Parenthood: Everything we know about the upcoming BBC docuseries

The BBC is ready to tug at our heartstrings once again with Parenthood, its newly announced five-part natural history series. This ambitious project explores how animal parents across the world go to astonishing lengths to protect and prepare their young for life in the wild. From patient teaching moments to daring rescues, Parenthood promises to reveal just how relatable and dramatic the animal kingdom can be.

Filmed over three years across six continents, the series is being made by the award-winning Silverback Films, the same team behind hits like Wild Isles and The Hunt. Using cutting-edge 8K technology, the filmmakers have captured rare, never-before-seen footage of how different species raise their young and the results are expected to be as breathtaking as they are moving.

Whether it’s orcas teaching their calves to hunt giant whales or orangutans showing their babies how to make leafy beds, the docuseries aims to remind us that raising the next generation is never easy, no matter how many legs, fins, or wings you have.

What makes Parenthood stand out

This new BBC series isn’t just about cute baby animals, but it’s about survival, sacrifice, and the remarkable strategies parents use to give their young a fighting chance. Expect to see elephant mothers guiding calves to hidden watering holes, cardinalfish dads sheltering fry inside their own mouths, and lion prides adopting orphaned cubs to raise them into fierce hunters.

These stories are a powerful reminder that family bonds and the instinct to protect run deep in nature too. Each episode will capture moments of tenderness, drama, and even heartbreak, all set against some of the world’s most stunning landscapes.

Meet the team bringing Parenthood to life

The team behind the docuseries knows exactly how to turn raw nature into must-watch television. Silverback Films, the production company leading this series, has already given audiences spectacular hits like The Mating Game and The Hunt. With Jeff Wilson serving as Series Producer and Director and Keith Scholey as Executive Producer, the series promises a high level of storytelling and visual quality. Line Producer Tara Knowles and BBC Commissioning Editor Sreya Biswas, Head of Natural History, round out the powerhouse team working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring these animal stories to life.

Commissioned by Jack Bootle, the BBC’s Head of Commissioning for Specialist Factual, Parenthood is designed to reach a wide audience on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. From families who love nature documentaries to wildlife enthusiasts hungry for fresh, beautifully shot stories, there’s something in this series for everyone. With stunning locations, powerful real-life drama, and animals as you’ve never seen them before, this docu-series is shaping up to be one of the BBC’s standout factual releases of the year.

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The series will debut on BBC One on Sunday, August 3rd, at 7:20 p.m. in the U.K., and all episodes will be accessible on BBC iPlayer.

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