TV blog Feed

Must-see telly moments – on BBC iPlayer now

2016-06-07T15:13:44+00:00

From fantastic CGI to a very real fear of mushrooms...

“It’s as if you’re sat on a hedgehog”

See real stories of life with cancer, The Big C & Me, BBC One

Forget Ferraris – it’s all about real horsepower

Can Rory get up to speed? Top Gear: Extra Gear, BBC Three

This PC’s weirdest shoplifting story

Find out more about life on the beat in South Wales, Police 24/7, BBC One Wales

See this super-cute baby spider monkey learning to climb

Inside Guatemala’s busy rescue centre – Natural World, BBC Two

Whatever you do, don’t put mushrooms in Pete’s food…

It’s man vs vegetables as Pete tries to slim down, Lose Weight for Love, BBC One

And finally… if you thought your school was tough, imagine sitting by this guy in class

How ‘Orc School’ turned actors into CGI characters, Warcraft: The Future of CGI, BBC Radio 1

And if you want to see what comedian Miles Jupp picks out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

All episodes are available to watch until Wednesday, 15 June. Find more information about individual episode expiry dates on BBC iPlayer.

Must-see telly moments – on BBC iPlayer now

2016-06-01T09:05:11+00:00

Seals, skips and more send to all texts – catch these brill moments until Friday, 10 June on BBC iPlayer.

This emotional tale of a lost seal pup that’s as gripping as any drama

See the dangers facing seals and other animals in rural Scotland – Highlands – Scotland’s Wild Heart, BBC One Scotland

The best use of the word ‘shod’ you’ll hear this week (probably)

See how Nina’s fitting in – Love, Nina, BBC One

Alex Jones’ sheer range of emotions as Michael McIntyre types her ‘send to all’ message

Find out who replied – Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, BBC One

Ross Noble imagines Prince Harry’s life – as told by horses

See what else was discussed under host Gary Lineker’s watch – Have I Got News For You, BBC One

Trying to explain technology to your boyfriend’s mum

Get to know the new addition to the family, Kelly – Mum, BBC Two

Matt Lucas playing a donkey is everything you’d hope it would be

See his take on Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, BBC One

And finally, more confetti than an English country wedding at Radio 1’s Big Weekend

Watch performance highlights from the massive music event – BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend

And if you want to see what Springwatch’s Chris Packham picks out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

Liz Bonnin’s most memorable experience filming Nature’s Epic Journeys

2016-05-24T10:25:00+00:00

There were so many breath-taking moments during Nature’s Epic Journeys but I think the most enduring one for me was watching Nxai Pan, a 2,500km squared salt flat in North-eastern Botswana, come to life during the rainy season.

We arrived at the end of the dry season when the entire pan was dry and cracked, and the place appeared devoid of any life. But with the arrival of the rains, the power of Mother Nature thundered down upon it.

The steel sky began to flash with lightning in the distance and the rains descended upon the arid flats with such force that the entire area flooded at first.

In a matter of days, the electric green hue of new vegetation began to spread and an abundance of insects, birds and mammals began to appear in the most extraordinary fashion – you couldn’t help but wonder where they all had been hiding.

It felt like this incredible celebration of wildlife had begun, the entire area was transformed. It burst into life, and we were the privileged spectators.

The zebra that we were following here were also part of this gathering and because they seem to time their migration south from Chobe National Park perfectly, many were giving birth in the pan just as the freshest most nutritious grasses were pushing through the earth.

I’ll never forget watching a new born foal, just minutes old, getting on its feet for the first time. Its mother was gently nudging it, with the stallion proudly standing watch, keeping all others away with loud snorts and hoof stamps.

The frail, delicate little foal, its hair still wet, was on its feet one minute and fast asleep from the excitement of new life the next.

The other members of the herd gingerly approached the mother and foal when the time was right, and finally after an hour or so, the little one had the energy to skip off into the shade of the tree line with its mother, as the sun climbed higher in the sky.

It was such an incredible moment to witness, and for me it encapsulated everything that these mammoth migrations are about.

These animals take on so many seemingly insurmountable dangers and obstacles, risking their lives each year, so they can give the next generation the very best start in life.

