# Natural World (1983)

> A long-running BBC Two strand of standalone natural history documentaries exploring wildlife and environments around the world.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/19503

## Facts

- Seasons: 39
- Episodes: 543
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary
- Network: BBC Two
- Cast: John Hannah, Juliet Stevenson, Ian Holm, Honor Blackman, John Hurt, Geraldine James, Robert Lindsay, Art Malik
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318912/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: contemplative, awe-filled, gentle, wondrous, calm

## Synopsis

Natural World (1983-2020) is a British natural history documentary series created for BBC Two and regarded as the broadcaster's flagship nature brand. Produced largely by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, it runs across thirty-nine seasons and more than five hundred hour-long programmes, with each film standing alone rather than following a single continuing story. Narration is delivered by a rotating roster of voice actors, including John Hannah, Juliet Stevenson and Ian Holm, who guide viewers through wildlife and habitats on every continent. The engine of each programme is patient field observation: crews spend months or years tracking a single species, a family of animals or an ecosystem, capturing behaviour that rarely reveals itself to the casual eye. Episodes move at a measured, contemplative pace, foregrounding wonder, quiet suspense and a gentle concern for environmental change. Since 2008 most programmes have been shot in high definition, lending the images a crisp, luminous quality. Many entries are sold to PBS in the United States as Nature episodes. Fans of Planet Earth, The Blue Planet and Our Planet will find the same blend of awe, scientific care and calm storytelling here.

## Shows like Natural World

- [Africa (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/42279)
- [Nature's Great Events (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/18234)
- [Horizon (1964)](https://ember.film/tv/1858)
- [The Living Planet (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/8856)
- [Life in Cold Blood (2008)](https://ember.film/tv/1157)
- [Seven Worlds, One Planet (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/76945)
- [Planet Earth II (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/60188)
- [A Perfect Planet (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/95990)
- [Our Planet (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/71512)
- [Nature (1982)](https://ember.film/tv/13940)

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