BBC Factual has ordered three new natural history series from John Downer Productions, Offspring Films and the BBC’s NHU.

Spy in the Troop, from John Downer Productions, is a 4×60’ series for BBC One and iPlayer that “delves deep into the minds of primates to discover how like us our closest living relatives really are”; An Hour on Earth, a 4×60’ from Offspring Films “takes the audience on an immersive ride through the busiest moments in the natural world – nature’s rush hours”; and Matriarch, from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, puts the focus on the female chimpanzees of the Gombe for the first time.

Sreya Biswas, Head of Commissioning, Natural History, says “It’s so exciting to be announcing three incredible series that showcase a wide variety of natural history. From the amazing camera technology of Spy in the Troop to the compelling narratives of Matriarch to the real-time storytelling of An Hour of Earth, we are so thrilled to be making such a variety of series.”

Spy in the Troop

Dr Jane Goodall first began studying the chimpanzees of Gombe, Tanzania in 1960. Her pioneering work forever changed the way we understand the species – and her project has become the longest-running continuous field study of primates ever conducted. But until now, documentaries about the chimps of Gombe have focused largely on the males.

Matriarch, a 2×60 series for BBC Two and iPlayer, made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and co-produced by PBS and The WNET Group, focuses entirely on the stories of the females of Gombe for the first time. Produced in collaboration with Dr Goodall, and featuring revealing interviews with her and a team of scientists and field assistants, the series focuses on Gremlin, the alpha female of the Kasekela troop. At 54, she is the oldest chimpanzee mother ever recorded at Gombe – and she’s held her alpha position for nine years through a careful combination of intelligence, patience and strategic relationships. But competing females are waiting in the wings – for when Gremlin’s strength begins to wane. The normal rules of chimpanzee society may see power pass to an influential female from a rival family, but Gremlin has forged deep and caring bonds with her many daughters – creating a rare female alliance. Can they keep hold of the privileged top spot?

Matriarch will tell the story of Gremlin’s origin and legacy using stunning present-tense wildlife photography combined with archive material from a treasure trove of never-before-broadcast research dating back to the earliest days of Jane’s work. This is a multi-generational saga of female power and motherhood unlike any other natural history story on the planet.

Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, says: “The chimpanzees of Gombe have taught me much—not only about their lives but about our own. The mother-infant bond, so strikingly similar to ours, is essential to the survival of their young. Observing them deepened my appreciation for my own mother and taught me profound lessons about motherhood—and now, about being a grandmother. This series highlights the strength and intelligence of female chimpanzees, especially as mothers. It’s a powerful affirmation that the bonds of family and community—whether in the wild or among humans—are essential to survival and thriving.”

Bill Wallauer, Wildlife Cinematographer & Scientific Advisor, says: “For over 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of following the lives of these remarkable chimpanzees, watching their stories unfold up close. The bond between mothers and their young is central to everything – it’s their foundation for survival. As a producer and cinematographer, I’m honoured to help bring these intimate and powerful stories to a wider audience, showing how much, we can learn from them about resilience, care, and community.”

Fred Kaufman, Executive Producer, Nature, says: “This ambitious project documents one of natural history’s greatest stories, a lineage of chimpanzees that goes back sixty years with the ground-breaking work of the legendary Dr Jane Goodall.”

Matriarch, 2×60’, for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and co-produced by PBS and The WNET Group. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual and the Commissioning Editor is Sreya Biswas, Head of Commissioning, Natural History. The Executive Producer is Tom Jarvis, Series Producer & Director is James Mair. For PBS Nature produced by The WNET Group, the Executive Producer is Fred Kaufman, Series Producer is Bill Murphy, and Series Editor is Janet Hess. Diana El-Osta is the Executive in Charge for PBS. For the Jane Goodall Institute, Dr Jane Goodall is Executive Producer, and Bill Wallauer is Producer and Senior Director of Photography.

Image: L-R clockwise: Spy in the Troop (Image: John Downer Productions); Matriarch (Image: Kristin J. Mosher); Matriarch (Bill Wallauer)