Liz Bonnin presents Nature's Epic Journeys.

The series continues on Wednesday, 25 May at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode is available to watch in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Read cameraman Bob Poole's memories of filming Nature's Epic Journeys

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Must-see telly moments – on BBC iPlayer now

2016-05-23T15:40:46+00:00

Featuring new drama, old friends and some surprising animal partnerships – all available to enjoy until Thursday, 16 June in BBC iPlayer.

A reminder of the days when supporting Leicester City FC wasn’t quite so popular

Will the boys warm to Nina? – Love, Nina, BBC One

If Hippos did spa days…

Watch as barbel fish nibble them clean – Natural World, BBC Two

And Bill Bailey on sloths, who travel “at a pace a snail would consider reckless”

Find out about their unlikely partnership with moths – Natural World, BBC Two

Hairy Bikers Si and Dave get dressed for the occasion at Radio 1

Watch as their rudest lines are played back to them – Innuendo Bingo, BBC Radio 1

Who knew donkeys were such good acting coaches – and selfie pros?

See what it takes to play Shakespeare’s comic character, Bottom – The Best Bottoms in the Land, BBC One

And finally, old friends Barbara Windsor and Pam St Clement are speechless watching their final EastEnders scenes together

See the old friends reunited – on and off-screen – Peggy Mitchell: Last Orders, BBC iPlayer

And if you want to see what comedian Marcus Brigstocke picks out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

Awe-inspiring moments from Nature's Epic Journeys

2016-05-10T14:15:19+00:00

Filming in the Samburu desert, Kenya during mating season, cameraman Bob Poole came face-to-face with bull elephants in musth – a heightened state of agitation as they search for a mate. Here he tells the story of one elephant in particular, who the conservation staff named Matt, and why he’ll never see zebras in the same way again…

Being in the presence of Matt the musth bull was totally awe-inspiring.

The first day we saw him in person was amazing. He was resting under the shade of the only tree on a flat plain. I approached him slowly in my Land Rover, making sure not to drive straight at him. At about 50 metres away I stopped to have a good look at him and make my first shot with the camera.

The moment Bob first encountered Matt the bull elephant

He was in full musth, with a swollen head, his temporal glands sweating heavily, and he was dribbling a constant flow of pungent urine. He was huge and his tusks - one broken, the other long and thick curving inward - gave Matt a kind of extra intense look about him.

He didn’t move much at first, just resting and taking giant breaths, blowing dust around his feet as he exhaled, occasionally flapping his massive ears that slapped against his body. Matt was awesome, even as he stood dozing.

Slowly he leaned forward as if he was preparing to rub his thick skin against the bark of the tree, but his huge head just kept going forward and in an instant he was coming at us in a full charge.

I had just enough time to get the engine going and get way and when it was over my hands were shaking. Matt had introduced himself to us in a way to make it clear that he was to be respected.

I was also lucky enough to film a population of zebras for the third episode of Nature's Epic Journeys in Botswana, undertaking an exciting, and newly discovered migration - now known as the longest migration of any animal in Africa.

Growing up in Kenya, I’ve seen zebras all my life, but I’ve never really looked at them. It amazed me to learn that I could identify individual zebras in a herd. When you look closely you notice that each of them has a unique pattern on their stripes. Closer observation reveals cuts and scars; many surely from lions.

At first it was hard to tell the males from the females and which individuals belonged to which family, but over time it became easy to recognise. Now I see zebras as individuals who belong to family groups with close ties to each other.

Bob Poole is a cameraman on Nature's Epic Journeys.

The series starts on Wednesday, 11 May at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available to watch in BBC iPlayer for 30 days.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Must-see telly moments – on BBC iPlayer now

2016-05-10T11:00:00+00:00

Cute animals, new comedy and the worst-timed toilet break on TV – just some of the best moments you can watch until Sunday, 29 May.

This baby kangaroo having a bath… but seriously wishing it wasn’t

See more kangaroo stories – Natural World, BBC Two

These hopeful owners try to prise apart two young dogs at play, only to hear the harsh truth that: “They’re at a rave and you’re offering them the library”

See the playful pups – Choose the right puppy for you, BBC Two

Nick Hewer reveals his take on the “extraordinary, terrible story” of BHS

Watch the panel’s take on the latest news – Have I Got News For You, BBC One

Is it just us, or is this David Tennant’s young doppelganger?

