The opening episode of Planet Earth II has become the most watched natural history programme in the UK for more than 15 years, drawing 9.2 million viewers on BBC1. The David Attenborough-narrated documentary aired immediately after Strictly Come Dancing’s results show, which itself attracted a series-high audience of 10.1 million.
Only six series have pulled in more viewers for a single episode this year, including BBC dramas Call the Midwife and Happy Valley, and entertainment shows such as The Great British Bake Off and Strictly. England’s Euro 2016 football matches and the Wimbledon men’s singles final also rated more highly.
The debut episode surpassed the first series of Planet Earth a decade ago, which opened with 8.74 million viewers. The achievement is particularly notable in the era of catch-up TV and iPlayer, where audiences increasingly choose to watch later rather than live.
Producers took advantage of a decade of technological advances to produce more detailed footage, making 117 filming trips in 40 countries over 2,089 days. Julian Hector, head of the BBC’s Natural History Unit, commented: 'Audiences love Sir David’s authenticity and the craft of the programme-makers that give us a window on the motivations of the animals.'
Comparisons with older natural history programmes are difficult due to changes in audience measurement in 2001. However, another Attenborough-fronted series, Blue Planet, had an audience of about 10 million under the old system.
