BBC confirms end of Winterwatch after 14 years as show to be replaced with new format

Winterwatch has been cancelled after 14 years on BBC Two and will be replaced with a new visualised podcast series.

Titled Naturewatch, the new series will run through all four seasons and will launch in the autumn, championing the biggest nature stories of the week and featuring guest appearances from experts.

Jack Bootle, head of commissioning, specialist factual, said: “Nature never stops – and neither should we. Every week, Naturewatch will give Springwatch fans – and all wildlife lovers – a new way to stay connected to the natural world, whether that’s on TV, iPlayer or Sounds.

“The BBC is committed to celebrating British nature across all our platforms, and we hope this new series will encourage audiences to fall in love with the natural world around them.

“By expanding the Watches brand we are making the BBC’s brilliant Natural History content even more accessible.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the BBC told Radio Times: “The Watches is a much-loved BBC brand and our newest addition to the family is Naturewatch – a new video podcast for BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. This will allow us to deliver greater value to audiences by connecting them to British wildlife, all year round.

“This decision reflects how we are better serving our audience by providing multi-platform content whilst driving digital growth in a competitive media market.”

Continuing, the statement added: “In light of our funding challenges, we are having to make difficult choices and, as such, Winterwatch will unfortunately not continue. We are incredibly proud of Winterwatch and would like to thank the presenters and production team who will continue on Springwatch when it returns next May for three weeks.”

Winterwatch first emerged in 2012 as a spin-off to Springwatch and Autumnwatch, focusing on the challenging conditions that UK wildlife often faces in the coldest months.

Earlier this year, Winterwatch headed to the National Trust’s Mount Stewart, on the shores of Strangford Lough in County Down, a new location for the series.

Fronted by Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams, the trio of presenters guided audiences through the topical wild stories shaping the UK winter, from climate-driven changes in migration, to the challenges local species face in a warming world.

“The great joy of our live programmes is that there’s always something new and you don’t know what it’s going to be and that’s part of what keeps us coming back to it,” Packham said ahead of the most recent season earlier this year.

“The team never tires as we keep turning up not knowing what to expect and of course we have any number of plans but inevitably something crops up which you don’t expect to see.”

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