Watch a unique comedy interpretation of Shakespeare’s Romeo – Upstart Crow, BBC Two

And finally – there’s nothing like a child needing a wee to interrupt a live debate

See how presenter Victoria handled the news – The Victoria Derbyshire Show, BBC Two

Discover more comedy on BBC iPlayer.

And if you want to see what In The Club actress Katherine Parkinson picks out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

Must-see telly moments – on BBC iPlayer

2016-04-12T11:20:03+00:00

Featuring marvellous animals, surprising artefacts and one incredible speech… Remember, this may contain spoilers.

When Ricky Wilson ‘just had something in his eye’ – it’s OK to cry, Ricky, you’re only human

See Ricky getting emotional about Kevin – The Voice, BBC One

Keeley Hawes’ character Lindsay Denton refuses to go down without a fight in the courtroom

Watch her face her toughest opponent yet – Line of Duty, BBC Two

Racoon belly rub, anyone? This one likes to wash her hands, too

Meet Lola the pet racoon – Pet Island, BBC One Northern Ireland

Who lives in a head like this? Is this the hardest quiz show round ever?

See who these bald heads belong to – Have I Got News For You, BBC One

Dan Snow is introduced to a lesser-known York attraction… Viking poo

See what excrement can teach us about the Vikings – The Vikings Uncovered, BBC One

And finally… ‘One word out of a million comes to mind – acceptance’

Be inspired by one man’s heart-warming speech or watch the whole series – Employable Me, BBC Two

And if you want to see what Car Share’s Sian Gibson picked out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

Must-see moments of the week – on BBC iPlayer

2016-03-21T15:53:00+00:00

This week there’s been a hit series finale, an evening of star-studded entertainment and some very pampered pets. But which moments grabbed us the most?

And if you want to see what Frank Skinner and Charlie Sloth (BBC Radio 1) picked out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

Nature’s Miracle Orphans: I can’t explain my bond with Moyo, the baby elephant

2016-02-05T15:30:18+00:00

Watching cheeky baby elephant Moyo invade her human carer’s home in BBC One’s Nature’s Miracle Orphans is a moment of joy. Although it takes some guts (and possibly a touch of madness) to make caring for orphaned wild animals your life, Roxy Danckwerts’ love for each animal is so apparent, and so easy to understand.

With elephants, a gnu, cheetahs, lions and more raiding her family home constantly, what is it about this life that keeps Roxy going?

We have about 100 animals at our Zimbabwean sanctuary, Wild is Life at present. There are 15 different species, ranging from a hand-raised squirrel (the most dangerous animal on the property, he bites like a terrapin!) to the elephant family.

Moyo shows us who's in charge in a clip from Nature's Miracle Orphans

We had 10 elephant calves through the nursery last year, so our hands are very full indeed. Young calves need constant monitoring and every night, I set my alarm for every two to three hours to go outside and check their status. It is exhausting indeed. I am getting far too old for it!

When Moyo was tiny we all thought she was a boy, but now know she is a she. The most important thing is she is well and healthy.

Moyo has a number of brilliant handlers who are with her 24/7. That being said, I am an integral part of her life. She knows my voice, my smell and somehow knows where I am at all times. How, I have no idea!

Presenter Lucy Cooke meets Roxy for an animal-friendly tea party

Moyo is just as important to me, as I am to her. She is one of those animals with whom I have formed an extraordinary bond of friendship, trust and love.

I have had these close relationships with other species, particularly a lion named Bones and a kudu named Sweetpea. However, this thing with Moyo goes far, far deeper than those bonds. There is something otherworldly about it - I am finding it difficult to explain!

I am a highly emotionally charged being. It’s a worry! I am very anxious about the reality of release into the wild, especially for Moyo. Letting go will be hard. However, I am so determined and so sure of this road that I have chosen.

All parents want the best for their children. I want the best for the elephant children, and that best is freedom to roam and to make their own choices. So, yes, I will probably have a nervous emotional collapse (one of many) but that does not deter me from pursuing this goal.

