David Attenborough’s contribution to our planet can’t be overstated. The broadcaster and natural historian has spent a lifetime showing us the extraordinary in the everyday. Across eight decades, he has guided viewers from the depths of oceans to the highest mountain peaks, revealing the delicate threads that connect all living things. His work doesn’t just document the natural world, but invites us to see ourselves within it and, perhaps most importantly, to act.
As he turns 100 this May, the BBC is marking the milestone with a week of programming that celebrates both Attenborough’s pioneering documentaries and the new stories he continues to tell. Below, our guide to catching all three of Attenborough’s new documentaries as they drop.
Secret Garden
Secret Garden is the first of three new offerings. Across distinctly different gardens in the UK, Attenborough unveils the lives of animals that share our spaces: dormice in Wales, blue tits in Bristol, and pine martens in the Scottish Highlands. The aim of the program is to remind us that small acts, like how we care for gardens and leave a space for lives to flourish, have rippling effects.
Premiering: 5 April 2026
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure
Revisiting Life on Earth, the series that cemented Attenborough’s global influence, is a new documentary titled Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure, which takes us behind the scenes of a three-year journey across 40 countries. The original crew recounts both exhilarating and harrowing encounters while reflecting on the early days of colour filming and plane travel.
Premiering: 6 May 2026
David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth
On his centenary, 8 May 2026, the Royal Albert Hall will host a live celebration broadcast in the UK. David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth blends music, wildlife footage, and reflections from those who have worked alongside him, offering a portrait not just of a man, but of a life devoted to understanding his surroundings. Several esteemed guests (including the royal family) are expected to attend this one.
Premiering: 8 May 2026
Where to watch in Australia
Each of the programs will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK. Australians can keep an eye on ABC iview and SBS On Demand, which have historically picked up Attenborough’s latest documentaries. We’ll keep you updated when an official streaming service is attached to the programs.
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