The BBC has been forced to issue a correction about a David Attenborough show that was filmed in Bristol
Karen Price Assistant Editor of Screen Time and Fran Winston
12:08, 15 May 2026
Viewers complained about an error in a David Attenborough show(Image: BBC)
The BBC has issued a correction at the start of an episode from David Attenborough‘s latest programme Secret Garden following viewer complaints about a mistake in the commentary.
The five-part series, which can currently be streamed on BBC iPlayer, debuted on Easter Sunday, 5 April, and documents the action unfolding in the hidden wildlife world of extraordinary gardens. The series showcased dramatic footage of otters, kingfishers, and foxes in gardens throughout Britain.
While numerous viewers lauded the programme online, describing it as “amazing”, others contacted the BBC directly regarding a problem.
In the second episode filmed in Bristol it emerged that Attenborough, who recently marked his 100th birthday, had made an incorrect claim in his narration.
David Attenborough’s latest BBC show attracted complaints(Image: BBC)
The BBC published a statement on the Corrections and Clarifications section of their website stating: “During a sequence about blue tits in episode two of Secret Garden, our narration incorrectly claims that ‘To successfully fledge, each chick will require 20,000 caterpillars,'” it stated.
“This should have said ‘2,000’ as each chick needs 100 caterpillars a day and they take approximately 20 days to fledge as per the latest guidance from the British Trust for Ornithology.
“It is therefore all ten chicks who require 20,000, not one. We have added a clarification strap at the start of the episode and apologise for the error in the narration,” they added.
The exact number of complainants remains unclear, though at least 100 viewers must contact the broadcaster for an issue to warrant official acknowledgement on the website.
The episode in question was filmed within a compact urban garden in Bristol spanning merely 10 metres, which served as habitat for numerous wildlife species, reports the Express.
A feature on Blue Tit’s on BBC’s Secret Garderecieved complaints(Image: BBC)
It depicted the Blue Tit family grappling with urban existence as they competed with goldfinches and pigeons for access to the bird feeder.
The programme also featured a fox seeking both sustenance and a mate, a hedgehog emerging from hibernation, and frogs and dragonflies establishing themselves in the garden pond. The episode additionally examined the variety of insects and spiders that colonised the sun-drenched walls.
Before the programme’s launch, producer Bill Markham outlined why they selected national treasure Attenborough as narrator. “At a time when wildlife gardening is becoming increasingly important for supporting struggling species, his voice carries particular weight.
“If Secret Garden succeeds in encouraging people to rethink what their gardens can be, it will be in no small part due to his influence and enduring credibility. We are, after all, a nation that loves animals, gardens – and Sir David Attenborough. This series brings all three together. It’s a powerful combination,” he stated.
Secret Garden is available on BBC iPlayer