Development is the BBC’s new natural history and science documentary series presented by English naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham. In contrast to the television company’s previous landmark series, such as Planet Earth and Life on Earth, Development is explicitly about the science behind biodiversity.
In this five-part series, Packham sets out to unlock the secrets of evolution by studying one animal at a time and asking a common question: how has each species evolved over Earth’s four billion-year history?
From the elephant and birds to dolphins, horses and other remarkable species, the series explores the extraordinary evolutionary breakthroughs that shaped the natural world and the animals we see today. Even better, Packham takes a deeply investigative, hands-on approach to explaining complex scientific concepts with his trademark boyish charm and enthusiasm.
Evolutionary biologist Adam Rutherford has called the series a giant leap forward for science television, as it puts the theory of evolution at the center – using modern genetic research, paleontology and fossil evidence – rather than simply admiring the spectacular nature of nature and animals. Oh, but there will still be plenty to admire thanks to the BBC’s fantastic wildlife films.
Abroad? Here’s where you can watch Development online and on TV from anywhere in the world, potentially for free.
How to watch Evolution for free in the UK
In Great Britain, Development will be available to stream FREE on BBC iPlayer in the UK – with a valid TV licence.
Even better, all five episodes arrive at once, so you can binge the entire series.
Traditional TV viewers can watch it on BBC Two, while cord-cutters can stream each episode on demand via BBC iPlayer.
How to watch Evolution anywhere
If you want to see Development but you’re away from the UK and access to the show is geo-blocked, then you can use a VPN to access it (provided you’re not breaking any broadcasters’ T&Cs of course). You might be surprised how easy it is to do. Plus, we have an amazing 75% off our #1 VPN…
How to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN
Using a VPN to unblock Development is very straightforward. Just follow these steps:
1. Download and install a VPN: As we say, our best choice NordVPN.
2. Connect to the appropriate server location: Open the VPN app, tap ‘select location’ and select your home geographic location (anywhere in the UK).
3. Binge All Episodes: In this case, just go to BBC iPlayer.
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What devices can I watch BBC iPlayer on?
- Amazon Fire (tablets, cube, stick, TVs)
- Android TV (please note: some models are not supported)
- Android (Mobile & Tablet) – Android 7.0 and up
- Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later)
- Google TV (Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)
- Free
- Freesat (please note: some models are not supported)
- Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (some models not supported)
- iOS (iPhone and iPad) – iOS 14 and later
- LG Smart TVs (2016-2024)
- NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0)
- PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
- Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0)
- Samsung Smart TV (2017 and newer)
- Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck
- Virgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo)
- YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk)
- Xbox (One, Series X, Series S)
Evolution: frequently asked questions
Can I watch Evolution online in the US, Canada, Australia and worldwide?
At the time of writing, the BBC’s Development is scheduled to be available in the United States on PBS (website and app) from 14 October.
The show will also be available in several Asian countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
As for other countries, we’ll update this article if another streaming service picks it up.
If you are from one of these countries but are currently abroad, you can use this VPN to watch your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world.
Note: Not all VPNs work for this, but NordVPN does. It’s also great for privacy and comes with a 30-day risk-free trial.
Evolution official trailer
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Evolution episode guide
Section 1The elephant – In Kenya, Chris embarks on a journey through time to uncover how a creature as large, complex and charismatic as the elephant came to be. It is a story of innovations, lucky breaks and unlikely partnerships.
Section 2The ostrich – In South Africa, Chris finds out how reproduction has shaped life on Earth and the surprising evolutionary origins of sex, eggs and birds. This is a journey of innovation, adaptation and astonishing creativity.
Section 3The bat – In Borneo, Chris sets out to answer a deceptively simple question: how the desire to find food shaped life on Earth and gave rise to one of nature’s most insatiable fodder. This feeding frenzy dates back half a billion years.
Section 4The dolphin – In the Bahamas, Chris dives into one of the biggest questions in nature – how intelligence itself developed and how it arose in the dolphin’s mind. Within each is the result of a three-billion-year journey.
Section 5The horse – In the salt marshes of the Camargue, Chris explores the evolutionary beginnings of animal movement and how it reached its peak in one of the most elegant and athletic animals on Earth: the horse.
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