BBC AMERICA today announced that renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy®Award-winner Sir David Attenborough (Asia, Planet Earth III) will narrate Kingdom, a major new six-part natural history series that will chronicle the dramatic real-life sagas of four African animal families, in one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by BBC Studios Natural History Unit. Kingdom will premiere on BBC AMERICA and AMC+ in 2026.
Filmed across five years in a single spectacular location, the lives and fates of our four families – leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and lions – are inextricably linked as they strive for a foothold in a remote and fertile river valley in Zambia. As well as the intense power struggles between these top predators, the series shows how a colorful supporting cast, from powerful elephant herds to flocks of hamerkops to troops of marauding baboons, impact our central characters in surprising ways.
Felicity Lanchester, Series Producer said: “With Sir David’s commentary the Kingdom series really sprung to life – a wry inflection here, warmth in his voice there and masterful dramatic timing around the action. He gave the performance his all, telling the story in the clearest, most compelling, and emotional way. We are so grateful for his involvement.”
Kingdom, a 6×50′ series for BBC One and iPlayer, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by BBC AMERICA. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Specialist Factual, BBC Commissioning. The Executive Producer is Mike Gunton, the Series Editor is Simon Blakeney, and the Series Producer is Felicity Lanchester. BBC Studios is handling global sales.
