BBC unveils week of special shows for Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday – including new series

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In a few months, the incredibly famous Sir David Attenborough will celebrate his 100th birthday. The BBC is marking the occasion with a week of special programs honoring his life and work as a nature filmmaker – and his famously calming voice.

Starting May 8th, the BBC will be celebrating with a week of programs featuring both classic footage and brand new shows, including the debut of a new series.

“Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure” is a one-hour documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes of the making of the iconic series Life on Earth. The original series, which premiered in 1976, was a massive undertaking, requiring three years of filming, over a million miles of travel across 40 countries, and capturing footage of more than 600 different animal species.

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This new documentary features interviews with Sir David Attenborough and the team behind the original series, which has been seen by over half a billion people globally. They share stories about the dangers they faced while filming, including threats from Saddam Hussein’s army and even being shot at in Rwanda.

Another special event is David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, a live performance featuring music from Attenborough’s famous nature programs. The BBC Concert Orchestra will perform at the Royal Albert Hall.

The last of the new commissions is the first episode of the new five-part series Secret Garden.

Each episode of the show will be filmed in a unique British garden, highlighting the surprising wildlife that lives right under our noses.

While it might appear to be a relaxing and charming show, it actually reveals that even ordinary gardens are governed by a fierce struggle for survival, much like a jungle – only the toughest or most resourceful plants thrive.

BBC One will be re-airing some of Sir David Attenborough’s classic programs, spanning his incredible 70-year career. This includes popular series like Planet Earth II, Planet Earth III, and Blue Planet II, among others.

I’m so excited! BBC iPlayer is really going all out with a special collection of over 40 shows! And it’s not just TV – BBC Radio is getting in on the fun too, though they’ll be revealing exactly what they’re doing soon.

Jack Bootle, head of commissioning at the BBC, said it’s hard to truly measure the impact of Sir David Attenborough’s work.

His TV shows revolutionized nature and science broadcasting, and fundamentally altered our understanding of Earth and our role within it. This week honors an incredible achievement and a collection of work that still fills us with wonder, sparks our curiosity, and encourages us to protect the natural world.

We at the BBC also want to express our sincere gratitude to David for his kindness, his incredible talent, and for dedicating his life to sharing the beauty of the natural world with all of us.

The new Attenborough shows will all air on BBC One and stream on iPlayer on the week of 8 May.

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2026-02-19 02:49