Natural World 1983
What is Natural World?
Natural World is a British nature documentary television series that premiered on October 30, 1983, with the episode Save the Panda. Broadcast annually on BBC Two and BBC Two HD, the program was identified by the BBC as its flagship natural history brand.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1983
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 543
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 30, 1983
- Last aired
- Mar 20, 2020
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC Two
- Genres
- Documentary
- Updated
Where to watch
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 543 episodes and an average 60-minute runtime.
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Overview
Natural World is a British nature documentary television series that premiered on October 30, 1983, with the episode Save the Panda. Broadcast annually on BBC Two and BBC Two HD, the program was identified by the BBC as its flagship natural history brand. The series remained in production until 2020 and is recognized as the longest-running series in its genre on British television, with more than 400 episodes produced since its inception. The show was produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, though individual programs were also created through collaborative efforts with other broadcasters or purchased from independent production companies. Each installment provided an in-depth look at specific wildlife behaviors, ecosystems, environmental issues, and conservation challenges. Notable contributors to the series include David Attenborough, Barry Paine, John Shrapnel, and Andrew Sachs. Originally known as The Natural World until 2001, the series maintained a focus on detailed explorations of the natural environment throughout its multi-decade run on television.
Should you watch it?
“The BBC's flagship documentary series offers an in-depth look at wildlife, ecosystems, and global conservation challenges.”
- extensive archive of wildlife footage
- high production standards from the BBC Natural History Unit
- focus on diverse environmental stories
- large volume of episodes may be daunting
- varies in style due to different production companies
Watch it if you enjoy detailed, long-running examinations of the natural world and wildlife behavior.
The series is a standard nature documentary program suitable for general audiences interested in wildlife and the environment.
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Episode guide
Season 1 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Save The Panda Oct 30, 1983
- E2 From Aadvark To Zebra Nov 6, 1983
- E3 Programmed For Flight Nov 13, 1983
- E4 Jungle Nov 20, 1983
- E5 Secret Weapons Nov 27, 1983
- E6 Birds of Paradox Dec 4, 1983
- E7 Jet Set Wildlife Dec 11, 1983
- E8 Pelican Delta Dec 18, 1983
- E9 Winter Days Dec 25, 1983
- E10 God's Acre Jan 2, 1984
Season 2 · 8 episodes
- E1 Plight of the Bumble-Bee May 6, 1984
- E2 Salim Ali's India May 13, 1984
- E3 The Kiwai - Dugong Hunters of Daru May 20, 1984
- E4 Commandos of Conservation Jun 3, 1984
- E5 Long Point Jun 10, 1984
- E6 Beneath The Keel Jun 17, 1984
- E7 Treasures of the Gulf Jul 1, 1984
- E8 Fragments of Eden Jul 22, 1984
Season 3 · 15 episodes
- E1 Among The Wild Chimpanzees Nov 4, 1984
- E2 One Man's Island Nov 11, 1984
- E3 Invaders Of The Truk Lagoon Nov 18, 1984
- E4 The Desire Of The Moth Nov 25, 1984
- E5 A Question Of Space Dec 2, 1984
- E6 Peacocks, Parasites And The Puzzle Of Sex Dec 9, 1984
- E7 Land Of Ice And Fire Dec 16, 1984
- E8 The Lost World Of Medusa Dec 23, 1984
- E9 Kinabalu - Summit Of Borneo Jan 6, 1985
- E10 Wild Ireland Jan 13, 1985
- E11 Water - A Fresh Look Jan 20, 1985
- E12 Battle Of The Leaves Jan 27, 1985
- E13 The Year Of The Rat Feb 3, 1985
- E14 Through Animal Eyes Feb 10, 1985
- E15 Within A Garden Wall Feb 17, 1985
Season 4 · 20 episodes
- E1 Land of the Tiger Sep 15, 1985
- E2 Namaqualand - Diary of a Desert Garden Sep 22, 1985
- E3 Horns of Dilemma Sep 29, 1985
- E4 On the Verge of Life Oct 6, 1985
- E5 The Man Who Loves Frogs Oct 13, 1985
- E6 Emas - The High Plains of Brazil Oct 20, 1985
- E7 The Flight of the Whooping Crane Oct 27, 1985
- E8 White Rock, Black Water Nov 3, 1985
- E9 Never Stay In One Place Nov 10, 1985
- E10 City of Coral Nov 17, 1985
- E11 Kingdom of the Ice Bear: The Frozen Ocean Nov 24, 1985
- E12 Kingdom of the Ice Bear: The Land of Beyond Dec 1, 1985
- E13 Kingdom of the Ice Bear: The Final Challenge Dec 8, 1985
- E14 Aspen - A Dance of Leaves Dec 22, 1985
- E15 The Plant Hunters Dec 29, 1985
- E16 Short Grass Country Jan 5, 1986
- E17 The Forgotten Garden Jan 12, 1986
- E18 Inside Stories Jan 19, 1986
- E19 Masked Monkeys Jan 26, 1986
- E20 Sky Hunters Feb 2, 1986
Season 5 · 17 episodes
- E1 Leopard - A Darkness In The Grass Oct 5, 1986
- E2 Where The Parrots Speak Mandarin Oct 12, 1986
- E3 The Mystery Of Laguna Baja Oct 19, 1986
- E4 Have Fish Had Their Chips? Nov 16, 1986
- E5 Why Dogs Don't Like Chilli But Some Like It Hot Nov 23, 1986
- E6 The Elephant Challenge Nov 30, 1986
- E7 Ichkeul - Between The Desert And The Deep Blue Sea Dec 7, 1986
- E8 Man-Eaters Of Kumaon Dec 14, 1986
- E9 A Cactus Called Saguaro Dec 21, 1986
- E10 A Wilderness Like Eden Jan 11, 1987
- E11 Sweet Water, Bitter Sea Jan 18, 1987
- E12 Bats Need Friends Jan 25, 1987
- E13 Cockatoos At Three Springs Feb 1, 1987
- E14 The Volcano Watchers Feb 8, 1987
- E15 The Deciding Factor Feb 15, 1987
- E16 Reflections Of A River Keeper Feb 22, 1987
- E17 Towers Of Wax And Paper Palaces Mar 1, 1987
Frequently asked questions
When did the series premiere?
The series premiered on October 30, 1983.
Who produces the series?
It is produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol.
How many episodes have been broadcast?
More than 400 episodes have been broadcast since the series began.
What is the focus of the episodes?
Each episode provides an in-depth look at natural history events, wildlife behaviors, and conservation challenges.
Where was the series broadcast?
The series was broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.