BBC Studios announces second season commission for Big Cats 24/7 ahead of first season debut

Big Cats 24/7 will air on BBC this August and PBS in September. The show follows the lives of lions, cheetahs and leopards in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a place considered one of Africa’s last wilderness areas. With extraordinary, unprecedented access to a rarely visited area and the ability to film from the ground, air and throughout the night, the Big Cat 24/7 team work together to follow the lives of the cats around the clock.

Following that, the second season, which will air in 2025, will continue to follow the stars of the first season but also introduce some new faces, giving viewers the chance to witness first-hand as the team documents the lives of these beloved big cats.

Sreya Biswas, BBC Commissioning Director for Natural History, said: “Big Cats 24/7 is a thrilling series about amazing animal behaviour, with great filmmaking talent and set in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Being able to follow the cats over long periods of time was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that’s why I’m delighted to be commissioning a second series so we can dive right back in and continue telling the incredible stories of the lions, leopards and cheetahs.”

Tom Jarvis, Executive Producer, says: “It’s exciting to be able to delve back into the dramatic lives of the big cats we’ve grown so fond of. What I love most about this series is that we get to tell in-depth and personal stories about the animals we come into contact with, and it feels like you’re getting a unique window into their world.”

Big Cats 24/7, a 6×60 minute series for BBC Two, iPlayer and PBS, is produced by the Natural History Unit at BBC Studios and co-produced by PBS, with BBC Studios responsible for worldwide distribution. The series was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. The Executive Producer is Tom Jarvis, Series Producer is Rowan Crawford and Production Manager is Gillian Goodlet. The Commissioning Editor is Sreya Biswas, Head of Natural History. Sylvia Bugg is Editorial Advisor to PBS. Diana El-Osta is the Executive Officer in Charge for PBS.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

About the BBC Studios Natural History Unit

The Natural History Unit at BBC Studios produces the world’s most famous natural history programmes, including Frozen Planet II, Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II, which have been seen by more than a billion people worldwide. The Natural History Unit’s programmes range from super-landmarks and technically sophisticated live shows to long-running series and children’s content. These include The Green Planet and Seven Worlds, One Planet presented by Sir David Attenborough, Dynasties, Springwatch and Andy’s Aquatic Adventures, as well as commissions for Discovery, AppleTV+, NBCU, National Geographic and BBC America. The Natural History Unit is part of BBC Studios.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with revenues of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from concept to screen and beyond, the company is based around two businesses: the Global Content Studio, which produces, invests in and distributes content worldwide, and Global Media & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. The company produces around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programming each year, with over 80% of BBC Studios’ total revenue coming from non-BBC clients such as Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a wide range of genres and specialisations, with brands such as Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, providing up-to-date international news, in-depth analysis and features.

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