A new BBC TV wildlife series, narrated by David Attenborough, has been billed as "one of the most ambitious projects" ever undertaken by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit.
Kingdom, a six-part wildlife series coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer, has been filmed over five years in a spectacular Zambian river valley. The dramatic sagas of four animal families are uncovered as they navigate the battles of being a predator in a remote and competitive environment.
Speaking as part of a BBC press pack, executive producer Mike Gunton said "If I had to pick one word to describe Kingdom it would be ‘intensity’. It's almost Shakespearean in its feel, and it’s incredibly ambitious in its scale. It’s a story that speaks across the ages because it focuses on four families in one location all struggling to survive.
"It's high drama – it's got a bit of Game of Thrones, it's got a bit of Succession, but it's also got a bit of The Lion King. But Kingdom also has this wonderful warmth about it. It can be quite a white-knuckle ride at times, but there are also some wonderful moments of beauty and tenderness. We've tried to construct it as a bingeable continuing narrative."
What is Kingdom about?
Kingdom focuses on the lives of four African animal families – leopards, hyenas, wild dogs and lions – as they jostle for a foothold in a remote and fertile river valley in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, known as Nsefu. It chronicles the intense power struggles between these top predators and also highlights how other species (such as elephants, hamerkops and baboons) impact them in surprising ways.
The BBC Studios Natural History Unit spent around 1,400 days in the field, making it the longest time the team has been embedded in one location tracking the lives of individual animals. Not only does it showcase the dramatic stories of these animal families, it also highlights the crucial work in protecting them from poaching.
Which animals feature in Kingdom?
Kingdom follows four animal families:
Leopards – Olimba is one of the most successful leopard mothers ever observed in Nsefu. Now, she's attempting to raise two more young cubs to maturity.
African wild dogs – a young pack of wild dogs burst onto the scene at Nsefu, led by Storm, and try to make it their home.
Lions – experienced lioness Rita leads the pride in Nsefu, navigating shifting power dynamics from inside and outside the group.
Hyenas – hyenas live in matriarchal clans and in Kingdom, we follow first-time mother Tandala and her mother and queen, Tenta.
Who narrates Kingdom?
Kingdom will be narrated by David Attenborough – whose most recent work on the BBC includes Parenthood and Deep Ocean: Kingdom of the Coelacanth.
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When can you watch Kingdom?
Kingdom will be available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Sunday 9 November at 6.20pm.
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Top image credit: BBC Studios
