You think you know the UK…until David Attenborough shows you the version with orcas, puffins, boxing hares, ancient oaks, and survival stories straight out of Planet Earth.
Trailer for “Wild Isles”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- The series was filmed over 3 years in 145 locations across the British Isles.
- A group of orcas called the “27 pod” learned to hunt seals by following them into narrow gullies where the seals sleep.
- The opening episode pulled in 7.61 million U.K. viewers, which is massive for a nature doc.
Watch “Wild Isles”
You can watch “Wild Isles” on Prime Video.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 91/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: “Wild Isles” was made by Silverback Films for the BBC. The series was co-produced and partly funded by the RSPB, WWF, and The Open University.
Release Date: March 2023
Other Unique Stuff
- The whole premise flips the usual nature doc script. Attenborough skips the Amazon and Serengeti and proves you can find world-class wildlife drama in Britain and Ireland.
- The woodland episode treats ancient trees like main characters, giving them story arcs and screen time in a way most nature docs never do.
- The companion “Saving Our Wild Isles” sparked a political controversy before release, with reports that it was held back from BBC broadcast over fears of backlash.
Wrap Up:
“Wild Isles” is Attenborough doing what he does best: making familiar places feel brand new. If you like nature docs with jaw-dropping footage and real conservation stakes, this is an easy yes.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc