British Isles: A Natural History is an eight-part documentary series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit and presented by Alan Titchmarsh. Originally broadcast in the UK on BBC1 from September to November 2004, it took viewers on a journey from the formation of what is now the British Isles some 3 billion years ago to the present day, revealing how natural and human forces have shaped the landscape. Each of the 50-minute episodes was followed by a 10-minute short specific to each region of the British Isles. In 2007, the BBC made a companion series about British wildlife called The Nature of Britain, also presented by Titchmarsh. A 3-disc Region 2 and 4 DVD set featuring all eight episodes was released on 29 November 2004. Titchmarsh wrote an accompanying book, also called British Isles: A Natural History, and released by BBC Books on 1 October 2004.
Seasons and episodes
1 season · 8 episodes
S1 E13 Billion Years in the Making
Sep 29, 200460 min
Beginning in a familiar garden setting, Alan peels back the layers of Britain's varied past. He travels to his native Yorkshire to reveal how innocent sounding place names provide evidence of a wild legacy. On Scotland's Isle of May, he dis
S1 E2Dinosaurs, Deserts and Volcanoes
Oct 6, 200460 min
From Jurassic Oxford to Scotland's Himalayas, Alan explores the secret history hidden in the rocks beneath our feet. He discovers how Scotland and England drifted together from their original locations, near the Equator and the South Pole,
S1 E3Ice Age
Oct 13, 200460 min
Alan gets under the skin of the much misunderstood Neanderthal man, examines relics from the past and discovers that an ice sheet covering most of Britain stopped at London's Finchley Road tube station. Armed with a geologist's microphone,
- 4S1 E4
Islands Apart
Oct 20, 200460 min
Alan ventures 50 metres below the Channel, scales an ancient tree in the New Forest and stalks red deer in Scotland to tell the story of how island Britain was created. He searches for clues across the country, discovering tropical nickar n
- 5S1 E5
Taming the Wild
Oct 27, 200460 min
Piecing together clues from the natural and man-made landscape, Alan looks at the dramatic changes that have affected the British Isles from the Stone Age to the Industrial Revolution. The entire population of Britain could fit into a footb
- 6S1 E6
Revolution
Nov 4, 200460 min
The way of life of many animals was shaped by the industrial age. The canal network not only provided transport for bulk goods, it was also a fantastic new habitat. In Wales slate quarries, with their cliff-like ledges, provided a new home
Starring
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I watch British Isles: A Natural History?
- British Isles: A Natural History is not currently listed on a streaming service in the US. Use the country picker on the page to check other markets.
- How many seasons of British Isles: A Natural History are there?
- British Isles: A Natural History has 1 season and 8 episodes. Status: Ended.
- Will there be a new season of British Isles: A Natural History?
- British Isles: A Natural History has ended; no new episodes are scheduled. The final episode aired on November 18, 2004.
- Who stars in British Isles: A Natural History?
- British Isles: A Natural History stars Alan Titchmarsh.