Moyo’s companion, Josephine, is the most special kind of dog! She was rescued from a shelter, when I felt that Moyo needed a friend to try and lift her spirits. She and Moyo bonded instantly.

She now lives with the ellies and goes out with them on their daily excursions to the bush. She is totally fearless and very protective of her beloved pachyderm friends.

When a new baby elephant comes in, she is right there beside it. She sleeps in the stable with any new or sick ellie. She loathes the lions though! I think that Josie loves her life with the elephants, particularly Moyo. She can often be found inside her stable, fast asleep next to her.

I am remarkably lucky to have such an understanding human family. I have two grown sons, who have tolerated the invasion of their space with supreme generosity. My poor husband is extremely long-suffering. He puts up with my nightly excursions to the nursery and the all-pervading aroma of things elephant.

One of my absolute favourite times is when the ellies are quietly browsing in their stables. I can look out over the plain in front of the nursery and really appreciate how surreal but wonderfully generous this life of mine is.

The pain and heartbreak of losses seem to melt into the background and I am mindful, in this moment, of how extraordinary these forgiving and empathetic animals are. And how I will do whatever it takes to protect those that I can.

Roxy Danckwerts runs the Wild is Life sanctuary in Zimbabwe.

Nature's Miracle Orphans starts on Sunday, 7 February at 5.35pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available to watch in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Chris Packham: I'd love to hang out with Charles Darwin

2015-12-18T16:00:46+00:00

Tricky, wily animals are the focus of Chris Packham’s new documentary, World’s Sneakiest Animals. And despite the obstacles presented to Chris and the team by unruly weather and sheer logistics, they managed to work with animal behaviour scientists to capture a rogues’ gallery of crafty critters.

With Chris so admired for his own sometimes crafty, always chatty personality, we caught up with him to talk all things animal and animagus (we’ll explain that one shortly!).

What devious animal trick would you most like to steal for yourself?

Oooh steal for myself? I’ll tell you what, I’ll go for being a cuttlefish. Cuttlefish are remarkable things. They can change their colour, they can also change their skin texture and their body shape. Like invisibility cloaks. They really can just merge into the background and their ability to do so is remarkable. They essentially become invisible in that landscape. So that would be brilliant.

I’d love to be invisible and sneak around and learn about what people are up to. The nefarious aspects of being invisible would be fantastic.

Are you more impressed by an animal’s crafty strategies than their physical attributes?

I think the more complex they are, the more entertaining and intriguing it becomes. There’s one story which I’m sure will appeal to many of our viewers. We went to Bali and in a temple complex there, the monkeys will steal objects. Rather than steal food from people, they will steal things which they know are valuable. Sunglasses, mobile phones, handbags.

They will then barter them back for food. They won’t give it back in exchange for the food they get every day - bananas or peanuts. But if you offer them sweets they will. And the sure fire way of getting your phone back is to offer them eggs. They’re packages of protein – something the monkeys don’t often get. Obviously tourists don’t wander around with eggs, so the people who work in the temple have those and they constantly barter with the monkeys.

If you met Charles Darwin – what would you ask him?

What I’d like to know about Charles Darwin is how much he struggled to bring his views to the public. He would have known they were going to create a huge furore. I’d love to have known on the day before Origin of the Species was published, how did Charles feel about the controversy he was about to unleash?

I also would have liked to have met Charles as a younger man. We always think of him as the bearded old guy having been to Galapagos and coming back with this book. Of course, he did that rather late in life but he was a committed naturalist from a very young age. He did all sorts of studies of wildlife around his home. He studied earthworms and orchids. I would have loved to have hung out with him and just seen how his enthusiasm manifested itself. He obviously was a man of intense curiosity and that is the principle ingredient to make a lifelong good naturalist.

I do relate to him. I get up every day and know that if I try, I can go out to the woods outside my house and I can find something new. And if I find something new I can probably come up with a question that I don’t know the answer to. And that’s exciting. It means there’s more to learn and that’s more exciting than anything.

