Best wildlife documentaries to stream free on BBC iPlayer - ranked

Naturally, no discussion of wildlife shows would be complete without mentioning - a veteran legend in his field and the name that instantly comes to mind when thinking of the genre. Even now, at the age of 98, he still doesn't disappoint, and is streamed by millions all over the world.

One particularly memorable throwback is his 2013 series Africa, which takes the TV host to some of the most inhospitable climates on earth to examine how hardy creatures survive and even thrive there. He can be seen gently patting a baby rhino at close range, and experiencing everything from the searing temperatures of the Sahara Desert to the Congolese forests. If your passion is for the seas, on the other hand, you might consider Attenborough And The Giant Sea Monster, where he retells the story of the prehistoric pliosaur, or "Tyrannosaurus Rex of the Seas". In 2023, an authentic giant skull belonging to one of the monsters was extracted from the Dorset cliffs - a background story to bear in mind as Attenborough's narration brings the tale of an animal you may never even have heard of before to life.

More recently, Attenborough filmed Asia, which was released in 2024 and focuses on everything from red pandas to the elusive snow leopard.

The latter was discovered in one of the highest villages in the world: at over 4,000m in height, altitude sickness is a very real possibility for humans, but these hardy cats thrive.

Dynasty, The Mating Game and Wild Isles (set in Britain) are a few of the other Attenborough-led documentaries up for grabs on iPlayer - but although he plays a huge part, there are other big hitters in the world of documentaries too.

Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page captivates in Joanna Page's Wild Life: it's a chance to see the actress in a totally different setting than ever before, as she tries her hand at becoming a wildlife rescue volunteer.

The Americas, narrated by Tom Hanks, has also finally come to iPlayer, after originally only getting a release across the pond, and everywhere from the Caribbean to the Amazon is included: if you've never seen endangered sand tiger sharks by a shipwreck, this documentary will not disappoint.

If lions, cheetahs and leopards basking in the wilderness are your animals of choice, you can't go wrong with Big Cats 24/7.

Then there's Birdsong, featuring a devoted ornithologist's jaw-droppingly time-consuming mission to record the song of every bird species in Ireland

Back From The Brink sees presenting fave Libby Penman take a heart-warming look at the animals who have been saved from extinction.

Frozen Planet will have viewers shivering and reaching for the heating controls as they watch brutally chilly polar regions, while Eden: Untamed Planet will share the secrets of untouched, underpopulated hidden gems across the likes of Patagonia, the Galapagos Islands and Borneo.

Otherwise, to have your heart warmed and your spirit lifted, discover how humans can protect and care for the planet we live in and shape a stronger future for all, on A Perfect Planet.