Sir David Attenborough explores the surprisingly vibrant seas that surround the British Isles. The vast watery wilderness around us is over three times the size of our land mass, and yet to many, our oceans remain a mystery. Full of colour and teeming with life, the seas of Britain and Ireland are crucially important to a range of wildlife. This episode goes beneath the waves to uncover the thriving habitats that exist along our 22,000-mile coastline. In winter, clear evidence of the ocean’s abundance can be seen on a beach in Norfolk. Thousands of grey seals congregate on the shoreline to give birth. Britain and Ireland are home to 40 per cent of the world’s grey seals, and the number being born on our shore rises every year. Once the newly born pups are weaned, the females are ready to breed again, and heavyweight males enter violent, bloody fights to win a stretch of beach, and the females along with it. Beyond the beach, the vibrant shallows contain several important habitats. Rich beds of seagrass are nurseries for a range of animals, while also acting as very important carbon storage areas. They are also home to one of the strangest fish in our waters, the seahorse. We follow a male and female as they perform a balletic mating dance in the water, delicately entwining their tails. The stakes are high, as these animals mate for life. In a touching piece to camera, Sir David bids a fledging Manx shearwater chick farewell as it embarks on a 6,000-mile journey across the oceans to South America. There is no better example of how important the British Isles and its abundant seas are to the survival of wildlife worldwide.
Explore the science of attraction, the evolution of reproductive health, and the cultural taboos that shape our most private experiences. This illuminating series unpacks how desire begins in the brain, how birth control has transformed society, and why sex remains one of humanity’s most captivating mysteries. The first three episodes reveal how most sexual fantasies can be traced back to just a few provocative themes, and delve into the surprising science behind why we’re irresistibly drawn to certain types of partners. You’ll also discover the hidden factors that spark desire, and follow the long, often frustrating quest to control reproduction—from ancient herbal remedies to modern pills and IUDs—and why birth control remains such a complicated challenge even today.
In these three episodes, we'll see how life on the farm becomes more ambitious, more expensive, and much more unpredictable. A major new arrival promises to transform the future of the business, while unexpected births bring fresh challenges and moments of joy among the animals. As the livestock move out to pasture and new technology is introduced to improve daily operations, every success seems to be matched by a new obstacle. What begins as a season of optimism soon becomes a race against time, budgets, and the realities of modern farming. Meanwhile, Jeremy takes a crucial step into the cattle trade and discovers that turning farm produce into a profitable venture is far more complicated than expected. His long search for a pub finally appears to be reaching a breakthrough, but expert advice reveals a daunting list of costs, regulations, and risks that threaten to derail the entire project. With major financial decisions looming and pressure mounting from every direction, the dream of building something bigger than a farm hangs in the balance.
In episodes 5 and 6, Ragnar’s rise becomes a mortal threat to Earl Haraldson, as prophecy, fear and ambition turn Kattegat into the center of a brutal struggle for power. After the Seer warns that Ragnar seeks his death, Haraldson moves from suspicion to violence, attacking Ragnar’s home and torturing Rollo in an attempt to destroy the challenger before he can grow stronger. Wounded, hunted and betrayed, Ragnar must decide whether survival is enough, or whether the time has come to confront the man who has ruled his people through fear. The conflict explodes into a direct challenge that will decide the future of Kattegat. Still weakened but driven by destiny, Ragnar faces the Earl in a duel where honor, vengeance and leadership are at stake. What follows is not only a fight between two men, but the collapse of an old order and the birth of a new one. With funerals, rituals, loyalty and sacrifice surrounding the change of power, these episodes reveal the dark beauty of Viking tradition and the moment when Ragnar Lothbrok’s legend truly begins to rise.
In winter, clear evidence of the ocean’s abundance can be seen on a beach in Norfolk. Thousands of grey seals congregate on the shoreline to give birth. Britain and Ireland are home to 40 per cent of the world’s grey seals, and the number being born on our shore rises every year. Once the newly born pups are weaned, the females are ready to breed again, and heavyweight males enter violent, bloody fights to win a stretch of beach, and the females along with it.
Beyond the beach, the vibrant shallows contain several important habitats. Rich beds of seagrass are nurseries for a range of animals, while also acting as very important carbon storage areas. They are also home to one of the strangest fish in our waters, the seahorse. We follow a male and female as they perform a balletic mating dance in the water, delicately entwining their tails. The stakes are high, as these animals mate for life.
In a touching piece to camera, Sir David bids a fledging Manx shearwater chick farewell as it embarks on a 6,000-mile journey across the oceans to South America. There is no better example of how important the British Isles and its abundant seas are to the survival of wildlife worldwide.