The BBC has confirmed Naturewatch, a new weekly celebration of British wildlife presented by Chris Packham alongside Megan McCubbin and Kyle Thomas, launching on BBC Two next month.
Produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the show will broadcast from a studio pod in the British countryside near Bristol, where the presenters will be joined each week by experts tackling viewer questions.
The first episode will be available to watch on Friday 6 November from 6am on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, before airing on BBC Two at 7:30pm.
The series has been described as "a weekly celebration of British wildlife", bringing together "the stories that make us curious, the behaviours that make us wonder and the unexpected discoveries about the wildlife we think we know".
The trio, described as "three curious minds, a wealth of expertise and one shared obsession with the natural world", will cover everything from why birds eat rocks to what really happens during the rutting season.
Alongside the big questions, the show will also "explore the stories making waves in the natural world, uncover the science behind the headlines and bring the audience into the conversation". The regular expert guests will answer everything "from why birds eat rocks, and why squirrels always land on their feet, to why geese fly in formation".
Every television episode will be followed by a special audio-only Naturewatch Q&A, exclusive to BBC Sounds, giving audiences more opportunity to put their questions to the experts.
Packham, a long-standing fixture of the BBC's Watches strand, said: "Packed with fresh science, guaranteed nerdiness and a lively, conversational spirit, this is a new nature adventure I can't wait to share with audiences.
"I'm so excited, I'm practically breaking out in a rash!" He added that, from "newts to nightingales, nudibranchs to noctules", the show would "blow minds, have a laugh, deepen our understanding and fall head over heels for the wildlife on our doorstep".
McCubbin, who has co-presented Springwatch since 2020 and is Packham's stepdaughter, commented: "I couldn't be more excited to be co-hosting this new show, Naturewatch! The natural world is full of incredible surprises, fascinating characters and lots of jaw-dropping moments."
She said having "a weekly programme dedicated to UK wildlife means a lot" and that she hoped it would "inspire viewers to get outside and reconnect with the wildlife around us".
Thomas, a wildlife presenter and animal advocate with a large social media following whose credits include the BBC Three documentary We Built a Zoo, said: "Wildlife has always been my biggest passion, so to be part of Naturewatch alongside Chris and Megan is incredibly exciting. I hope we can inspire a new generation to fall in love with the natural world."
The commission follows the BBC's decision to end Winterwatch after 14 years, with the broadcaster moving towards a year-round format to keep audiences connected to British wildlife across every season.
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Jack Bootle, head of commissioning, specialist factual, said Naturewatch was "all about giving audiences a chance to connect with British nature every single week of the year", adding: "If you're curious about the natural world, this is the place for you." He said the trio of experts could tell viewers "where butterflies go when it rains, or discover what the cleverest animal in Britain is", and noted that "because the show is available on iPlayer, linear and Sounds, you can engage in whatever way works best for you".
Sreya Biswas, director of programmes at the BBC Studios natural history unit, added: "We are excited to launch Naturewatch as it will keep audiences connected to Britain's extraordinary wildlife all year round.
"There's never been a better time to get curious about the natural world. From extraordinary animal behaviour to the little mysteries happening right on our doorsteps, Naturewatch is all about asking questions, sharing discoveries, and having a bit of fun along the way. Expect fascinating stories, expert insight and the odd, surprising revelation."
Audiences can get involved by posting their questions and wildlife photos to Naturewatch@bbc.co.uk, with more information available via the BBC's Springwatch pages.
Naturewatch is available to watch from Friday 6 November at 6am on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds and on 7:30pm on BBC Two.
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