How did the elephant become so big? Why do dolphins have such a huge brain? These are just some of the puzzles that Chris Packham hopes to solve in his new BBC TV series, Evolution.
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What is Evolution about?
Each episode in this five-part series focuses on an extraordinary animal: the elephant; ostrich; bat; dolphin and horse.
To reveal how millions of generations of evolution has finetuned each creature, the clock is wound back along the myriad branches of the tree of life. On the way, he uncovers bizarre creatures that have long died out – millipedes the size of cars, crocodiles with hooves like horses and sea creatures that appear as crab/shark hybrids – but have contributed to life as we know it.
Evolution also explores how traces of evolution can be seen today, such as the hiccups that can be tracked to the first air-breathing fish and the viruses that helped brains evolve.
The series makes use of cutting-edge research and genetic analysis to bring these incredible stories to life in astonishing detail. We’ll also discover the moments when life hung precariously in the balance, facing threats such as invading species, global extinctions and climate change.
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Who presents Evolution?
BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham will front Evolution. The series comes after his popular BBC Two series Earth, which explored some of the most important moments in the 4.5 billion-year-old history of planet Earth.
When can you watch Evolution?
Evolution will be available to watch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from Monday 13 July 2026 at 9pm.
Top image: Chris Packham with a replica skull of Dorudon atrox, an ancient relative of Dolphins, for Evolution. Credit: BBC Studios/Freddie Claire
