Series synopsis
Autumnwatch is a British documentary television series that premiered on BBC Two on November 5, 2007. It stars Bill Oddie and Kate Humble.
A spontaneous, sometimes humorous look at UK’s wildlife in autumn through conversations with experts and passionate amateurs.
Premise
A spontaneous, sometimes humorous look at UK’s wildlife in autumn through conversations with experts and passionate amateurs.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Bill Oddie as Self - Presenter
- Kate Humble as Self - Presenter
Guest cast
- Hannah Stitfall as Self - Presenter
- Michaela Strachan as Self - Presenter
- Gillian Burke as Self - Presenter
- Iolo Williams as Self - Presenter
- Chris Packham as Self - Presenter
- Charlie Hamilton James as Self - Presenter
- Simon King as Self - Presenter
- Gordon Buchanan as Self - Presenter
- Liz Bonnin as Self - Presenter
- Chris Watson as Self - Presenter
- Martin Hughes-Games as Self - Presenter
- Nick Baker as Self - Presenter
Episodes
This series spans 20 seasons with 89 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | November 2, 2012 | November 2, 2012 |
| Season 1 | 8 | November 5, 2007 | November 15, 2007 |
| Season 2 | 8 | October 27, 2008 | November 6, 2008 |
| Season 3 | 8 | October 3, 2009 | November 21, 2009 |
| Season 4 | 8 | October 7, 2010 | November 25, 2010 |
| Season 5 | 8 | October 7, 2011 | November 25, 2011 |
| Season 6 | 4 | October 30, 2012 | November 2, 2012 |
| Season 7 | 4 | October 29, 2013 | November 1, 2013 |
| Season 8 | 4 | October 28, 2014 | October 31, 2014 |
| Season 9 | 4 | November 2, 2015 | November 5, 2015 |
| Season 10 | 4 | October 24, 2016 | October 27, 2016 |
| Season 11 | 4 | October 23, 2017 | October 26, 2017 |
| Season 12 | 4 | October 15, 2018 | October 18, 2018 |
| Season 13 | 0 | ||
| Season 14 | 8 | October 27, 2020 | November 6, 2020 |
| Season 15 | 4 | ||
| Season 16 | 8 | October 25, 2022 | October 28, 2022 |
| Season 2007 | 0 | November 5, 2007 | November 15, 2007 |
| Season 2008 | 0 | October 27, 2008 | November 6, 2008 |
| Season 2009 | 0 | October 2, 2009 | November 20, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Autumnwatch Unsprung 2012 Martin Hughes-Games hosts the climax to a week of Autumnwatch, and it is time for viewers to take over the show. Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin answer your questions, take a look at your photos and videos, and share your experiences of autumn. |
November 2, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 For the next two weeks, Bill Oddie, Kate Humble and Simon King will follow a cast of unforgettable wildlife characters as Autumn develops. Look out for daily drama and beauty from around the UK - fighting red deer, migrating whooper swans, and a host of other animal stars including beavers, foxes and wild boar. |
November 5, 2007 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Bill Oddie and Kate Humble bring you the latest updates from the Autumnwatch animal stars- deer, swans, beavers and many more animals- as their real-life dramas unfold. We'll also be catching up with Jamie the Glaswegian fox and inviting you to join our tree party at the weekend. |
November 6, 2007 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Bill Oddie and Kate Humble look at more footage of the whooper swans, red deer and foxes. Simon King tries to track down wild boar in the Forest of Dean. |
November 7, 2007 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 From their new home on the magical island of Brownsea in Dorset, Bill Oddie and Kate Humble return to follow the most dramatic season of the year, aided by a cast of red squirrels, sika deer and spectacular birdlife on the lagoon. Meanwhile, Simon King's quest to unravel some autumn mysteries begins with the fallow deer rut and Gordon Buchanan braves cruel storms as he follows the fate of the grey seal colony on the Farne Islands, as young are born in harsh conditions. |
October 27, 2008 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 On Brownsea island Bill and Kate set a challenge for the red squirrels to find out whether they are as clever as their grey counterparts. We look at why the New Forest is such a special place and the fallow deer rut comes to a head for Simon. Catch up with Gordon Buchanan and the latest from the grey seal colony on the Farne Islands and join in our mission to find out more about our garden birds. |
October 28, 2008 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Simon heads to the urban jungle of Birmingham where he encounters deer in the city. But how do they get there? Bill and Kate keep you up to date on the red squirrels and lagoon life on Brownsea island, also reporting on other stories from around the country. The stakes get higher for the grey seal pups as winter draws near on the Farne Islands. |
October 29, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 From the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, Chris Packham and Kate Humble share their autumnal adventures in a wildlife-rich cider orchard. Simon King reports from the red deer rut on the Scottish island of Rum, while Gordon Buchanan is tracking killer whales in the North Sea. Martin Hughes-Games is on hand to show viewers how to get involved with the series and autumn wildlife near them. |