Chris meets the ground squirrels that disguise their scent

If you were a wizard in Harry Potter, what would your animagus form be?*

*Non-Potter readers, this is an animal form wizards can turn into

I’d have to be a flying animal. I‘ve always had dreams of flying. I am drawn to animals that fly. I like the idea of flying and I am always really envious when I see swallows ricocheting down and drinking from a lake surface in summer. And they’ve got this these flashing blue wings. I can’t imagine what must go through their minds. We’re only just beginning to learn how they are able to fly so fast and so quickly and so close to things due to their optical processing abilities.

But take the science out of it and just stick with the romance – I’d be a swallow. I’d happily give everything for 30 seconds as a swallow over a lake in summer. Can you imagine? It would just be awesome to be a swallow flying really fast. That’s what I’d be.

Patrick Evans is an editorial curator for BBC iPlayer.

World's Sneakiest Animals starts on Christmas Day at 6.30pm on BBC Two. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Patagonia: Had the pumas attacked, we would have been done for

2015-09-24T13:30:23+00:00

Patagonia is one of those places that has a mysterious draw. The sheer scale and drama of the landscape is breath-taking.

The lords of this uncompromising wilderness are the pumas, and for me it was the shoot of a lifetime. In most locations, a glimpse of a puma is all you can hope for, but in Torres del Paine National Park there is a real chance of capturing detailed wild behaviour.

The BBC had filmed there before, so I gained all the tips and advice on offer and got in touch with a respected puma tracker: Rodrigo Moraga. His view was that to film pumas hunting guanaco was ambitious, but possible. It needed time in the mountains and a lot of luck, since pumas hunt mostly at night. We would be on foot with Patagonia's top predators, which do very rarely attack humans. Tricky!

We believe the only successful filming of a wild puma hunt in Patagonia is by a park ranger – Heriberto Yaeger Hernandez on his handi-cam. Heriberto has the huge advantage that he lives and works in a small ranger station in the heart of puma country.

But for the Patagonia: Earth's Secret Paradise series we would have one trip, one chance, trying to film something that no other professional crew had done with bulky ultra-high definition cameras. Were we crazy?

Each day, I started early with Rodrigo. At the cusp of dawn we drove out looking for pumas, fresh kills, or circling condors. We walked miles through puma country, but it took me several days to get my eye in and even see the pumas Rodrigo pointed out. None were hunting or even stalking. There were few kills to give us any leads. Our task seemed daunting.

We tried instead to find a den with new cubs. Rodrigo walked the rocky fringe of a lake where pumas had had dens in previous years. I sat on a high-point hoping to see the female walking home. Somehow when I was with Rodrigo I felt safe, but sitting alone on a windswept hill hoping a puma would walk by – a kilometre from the nearest vehicle - I had hours and hours to imagine she was watching me as keenly as I was looking for her.

More than once I felt that sixth sense that something was behind me – but I never saw her.

Only later on did we film her favourite lookout, which was about 100m above where I had sat for two days. But this wary female did let us film her and her three gorgeous, six-week-old cubs playing at their den. To see the cubs, even if just through binoculars was a real thrill, and a good start.

After two days we left them in peace and returned to our mission to film a puma hunt, in particular two young puma sisters who Rodrigo had known as cubs. He told me these pumas, now teenagers, were more tolerant of people.

Several times Rodrigo was able to spot them and we would track them, on foot, keeping our distance, carrying our kit, filming when we could. It was totally exhilarating, being in such a wild place with two pumas, letting us walk alongside them.

At times they would wander towards us. I know the rule is DO NOT RUN, but your adrenaline is pumping.

More than once they approached within a few metres, and had they attacked we would have been done for. But happily their body language was relaxed and it was broad daylight. The worst that happened to me was that I was ridiculed by the team, as I subtly shifted behind the camera as the pumas got close.

One was tailless – a defect Rodrigo believes is since birth. She was more playful, cheekier, pushing boundaries. But her sister was definitely a predator, and locked me with her cold eyes. I wouldn’t have liked to meet her at dusk, on foot, alone - then the outcome would have been very different.

By working with the experts we were slowly able to film the two sisters taking steps towards independence, and those precious days walking with pumas will stay with me always.

