983

Season 2

8 episodes - 1984

Season 3

15 episodes - 1984

Season 4

20 episodes - 1985

Season 5

17 episodes - 1986

Season 6

13 episodes - 1987

Season 7

14 episodes - 1988

Season 8

16 episodes - 1989

Season 9

14 episodes - 1991

Season 10

13 episodes - 1991

Season 11

16 episodes - 1993

Season 12

14 episodes - 1994

Season 13

15 episodes - 1994

Season 14

12 episodes - 1996

Season 15

17 episodes - 1996

Season 16

19 episodes - 1997

Season 17

18 episodes - 1998

Season 18

17 episodes - 1999

Season 19

18 episodes - 2000

Season 20

16 episodes - 2001

Season 21

15 episodes - 2002

Season 22

17 episodes - 2003

Season 23

14 episodes - 2004

Season 24

18 episodes - 2005

Season 25

17 episodes - 2006

Season 26

11 episodes - 2007

Season 27

17 episodes - 2008

Season 28

16 episodes - 2008

Season 29

14 episodes - 2009

Season 30

14 episodes - 2010

Season 31

14 episodes - 2011

Season 32

10 episodes - 2012

Season 33

10 episodes - 2013

Season 34

10 episodes - 2014

Season 35

10 episodes - 2015

Season 36

9 episodes - 2016

Season 37

8 episodes - 2017

Season 38

8 episodes - 2018

S39

Season 39

9 episodes - 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

Natural World is not currently available to stream, rent, or buy online in the US. Check back later for updates.

Natural World has 39 seasons with a total of 543 episodes.

With a rating of 7.3/10 from 28 viewers, Natural World is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

Natural World stars David Attenborough, John Hannah, and Juliet Stevenson.

Natural World was created by Brian Jackman.

Natural World was released on October 30, 1983.

Natural World is a Documentary series.

Natural World is produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, but individual programmes are made by in-house teams, co-productions with other broadcasters, or independent production companies and are filmed in locations around the world.

David Attenborough appears as Self, serving as the series host on various episodes. The series has also used narrators such as John Hannah and Juliet Stevenson, who are credited as narrators (voice).

Yes, many Natural World programmes are often broadcast in the USA as episodes of PBS Nature, so you may see the same films presented under that banner.

Yes, since 2008 most Natural World programmes have been shot and broadcast in high definition, improving picture quality for recent episodes.