October 3, 2009 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris and Kate are on the Dorset coast to say goodbye to the summer's migrants and hello to the autumn arrivals; it is bound to be a rich treat for any bird lover. Simon King gives an update on autumn's most dramatic spectacle, reporting from the Scottish island of Rum on the red deer rut. Martin Hughes-Games reveals how you can become more involved with wildlife, while Gordon Buchanan is on the trail of the best of your stories. |
October 10, 2009 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Chris and Kate are at a wildlife hospital helping to rescue and care for sick and injured animals. Autumn is a busy time for them. In particular, hedgehogs need to be in peak condition if they are to successfully hibernate and survive the winter. Simon King is in border country to report live on the arrival of thousands of migrating barnacle geese. Martin Hughes-Games reveals how to get more involved with wildlife, while Gordon Buchanan is on the trail of the best stories from viewers. |
October 17, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Autumnwatch returns for an eight week celebration of UK wildlife. From the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, Chris Packham and Kate Humble share their adventures of the last few days on a wild side of London where red deer rut and peregrine falcons hunt. Wildlife cameraman Charlie Hamilton-James is on the trail of an otter and her cubs in Shetland, while Martin Hughes-Games is tracking down your wildlife stories, which include badgers living in the heart of the city. |
October 7, 2010 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Autumnwatch returns for an eight week celebration of UK wildlife. Chris Packham and Kate Humble visit the south coast to witness bird migration in action - autumn is the cue for summer visitors like swallows and martens to leave our shores as redwings, fieldfares and others arrive. Kate also reveals a real autumn screamer - the sika deer, while Chris gets up close to some spectacular spiders. In the Scottish Highlands, biologist Liz Bonnin is hoping for an encounter with the rare and elusive Scottish wildcat and closer to home Martin Hughes-Games is on the trail of the best of your stories. |
October 14, 2010 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Autumnwatch returns for a celebration of UK wildlife. Chris Packham and Kate Humble visit Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland - more than 50 square miles of inland seawater, described as one of Europe's most important wildlife sites. For Chris, the star attraction is 30,000 light-bellied Brent geese - that's three quarters of the world's population. Kate decides to go deeper, diving beneath the waves in search of conger eels. In Northumberland, wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson is on an audio journey from source to sea of the river Coquet. Closer to home Martin Hughes-Games is on the trail of the best of your stories. |
October 21, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Autumnwatch returns for an eight week celebration of UK wildlife. New presenter Michaela Strachan joins Chris Packham and Martin Hughes-Games, broadcasting live from the National Arboretum at Westonbirt. They'll be sharing their adventures from the previous few days. This week, their journey takes them to the spectacular Wye Valley, on the trail of wild boar, swarming bats, and autumn's wild harvest. Meanwhile, guest presenter and naturalist Roy Dennis is following the perilous migration of the Springwatch osprey chicks as they leave our shores and head for Africa. |
October 7, 2011 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan visit Spurn Point on the Humber Estuary to witness one of autumn's biggest events, migration. They'll be tracking our winter visitors like redwings and fieldfares as they arrive, and there's also an update on the Springwatch ospreys as they head south for the winter. Martin Hughes-Games reveals unique insights into the lives of badgers with the help of special cameras installed deep within a sett. And in Scotland, wildlife cameraman Charlie Hamilton James is following the epic journey of the salmon, from the sea to their spawning grounds. |
October 14, 2011 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast from the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, with all the latest autumn wildlife action. Chris and Martin report back on their visit to north Devon, exploring the moors, rockpooling on the spectacular coastline, and helping bring in the wild Exmoor ponies. There's an update on the migrating osprey chicks, and wildlife filmmaker Johnny Kingdom is on the trail of one of autumn's spectacles, the red deer rut. |
October 21, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Autumnwatch is back with the best stories of the UK's wildlife, live. For four days, Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast from their base in the Scottish Highlands, where they will be watching the action unfold as red squirrels, pine martens, beavers and others prepare for autumn. There is news about how the wettest summer in 100 years has affected our wildlife, and a celebration of one of the UK's biggest wildlife spectacles, as thousands of wading birds from across Europe mass at our coast. |
October 30, 2012 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan broadcast live from the Scottish Highlands, reporting on all the latest wildlife action. Martin Hughes-Games tracks down one of the UK's newest and most controversial residents, the beaver, and there is a dramatic battle between two red deer stags as the autumn deer rut heats up. Meanwhile, Iolo Williams is on the trail of one of our most impressive and elusive birds of prey, the golden eagle. |
