David Attenborough to Finally Tackle 'Parenthood' at 99

The delaying of parenthood until one is in one's 30s (or 40s) is a trend that has been decried since it began in the latter half of the 20th century. However, it's usually focused on the age of women -- men can go around becoming first-time fathers up until the day they pass, and no one ever says anything. Case in Point: David Attenborough, who at the ripe young age of 99 will debut his take on Parenthood on the BBC in August 2025, with a planned follow-up airing on local PBS stations in the U.S. sometime in the following year. 

(I am joking, of course. Attenborough has two grown children with his late wife, one of whom has a degree in bioanthropology and the other of whom makes nature specials for the BBC. Those apples didn't roll far.)

Attenborough's next series is indeed titled Parenthood. Like many of the series produced and airing under the BBC Earth banner, it was filmed over a three-year period across six continents. The series boasts it is an exploration of "life's greatest challenge."

Attenborough did not direct the series, which, during its filming period, uncovered extraordinary new behaviors and jaw-dropping dramas. "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," director Jeff Wilson said in a statement. "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."

Here's the series synopsis:

A definitive natural history series about life’s greatest challenge- raising children. Featuring never-before-seen animal behaviours, this breathtaking new series delivers a universal message about the importance of preserving the natural world. Narrated by David Attenborough, it focuses on the incredible stories of devotion, ingenuity, and sacrifice of animals to ensure the survival of their young.

Much like his other most recent series, Planet Earth: Asia, Attenborough did not travel with the camera crew; instead, he narrated the film after it was completed. The series has already been acquired by PBS's WNET, which produces the long-running Nature series; the five-episode Parenthood is expected to air either under the Nature banner or as a Nature special series.

The new series, hailing from Silverback Films, was filmed using the latest 8K technology, capturing never-before-seen animal behavior. Wilson is both the series producer and directed all five installments, Keith Scholey is the executive producer, and Tara Knowles is the production manager.

Parenthood will debut on BBC On in August 2025 and is expected to follow on most local PBS stations sometime during the 2025-2026 television season, most likely airing on Wednesdays. Nature does not typically offer binge drops on premiere day for members on PBS Passport. We expect this to be an air-and-stream weekly event series that will debut simultaneously on the PBS app, the PBS Documentary Prime Video Channel, and your local PBS stations, with one episode per week. As always, local listings: check them.