The iconic BBC series Walking With Dinosaurs returned to screens tonight, marking 26 years since its original episode first aired.
Stream every episode of Walking With Dinosaurs for free on BBC iPlayer
The first of six eagerly awaited new episodes followed the journey of Clover, a three-month-old Triceratops, as she struggled to survive in a harsh world while being hunted by a hungry T-Rex. Along the way, the orphaned dinosaur befriends a young Edmontosaurus, forming a fast bond—until disaster hits.
In the reboot, The Crown star Bertie Carvel replaces original narrator Sir Kenneth Branagh, guiding viewers through every step of Clover’s dangerous adventure.
But Bertie isn’t the only human featured in the series — the reboot now includes present-day segments where experts study fossilized dinosaur droppings and examine Clover’s real-life skeleton. This change in format has sparked backlash from longtime fans, with some claiming the show has been “ruined.”
As the first episode of the all-new Walking With Dinosaurs aired, fans took to X to share their reactions.
‘The constant switching between the past and future ruins this for me. The original Walking with Dinosaurs never did this and was part of the reason why it was so successful,’ wrote @AmyTeamLH, signing off: ‘We want dinosaurs, not people.’
@miss_laura_82 agreed, saying: ‘Prefer the original version with dinosaurs not all this cutting to modern day digs. Just make a Jurassic Time Team for that and let us see the dinosaurs.’
‘Honestly what have they done to Walking With Dinosaurs??? Why are there humans? Why are we looking at people using drones?? I’ve barely seen any dinosaurs and it’s only ep 1,’ bemoaned @Darklordofall23.
Upcoming episodes will venture into prehistoric Morocco, where a massive Spinosaurus—the largest known dinosaur to walk the Earth—prowls the riverbanks.
In present-day segments, a dig team uncovers new findings about a group of Albertosaurus, while flashbacks follow a young female hunter trying to earn her place in the pack. Elsewhere in Portugal, an aging Lusotitan searches for a mate to carry on his bloodline, clashing with a younger challenger in the process.
Speaking about the new series, the BBC head of commissioning said: “A whole new generation of viewers is about to fall in love with Walking With Dinosaurs.
The original series was one of the most exciting factual shows of all time, and this reinvention builds on that amazing legacy. Each episode is underpinned by the very latest science but is also filled with drama – making this a series for both dino lovers and people who just want to be told a great story.
Originally airing in 1999, the first version of the series drew in 15 million viewers across the UK, making it one of the most-watched science programmes on British television during the 20th century.
At the time, it used groundbreaking technology and came with a hefty price tag of £6.1 million—working out to £37,654 per minute—earning it the title of the most expensive documentary series ever produced.
Walking With Dinosaurs airs Sundays at 6:25pm on BBC One, with all episodes now available to stream on iPlayer.
Source: Metro