October 31, 2012 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The best stories and live wildlife action from Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games, broadcasting from their base in the Scottish Highlands. The team report back on the night's stake-out, revealing the hidden world of our nocturnal animals. And new science uncovers how squirrels use deceit and theft to stockpile food for the tough times ahead. |
November 1, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Autumnwatch is back, with the best stories of the UK's wildlife, live from the wild Lancashire coast. For four days, Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast from their new base at RSPB Leighton Moss, watching the action unfold as starlings, red deer, otters and others prepare for winter. Featuring special reports on the magic and mystery of migration as birds and other animals head to warmer climes, and updates on how the bountiful autumn has affected wildlife. |
October 29, 2013 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris Packham, Martin Hughes-Games and Michaela Strachan broadcast live from RSPB Leighton Moss on the wild Lancashire coast, reporting on all the latest wildlife action. Plus, a special report on foxes in Brighton. These animals are spreading through towns and cities across the UK, so there has never been a more important time to learn about our wild urban neighbours. |
October 30, 2013 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Martin Hughes-Games goes out and about on RSPB Leighton Moss, exploring the heart of this wild reserve with infra-red and thermal imaging cameras as he tries to get close to the action, while Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan look at best wildlife stories of the season. |
October 31, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Autumnwatch is back with the best of the season's wild stories, live from the beautiful Lancashire coast. Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games watch the action unfold as barn owls, starlings and otters prepare for winter. There is a special report on the most dramatic of autumn spectacles, the red deer rut, as huge male stags fight for the right to mate. |
October 28, 2014 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris Packham, Martin Hughes-Games and Michaela Strachan are live from RSPB Leighton Moss on the stunning Lancashire coast, where they're getting to know the resident red deer, barn owls, starlings and otters. In a special report, Martin heads north to the Baltic Sea on the trail of migrating swans. |
October 29, 2014 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The best of the season's wildlife with Chris Packham, Martin Hughes-Games and Michaela Strachan, live from their base on the Lancashire coast. Martin immerses himself in the watery world of otters and ducks at RSPB Leighton Moss, and there is a special report from Iolo Williams as he heads to the Welsh coast to rescue fledgling seabirds. |
October 30, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Autumnwatch is back, live from a brand new location - the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust Caerlaverock Reserve in the beautiful south west of Scotland. Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games watch the action unfold as resident badgers and otters prepare for winter. Elsewhere, the red deer rut goes into nocturnal overdrive, and the country is invaded by hundreds of thousands of swans and geese. |
November 2, 2015 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris Packham, Martin Hughes-Games and Michaela Strachan are live from Caerlaverock on the stunning south west corner of Scotland, surrounded by the entire world population of Svalbard barnacle geese. In a special report, Martin is on a stakeout to unravel the extraordinary night-time shenanigans of red deer. And the team are treated to possibly the closest views of badgers yet. |
November 3, 2015 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The best of the season's wildlife with Chris Packham, Martin Hughes-Games and Michaela Strachan, live from their base in the south west of Scotland. The wild goose chase continues, along with action from badgers, otters and the UK's most powerful birds of prey. |
November 4, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Autumnwatch is back, live from a brand new location, RSPB Arne Reserve in Dorset. Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games watch the action unfold as resident sika deer fight for dominance. There's an exciting update on the Springwatch eagle chick, plus one woman's quest to fly with migrating Bewick's swans. |
October 24, 2016 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan are live from Arne on the stunning south coast, where things get hotter in the sika deer rut. There's also a chance to name the golden eagle chick, migration is in full swing and there's a brand new mouse maze. Meanwhile Martin Hughes-Games attempts to break a UK record for the largest flock of spoonbills ever seen and Lucy Cooke pops in with a report on Britain's cutest mammalian invader. |
October 25, 2016 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The best of the season's wildlife with Chris Packham, Martin Hughes-Games and Michaela Strachan, live from their base at Arne in Poole Harbour, one of the best places in the UK to witness the autumn spectacle. Martin goes on a live sound safari and Gillian Burke tells the tale of Britain's most elusive and prettiest spider. |