So did we catch a hunt? You’ll have to watch to find out…

Tuppence Stone is the series producer of Patagonia: Earth's Secret Paradise.

Patagonia: Earth's Secret Paradise starts on Friday, 25 September at 9pm on BBC Two. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Growing up around elephants opened my eyes to the magic of nature

2015-08-27T14:18:07+00:00

As a child, Saba Douglas-Hamilton grew up around wild elephants in Tanzania and Kenya, thanks to her father, Iain Douglas-Hamilton's conservation work. Now a mother herself to three young daughters, Saba is raising her family in a similar environment and is the subject of BBC Two documentary This Wild Life.

The more you watch elephants, the more you slip into their mind-scape and begin to see the world through their eyes. Most of what I know about them I learnt by osmosis - growing up amongst them while my parents did their research in the 70s and 80s. Later on, I was able to match my intuitive interpretations with what I read, which opened my eyes to the deep magic of the natural world.

Spending time with elephants, you appreciate how tender they are to one another: how independently minded each can be; the daily challenges faced by a matriarch as she tries to persuade her family to follow her lead, or her courage in times of danger.

Perhaps what I've learnt most from growing up in the bush is how everything in nature is interconnected and how important wild spaces are for our sanity. It was perhaps this realisation that prompted us to relocate to Samburu district, Kenya, to bring our three kids up at Elephant Watch Camp.

Both my husband Frank and I are deeply committed to the cause of saving elephants, but we also felt it was an amazing opportunity to open our kids' eyes to a very different way of life and give them time to explore their imaginations and creativity while their brains were still uncluttered.

At first they were scared by the monkeys stealing mangos at breakfast or howled when thorns pricked their baby-soft feet, but it was merely a matter of learning the ropes. Pump-action water pistols work a treat at keeping monkeys at bay, so the sharpshooters are now locked and loaded in time for tea, and they’ve learnt to scuff their feet in the dust to get rid of most thorns.

On one occasion, when one of the twins was being rather disobedient, tromping off on her own not looking where she was going, she almost bumped into the backside of an elephant bull called Sarara. He whirled around with a great whoosh of annoyance and sent her scampering for cover, luckily into the arms of our ‘security’ - a local warrior called Mporian who was keeping an eye on her. It was a very close call that made the hair on my arms stand on end, and afterwards I could feel her little heart fluttering in her chest like a trapped bird. So far Sarara has proved to be more bark than bite, but you can never take elephants for granted.

The fact that elephants come into camp at all is the most amazing show of trust, and is thanks to the protection they get here in Samburu reserve and the gentle touch of the staff at Elephant Watch Camp. Even better is their inclination to seek out comfortable sand banks close to our tents at night and lay down for a snooze, so that you can hear the calm of their deepening breath as they succumb to elephant dreams under the stars.

Now and then leopards also pad through camp, which sets the vervet monkeys into a frenzy of alarm calls, and the monkeys like to tell us about the presence of civet cats, wild dog, servals, and hyena too. This wakes us up quite a lot at night, but since they are our extra eyes and ears it's always good to listen to what they are saying.

Saba's family, including her father Iain (left) and husband Frank (centre)

But camp is a lot of work, and it isn’t always easy. Trying to keep the standards high is an enormous challenge – vehicles break down, people get sick, nomads go on walkabout, termites gnaw through the infrastructure, and sadly, every now and then we find that an elephant has been killed - but that’s just part of life in the northern frontier.

Samburu National Reserve is a pocket-handkerchief of a protected area that’s part of a much greater wilderness that stretches all the way up to the Ethiopian border. Part of Frank’s work at Save the Elephants is to monitor where the elephants go in that wilderness and why. So we don’t often find time to put our feet up. This only happens during the rains when we pack up camp completely and take a proper break, heading down to the coast for a week or two of swimming in the Indian Ocean.

I know that nothing can last forever, but right now I'm very happy with this particular wild life.

Saba Douglas-Hamilton is a presenter and conservationist.

