Wildlife Specials

1995 – 2015
Returning Series
Documentary
~50m / ep
1 season
8.3/10

The BBC Wildlife Specials are a series of nature documentary programmes commissioned by BBC Television. The Wildlife Specials began with a pilot episode in 1995. 20 programmes have been made to date, with three of the recent ones being in multi parts. The earlier programmes were produced in-house by the BBC's specialist Natural History Unit, but the more recent Spy in the... titles were made by the independent John Downer Productions. The first 18 programmes, up to 2008, were narrated by David Attenborough. The most recent two were narrated by David Tennant. "The world's leading natural history filmmakers meet the world's most charismatic animals" — BBC tagline

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Latest: The wildlife specials season 1 · 1995

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E1. Great White Shark: The True Story of Jaws
Apr 14, 1995 · 50m
The first title from the exciting series made up from the BBC's natural history output. Just the sight of a shark's fin breaking the surface spells terror, but is this Hollywood-delivered image fair? Underwater filming of these awesome, two ton, 19 foot fish in their natural unbaited environments exposes the Great White as a paradox: a shy and cautious creature existing within a highly structured social order, but also a terrific killing machine striking with total surprise and devatating speed from the murky depths.
E2. Polar Bear: The Arctic Warrior
Nov 26, 1997 · 50m
The great white bear of the arctic - includes a film first of polar bears hunting underwater and life inside their dens.
E3. Crocodile: The Smiling Predator
Dec 3, 1997 · 50m
Only now, by exploring their complete world, above and below water, by day and night, can we fully appreciate how sophisticated crocodiles are.
E4. Leopard: The Agent of Darkness
Dec 10, 1997 · 50m
This episode ventures into the night, and follows the lives of two leopards in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, to reveal the night-time secrets of the cat that walks on its own.
E5. Eagle: The Master of the Skies
Dec 17, 1997 · 50m
Few birds have captured the human imagination as deeply as the eagle and in this remarkable film, aerial photography captures the dramatic life of eagles as never seen before.
E6. Humpback Whale: The Giant of the Oceans
Dec 24, 1997 · 50m
From the Arctic to the Antarctic, amazing underwater footage reveals for the first time the successful hunting and spectacular social behaviour of the world's largest predator.