David Attenborough’s new Parenthood documentary – Everything you need to know

A brand new documentary from Sir David Attenborough is coming, and fans don’t have long to wait until it hits screens.

Over the years, the natural historian has delighted fans in the UK and around the world with his fascination for the weird and wonderful lives of all sorts of creatures.

Now, the 99-year-old (who we found 99 facts about for his birthday) is on the brink of releasing his latest programme, a five-part BBC show called Parenthood.

But, you might be asking what’s this new documentary series about exactly?

Well, you’re in the right place. We’re basically David Attenborough experts at this point (need I remind you of the 99 facts).

So to help you learn a little more about Parenthood before you sit down and watch it, we’ve broken down everything we think you need to know about David Attenborough’s new doc!

What is David Attenborough’s new documentary about?

The docu-series, narrated by Sir David, will explore the highs and lows of parenting within the animal kingdom and explores how it can be a ‘high-stakes game in which some animal parents must come up with extraordinary strategies to give their young a head start’.

The documentary will reportedly feature ‘never-before-seen animal behaviours’ as we witness animals take on a strangely relatable task, ‘being good parents’.

Series Producer and Director Jeff Wilson hopes that audiences who watch Parenthood will learn ‘the level of commitment required to raise young in a world that is changing in ways that none of us can predict.’

But I know what you really want to know. What animals are you going to see? Well, I don’t want to spoil everything, but you can expect to see lions, hippos, African social spiders, and Lynx just in the first episode.

Personally, I can’t wait to see the ‘burrowing owls’ mainly because they sound made up.

Where was Parenthood filmed and how long did it take?

Parenthood was filmed over three years in 23 countries and across six continents.

To make Parenthood, the crew journeyed to Spain, India, Bhutan, Botswana, Tanzania, Namibia, Australia, Africa, Indonesia and the USA (among many more) to film some of the rarest animals that call our planet home.

They didn’t just explore the surface world either. To capture footage of Orcas hunting, they used specialised underwater equipment that allowed them to capture the terrifying speed and power of these deadly hunters.

Basically, the crew did some serious air miles to bring this Parenthood to life.

When will Sir David Attenborough’s Parenthood air on the BBC?

Parenthood will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, beginning on August 3 at 7.20pm.

It promises to show viewers never-before-seen animal behaviours while delivering a ‘universal message about preserving the natural world.’

Speaking to The Mirror, BBC head of specialist factual commissioning, Jack Bootle, described Parenthood as ‘wonderful, warm, engaging, and surprising’.

He said that it is ‘made by some of the very best wildlife filmmakers in the world,’ adding: ‘I’m thrilled Sir David is joining us again to narrate it.’

Director Jeff Wilson added that the whole team is ‘incredibly proud’ that Sir David was involved in the series.

‘Silverback Films did a deep dive into the subject over 2.5 years, uncovering extraordinary new behaviours and jaw-dropping dramas using the world’s best wildlife cinematographers and directors,’ he explained/

‘We are incredibly proud that Sir David was on board with us to bring to the screen a landmark series that has something for everyone – moments of heart-warming tenderness, high stakes narrative, and a timely guide from a huge cast of unbelievably engaging cast of characters on how to navigate the complex world of Parenthood.’

When did Sir David’s latest documentary come out?

It comes hot on the heels of his latest documentary, Ocean, which coincided with the broadcaster and biologist’s 99th birthday.

The Blue Planet creator explored ‘the untold story of the ocean’, and how we can make a huge difference in its preservation.

Speaking about the series to Metro, Planet Earth III executive producer Mike Gunton hailed the ‘unbridled curiosity’ that the documentary exhibits, adding that ‘he’s still absorbing science, absorbing knowledge’.

He also opened up about how Sir Attenborough reacts to being called a national treasure by the general public.

‘He hates it, by the way,’ Gunton revealed.

‘I say hates it… If anybody says he’s a national treasure, he sort of slightly raises his eyebrows and says, “Really?” That’s a generational thing.’

Parenthood begins on August 3 at 7.20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

This article was first published on July 27, 2025.

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