This Wild Life starts on Monday, 31 August at 7pm on BBC Two. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Indie lyrics and soap-style cliffhangers: Your pocket guide to Springwatch

2015-05-28T11:00:40+00:00

Hurrah! Three-week-long wildlife extravaganza Springwatch is back on BBC Two, Red Button and online for its 11th year. To celebrate, the TV blog's resident Springwatch super-fan is proud - and frankly a little over-excited - to present a five-point guide to what makes the annual telly event so watchable…

1. “It looks like a Vicar in a Tutu!” Chris Packham’s pop culture references

Since Chris Packham joined the Springwatch team back in 2009, it’s been an open secret that the bona fide indie kid (check out his 6Music playlist!) peppers his scripts with sly allusions to his favourite songs, lyrics, artists and films.

Bowie tracks, film titles and The Smiths lyrics have all made their way into the show - and the fact that he once described an ecosystem as ‘A Design for Life’ makes Packham a true hero of our age, and perhaps the biggest Manic Street Preachers fan we know. Take a bow, sir.

Some of Chris' many, many music references are captured in this montage

Chris, of course, hasn't disappointed this year, with several references already cropping up during the first few episodes (we won't tell you the theme, that's half the fun). Missed them? Better re-watch the series so far on BBC iPlayer.

2. “GET OUTTA MY NEST!” Follow the sensational storylines

Murder! Affairs! Bust-ups! Not just the domain of EastEnders, my friend. If you want scandalous stories, you need to get Springwatch-watching.

With the BBC Two episodes stripped across the week and cameras peeking into nests 24/7, we get to see chicks growing up before our eyes, romances blossoming and - brace yourselves - more tragedy than even Ian Beale has had to contend with.

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And if you can't wait a whole day to get your next dose of drama, make sure you stay glued to the live streams. This is especially true if a clutch of baby birds is on the brink of flying the nest. Predict correctly when those little bundles of fluff will leave the nest, and you’ll be elevated to uber-fan status in no time.

3. And now we cross to Martin… in some sort of swamp

Let's not beat around the holly bush (Ilex aquifolium, Latin fans), Martin Hughes-Games is a superhero.

While Michaela Strachan brings vast knowledge and keen insight into the exploits of Spineless Simon (he's this year's star, FYI, and has his own Twitter account @spinelesssimon), Chris gives us nerdy graphs charting the population density of lichen, and Iolo Williams treats us to nature's adventures in Scotland. But it’s down to co-presenter Martin to get out in the field. Or up a tree. Or knee-deep in a freezing pond after dark.

Here's Martin, on a boat in the middle of the sea, obviously

Come rain or, well, rain usually, Martin battles the elements to bring nature knowledge to the masses. And for that, we salute him.

4. #GetInvolved!

A large and enthusiastic community has built up around Springwatch and its seasonal sister series, Autumnwatch – and YOU are invited to join in. As well as chatting during the shows you can share any magical nature moments you’re lucky enough to glimpse using #WildlifeFromMyWindow. (And if you have an off-day, well there’s always #WildPhotoFails).

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With the Springwatch website, plus Springwatch on Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and even Soundcloud, there’s no excuse not to get stuck in. Go on, fill your wellington boots.

5. Killer whales and super-cute mammals in your living room

The true star of Springwatch is - above all - the great British wildlife that it brings into our homes and onto our phones and tablets.

Broadcast from the breath-taking Minsmere reserve in Suffolk, the series has already treated us to spectacular views of killer whales off the Scottish coast, the secret life of shrimps, hen harriers, stoats, avocets and puffins.

And with nine new episodes ahead, we can only imagine what sights and stories are still to come. Most importantly of all: will Spineless Simon ever find love…?

Springwatch continues every Monday to Thursday at 9pm on BBC Two until 11 June. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

10 awe-inspiring quotes and pictures that will make you fall in love with Alaska

2015-02-11T14:00:00+00:00

Spending three months filming Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom through the summer left a lasting impression on episode two producer Alex Lanchester. He explains the impact the stunning North American state had on him in words and pictures.

Alex Lanchester is the producer of episode two of Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom.

Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom continues on Wednesday 11 February at 8pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.

