For over seven decades, David Attenborough has brought to our screens nature in it’s element, highlighting it’s beauty, challenges and showing us the previously unseen! With his soothing voice and many brilliant broadcasting firsts, there may have been some close calls but nothing can quite beat a David Attenborough documentary!
Well in anticipation of the brand new Asia series, we’ve compiled some of his best documentaries from over the years, from the latest to greatest and all available to watch on BBC iPlayer!
Asia
Fresh to our screens, Sir David Attenborough presents Asia, a seven-part series filmed over four years that immerses the audience into the natural wonders of the world’s largest continent! As the most diverse continent, reaching from the freezing Arctic Circle all the way down to the sweltering equator expect to see a vast array of content, from the highest mountain range to the deepest oceans, the tallest jungles and the world’s biggest cave! And of course, expect to meet some fascinating wildlife such as tiny fish that can climb trees as well as Asia's most shy animal – the red panda!
Frozen Planet II
Now, many Attenborough documentaries have touched on polar animals over the years, however Frozen Planet II dives into their lives on another level. Venturing to the coldest areas of the world such as Svalbard, Norway in the Arctic circle, all the way down to Antarctica, this series shows new and rarely documented behaviours including a killer whales special seal hunting method!
Mammals
Found on every continent and in every ocean, from the hottest deserts to the coldest wilderness this group of animals have evolved to survive every corner of our planet! Sir David Attenborough reveals all on how they succeeded in conquering the Earth as well as telling us about the many problems mammals face in today’s constantly changing world!
Planet Earth
With its state-of-the-art high definition imagery, this record-breaking documentary broke the boundaries that separated humans and nature and changed the views of the world! Filmed over four years across 64 different countries, this series features footage of some of the world’s most stunning natural wonders, from the oceans to the deserts to the polar ice caps!
Planet Earth II
Set nearly a decade after Planet Earth, this stunning documentary with improved technology captures further details such as animal behaviours in previously inaccessible locations as well as examining urban dwellings and how some animals have adapted to city life! With such an intimate feel to the filmmaking, this gorgeously filmed documentary makes you feel at one with nature in a way never felt before!
The Blue Planet and the Blue Planet II
Bringing the visual genius of Planet Earth II but with an extra sprinkle on top, both seasons of Blue Planet provide exemplar storytelling! Wowing us with the incredible underwater world, this documentary series shows us everything! From gender changing fish to an octopus with it's own armour, prepare to be amazed as David Attenborough shows us how little we know of our beautiful world!
Dynasties
Get caught up in real life drama with Dynasties! Throughout five shows, this documentary series offers a deep inside into the heroic struggles of five endangered species as they battle for their survival and future! Exploring the behaviours and lifestyles of one family per episode, the show dives deep into the specific families in a style different to the usual Attenborough documentaries which makes it a must see!
Zoo Quest
Now, we know sometimes a first is never one of the best, however, from the get go Sir David Attenborough delivered, and the audience loved it! With many spin-offs in the 50s, this series follows him and a team from London Zoo as they travel in search of exotic animals, including the first ever footage of the Komodo Dragon in Zoo Quest for a Dragon!
Life on Earth
Another oldie but an absolute goldie, Life on Earth was truly the start of the level of documentaries we see today! With a (at the time) record breaking three-year production schedule, over one hundred filming locations andddd more than 500 scientific advisors, this series changed EVERYTHING! It was from this particular show that Sir David Attenborough really kicked off his career as essentially, a national treasure! Showcasing the story of life from the first primitive cells to the plants and animals living around us, this documentary really is a must-see for documentary fans!
Whether you're a nature lover or just a fan of a good documentary, Freely has you covered, stream the best David Attenborough Documentaries now on BBC iPlayer!
