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"Kingdom," the pioneering new BBC series fronted by Sir David Attenborough, is one of the most hotly anticipated nature releases of 2025, andLive Science is here with all the TV and streaming details.
How to watch "Kingdom" — Quick Guide
► UK: BBC One, BBC iPlayer (From November 9, 2025)
"Kingdom" is billed as "one of the most ambitious wildlife series ever made" and documents four rival animal families in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park over a period of five years.
In a lush corner of the park, known as Nsefu, the filmmakers followed a lion pride, a wild dog pack, a hyena clan and a leopard family, showcasing the groups' behaviors and social dynamics.
Narrated by 99-year-old Sir David Attenborough, who has fronted the BBC's natural history output for decades, "Kingdom" premieres on U.K. screens on Nov. 9. The U.S. release will come in January 2026.
How to watch "Kingdom" in the U.K.
In the U.K., episodes will air live on TV on BBC One and online on BBC iPlayer, where episodes will also be available to watch on-demand once premiered.
"Kingdom" has a primetime Sunday evening slot, with the first episode airing at 6:20 p.m. GMT on Nov. 9, with new episodes coming at the same time on the following five Sundays.
BBC iPlayer is free to use with a registration as long as your TV licence is up to date.
Can I watch "Kingdom" in the U.S.?
Attenborough fans in the U.S. will have to wait until next year to watch "Kingdom," which has a release date of Jan. 24, 2026 on BBC America and AMC+.
Watch "Kingdom" from anywhere
If you're U.K.-based but traveling overseas you can watch Attenborough's "Kingdom" from anywhere, thanks to a VPN.
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a piece of internet security software that can alter your device's digital location, unlocking the geo-restrictions on most streaming platforms.
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"Kingdom's" five-year scope is "a first in natural history programming," the BBC said in a statement, with a team of 170 people — including more than 90 Zambian crew and wildlife experts — spending around 1,400 days in Nsefu and filming 76 shoots.
"We filmed over five years, which is the longest we have ever continuously filmed in one location, and that in itself is quite an achievement. There are of course risks to putting all your eggs in one basket by focusing solely on one location, but it has absolutely paid off with 'Kingdom,'" executive producer Mike Gunton said in apromotional interview with the BBC.
"Having spent so much time observing these animals and filming them, we're seeing amazing bits of animal behaviour that people have never seen on television before, like wild dogs working together to force hyenas off a kill."
As well as the wild dogs and the hyenas, "Kingdom" follows a pride of lions and a family of leopards, examining how the groups interact as they fight to survive and thrive.
"If I had to pick one word to describe 'Kingdom' it would be 'intensity.' It's almost Shakespearean in its feel, and it's incredibly ambitious in its scale," Gunton said.
"It's a story that speaks across the ages because it focuses on four families in one location all struggling to survive. They've got their internal struggles, but they've also got struggles against the other rival families. And this creates a really intriguing tapestry of rich stories," he added.
"It’s high drama — it's got a bit of 'Game of Thrones,' it's got a bit of 'Succession,' but it's also got a bit of 'The Lion King.' But 'Kingdom' also has this wonderful warmth about it. It can be quite a white-knuckle ride at times, but there are also some wonderful moments of beauty and tenderness," Gunton said.
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Patrick manages How To Watch content across Future's portfolio of Knowledge and Sports publications, helping to bring readers all the information they need to watch the best shows and live events across TV and streaming. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with a decade of experience in digital media.
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