Kyle Thomas, the UK's most-followed TikTok creator with over 33 million followers, has announced he will co-host a new BBC nature programme alongside established wildlife presenters. According to BBC News, the show, called Naturewatch, launches on Friday on BBC Two and will run throughout the year, marking a significant shift in how the broadcaster covers British wildlife.
The programme features wildlife presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin alongside Thomas, and is produced by BBC Studios' Natural History Unit at a secret location south of Bristol city centre. Thomas expressed enthusiasm about the role, describing it as a platform to deliver
"a trusted source of really brilliant factual information" as AI becomes increasingly common on social media. He hopes his involvement will draw younger audiences to nature programming.
"We're going on this learning journey together,"Thomas said.
"I'm super, super excited. I'm learning so much already."The format encourages public participation, with viewers invited to submit videos for the presenters to analyse and discuss.
How does the show celebrate British nature?
Naturewatch is designed to make nature accessible to all audiences by showcasing wildlife that people are likely to encounter outdoors. The programme will feature interactive Q&A episodes where viewers can submit seasonal questions, photographs and videos for expert analysis. McCubbin noted that the presenters have
"already been distracted" by the diverse wildlife surrounding their tiny studio in the heart of the West's countryside, adding
"It's really great to be in this part of the country, there's lots of brilliant wildlife here and lots of stories for us to be talking about."
Packham emphasised the show's focus on practical wildlife observation, stating it will showcase the animals
"people can expect to see and encounter whilst they're outside."According to BBC Programmes, the first episode explores where acorns have gone, Britain's smallest bird, and why a group of crows is called a "murder", with Laura Whitley serving as series producer.
What is the broadcast schedule?
The first episode airs on BBC Two at 19:30 GMT on Friday. BBC Media Centre confirmed that each television episode will be followed by an audio-only Q&A exclusive to , extending the interactive experience beyond the main broadcast. Series 1, Episode 2 is scheduled to return on BBC Two on Saturday 14 November at 10:35.
How does Naturewatch fit into the BBC's nature programming strategy?
The launch of Naturewatch represents a strategic change in BBC nature coverage. The broadcaster announced in June that Winterwatch would not continue as part of its commissioning strategy, with Naturewatch intended to provide nature coverage through the winter months instead. The project was initially announced as a weekly video podcast covering British nature stories, seasonal wildlife, expert discussions and animal sightings from across the UK.
Springwatch, the BBC's long-running spring nature series, is scheduled to return in May 2027 for three weeks, maintaining the broadcaster's seasonal approach to wildlife programming.
Key Facts
- Kyle Thomas has amassed more than 33 million TikTok followers for his animal-focused content
- Naturewatch runs year-round on BBC Two, replacing Winterwatch in the BBC's commissioning strategy
- Each TV episode includes a follow-up audio-only Q&A exclusive to
- The show is filmed at a secret location south of Bristol city centre by BBC Studios' Natural History Unit
- Viewers can submit videos, photos and seasonal questions for presenter analysis