October 26, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games are live in the countryside, updating on some of the characters that we last saw at the end of Springwatch. |
October 23, 2017 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Gillian Burke reveals the latest in her fox intelligence test, while Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games are live from the Gloucestershire countryside. |
October 24, 2017 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The team report live from the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Martin Hughes-Games is out and about trying his hand at the unusual art of 'worm-charming'. |
October 25, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Gillian Burke have travelled to New Hampshire as billions of trees across New England turn into a riot of yellows, reds and golds. |
October 15, 2018 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris and Michaela are live from the beautiful Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Gillian gets up close with one of New England's smallest owls, the saw-whet. |
October 16, 2018 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Michaela has been on a moose mission, finding out about a tiny but deadly enemy of these massive beasts, and Gillian is looking for red efts in the leaf litter - a brightly coloured newt that comes out in damp conditions. |
October 17, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Chris is in the New Forest watching autumn transform his home, and Iolo is at the spectacular Centre of Alternative Technology in west Wales. |
October 27, 2020 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, Gillian Burke and Iolo Williams are live from the New Forest, Fife, Yorkshire and Powys. There is more drama from Michaela’s Scottish seal colony. |
October 28, 2020 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Chris catches up with a mob of hungry teenage white-tailed eagles, released on the Isle of Wight. |
October 29, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | |
| 2 | Episode 2 | |
| 3 | Episode 3 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Watch Out with Hannah Stitfall and Chris Packham Join Hannah and Chris this lunchtime for some weird and wonderful wildlife stories. |
October 25, 2022 |
| 2 |
Episode 1 Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan settle into the live cameras at Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk, where beavers are frequenting a floating raft and thermal cameras are poised to capture the natural events that happen after dark. Iolo Williams and Gillian Burke are at Teifi Marshes in Wales, where Iolo is on the lookout for the locking antlers of the deer rut and Gillian is exploring the natural wonders of Cardigan Bay. They also have live cameras on one of the biggest bat roosts in Wales to witness the comings and goings as they happen. |
October 25, 2022 |
| 3 |
Watch Out with Hannah Stitfall and Michaela Strachan Join Hannah and Michaela in looking at all things autumn. |
October 26, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 For the next two weeks, Bill Oddie, Kate Humble and Simon King follow a cast of unforgettable wildlife characters this Autumn including deer, swans, beavers, foxes and wild boar. |
November 5, 2007 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Bill Oddie and Kate Humble bring you the latest updates from the Autumnwatch animal stars- deer, swans, beavers and many more animals- as their real-life dramas unfold. We'll also be catching up with Jamie the Glaswegian fox and inviting you to join our tree party at the weekend. |
November 6, 2007 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Bill Oddie and Kate Humble look at more footage of the whooper swans, red deer and foxes. Simon King tries to track down wild boar in the Forest of Dean. |
November 7, 2007 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Bill Oddie and Kate Humble present live from Brownsea in Dorset. Simon King unravels autumn mysteries and Gordon Buchanan braves storms to follow the fate of a grey seal colony. |
October 27, 2008 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Bill Oddie and Kate Humble present live from Brownsea in Dorset, setting a challenge for the red squirrels. The fallow deer rut comes to a head for Simon. |
October 28, 2008 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Simon heads to Birmingham where he encounters deer in the city. But how do they get there? Bill and Kate update on the red squirrels and lagoon life on Brownsea island. |
October 29, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 UK wildlife series. From the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, Chris Packham and Kate Humble share their adventures of the last few days in a wildlife-rich cider orchard. |
October 2, 2009 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Chris and Kate are on the Dorset coast to say goodbye to the summer's migrants and hello to this season's arrivals. |
October 9, 2009 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Chris and Kate are at a wildlife hospital helping to care for injured animals, and Simon King reports on the arrival of thousands of migrating barnacle geese. |
October 16, 2009 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 5, 2007 |
| Last aired | October 28, 2022 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 20:00:00 |