More on Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom:

BBC Two: Making Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom
Radio Times: How to see nature in an untouched wilderness
The Guardian: Dougray Scott narrates like he doesn't give a damn, but I like that

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Liz Bonnin on Animals In Love: How a pair of greylag geese could rival any great romance

2015-01-30T12:22:20+00:00

Filming Animals In Love was an eye-opening experience in so many ways. Not only did I witness animal behaviours I hadn't seen before, but it also allowed me to understand a lot more about emotional intelligence in animals.

Until very recently we believed animals were not capable of emotion. But over the past two decades great advances have been made in the study of animal behaviour and we now know that many animals experience emotions like fear and joy.

Visiting Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo was particularly moving for me. Far too many orphaned bonobo babies are brought here on a regular basis because their mothers are killed for the bushmeat trade.

One orphan, only a few months old, was cowering with its adoptive 'maman' (as the dedicated carers of these orphans are called), its eyes as big as saucers as it watched our soundman's boom hovering above us. I asked the 'maman' why he was so scared, and she said that the boom probably reminded him of the guns that shot his mother.

Like humans, bonobos use laughter as a communication tool

To see such intelligent social animals left so traumatised at the hands of humans is a very difficult thing to watch. The 'mamans' will devote the next five years to earning the trust of their orphan and caring for them day and night, so that they can become psychologically and physically well enough to live with a larger bonobo group. And having experienced how loving bonobo infants are, seeking out a cuddle at every opportunity, it's not difficult to see how important affection is to these animals.

One of the most extraordinary behaviours we filmed is the mating ritual of alligators. Male alligators produce a mesmerising, deep and powerful bellow to denote their territory and attract females. Their deep rumblings produce vibrations which cause the water on their backs to dance in delicate little fountains.

Once a male attracts a female, the courtship dance begins. It's probably one of the gentlest, most delicate interactions I have ever seen. The male and female nuzzle each other repeatedly, moving ever so slowly alongside each other. For such powerful, fearsome predators it is quite a surprising behaviour to witness!

One of the most touching stories of the series came from one of the most unlikely sources: the greylag goose. The story of Tariq and Judith could rival any Disney classic. The two formed a very close bond, as all greylag couples should to be successful in life, but two years into their relationship, Judith disappeared in a violent storm. According to the scientists studying the geese, Tariq's behaviour could only be described as grief-stricken. After some time he did appear to move on and find a new mate, but a year after their separation, Judith unexpectedly returned. Tariq's response was undeniable. He immediately returned to Judith and they have been together ever since.

Judith and Tariq have since had a family of goslings together

Learning about the elephants of Thula Thula Reserve in South Africa was really special. Conservationist Lawrence Anthony's close relationship with the herd he rescued was already heartwarming, but hearing about Frankie, the matriarch of the herd, making a concerted effort to support and befriend another female in distress (ET), convinced me all the more about elephants' capacity for emotional intelligence.

I couldn't believe our luck when, after days of searching, we finally came across the herd. Frankie and ET approached our jeep, side by side, with ET's tiny young calf almost hidden from view, squashed between them. It was an emotional moment to see these elephants thriving, thanks to Lawrence and his team.

Science has shown us that elephants are capable of extraordinary behaviours we still don't fully understand. They grieve their dead, and somehow always know which watering holes to visit, even if they are hundreds of miles away and only just full again after years of drought. I would not be surprised if in the future science were to make more exciting discoveries about the cognitive and emotional capacities of these extraordinary animals.

Is it possible for animals to love? For one thing, we still can’t fully define what love is even in us humans. But all across the animal kingdom, the chemicals involved in attraction and attachment are very similar. Although of course we can’t say whether this feels the same in a human as it does in a goose, the physiology is the same. And if we can call that love, then love is more common across the animal kingdom than we first thought.

I’m very excited to see what else we will discover about the emotional lives of animals.

Liz Bonnin presents Animals In Love

Animals In Love starts on Sunday, 1 February at 6pm on BBC One and BBC One HD in England and Scotland. It is also on at 6pm on BBC Two Wales and 7pm on BBC Two NI.

For further programme times please see the upcoming broadcasts page.

More on Animals In Love:
Radio Times: The world's five best places to watch cuddling creatures

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

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Liz Bonnin on Animals In Love: How a pair of greylag geese could rival any great romance