10 David Attenborough TV shows to watch to mark star's 100th birthday
He turns 100 on 8th May
Last updated 8 hours ago
Famed for his profound knowledge of natural history, Sir David Attenborough has blessed our TV screens with a unique insight into places few humans ever get to venture for almost half a century. Often accompanied by his iconic smooth voiceovers, shows like Life on Earth and The Blue Planet have fascinated families for generations.
And now, as the country prepares to celebrate the iconic broadcaster's 100th birthday, we take a look at some of his best loved wildlife documentaries and where to watch them...
10 must-watch David Attenborough documentaries:
Life on Earth (1979)
Released in 1979 and the first in David's 'Life' series, Life on Earth saw a fresh-faced David Attenborough investigate the history of nature and evolution. The series featured the now iconic footage of David's encounter with Rwandan mountain gorillas. You can still watch Life on Earth on BBC iPlayer.
The Private Life of Plants (1995)
Made using time-lapse photography, The Private Life of Plants was released in 1995 and changed our perception of the botanic world for good. In it, we see flowers searching for sunlight and vines hunting for support. It can be watched back on BBC iPlayer.
The Blue Planet (2001 and 2017)
The Blue Planet — and its follow-up series Blue Planet II — focus on the world's impressive oceans. Using submersibles, it captioned footage of life never seen before on camera, opening up the possibility for humans to learn so much about underwater worlds. Both series are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Planet Earth (2006)
Filmed over a five-year period, Planet Earth used aerial views and high definition to show our planet in all of its glory, from Pole to Pole. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, this groundbreaking series is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Frozen Planet (2011 and 2022)
Visiting both the Arctic and the Antarctic, Frozen Planet focuses on the polar regions — and the devastating effects of environmental changes on life there. This eye-opening series was released in 2011, with a follow up in 2022, and is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Our Planet (2019)
With an aim to inspire global action, Our Planet focuses on the effects humans are having on our world and its natural habitats. Still available to watch on Netflix, the open and honest documentary also gives viewers the chance to see the true beauty and incredible capabilities of our planet.
Seven Worlds, One Planet (2019)
Focusing on all seven continents and their differences, Seven Worlds, One Planet shows how life across the world adapts to their vastly differing climates and habitats. It's available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Prehistoric Planet (2022-2025)
Prehistoric Planet used CGI to recreate what life would have looked like 66 millions years ago! In this unique and realistic series, we see dinosaurs nest, mate and care for their young — as we now know they would have done, based on scientific facts and research. It's available to watch on Apple TV and Prime Video.
Wild Isles (2023)
A relatively recent favourite, 2023's Wild Isles saw David Attenborough explore his home turf. From the rare blue butterflies of Southern England to the orcas found off the coast of Shetland, the BBC documentary, which is still available to watch, uncovers the beauty found right here on the British Isles.
Secret Garden (2026)
And even closer to home, David's recent series, Secret Garden, delves into the beauty found in our own back gardens. Using miniature robotics, it allows wildlife lovers to get up close and personal with hedgehogs, robins, owls, otters and more — and find out more about the very special ecosystems right outside our own homes. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer.