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TV series

Big Cat Diary

Latest episode

S5 E8

About Big Cat Diary

Big Cat Diary is a drama and documentary TV series that premiered on BBC One on September 11, 1996. It has 5 seasons and 36 episodes so far and has ended. The latest episode, Season 5 Episode 8, aired on October 12, 2008.

Big Cat Diary, also known as Big Cat Week or Big Cat Live, is a long-running nature documentary series on BBC television which follows the lives of African big cats in Kenya's Maasai Mara. The first series, broadcast on BBC One in 1996, was developed and jointly produced by Keith Scholey, who would go on to become Head of the BBC's Natural History Unit. Eight further series have followed, most recently Big Cat Live, a live broadcast from the Mara in 2008. The original presenters, Jonathan Scott and Simon King, were joined by Saba Douglas-Hamilton from 2002 onwards. Kate Silverton and Jackson Looseyia were added to the presenting team for Big Cat Live.

  • Drama
  • Documentary

Last updated

Episodes

36 episodes · 5 seasons

Season 1

1996 · 6 episodes · Last episode: 30 years ago

Big Cat Diary Season 1 release dates →
  1. E6

    6. Day 6

    Wildlife reports from Kenya's Masai Mara. The Mara's wildebeest migration is the largest for over 20 years.

  2. E5

    5. Day Five

    Jonathan Scott gets his first view of Half-Tail's new leopard cubs, and watches some lions stalk a zebra. Meanwhile, Simon King watches Amber the cheetah and her brood trying to overpower a wildebeest calf.

  3. E4

    4. Day Four

    Wildlife reports from Kenya's Masai Mara. After four weeks of filming, the cats are becoming more familiar and the team captures some footage of Half-Tail the leopard and her cub.

  4. E3

    3. Day Three

    Fundi the cheetah and her two cubs go missing and the search is on to find them and two impressive new male lions have moved in on the territory of one of the prides.

  5. E2

    2. Day Two

    A series of wildlife reports from Kenya's Masai Mara. The Big Cat Diary team watch the animals' night-time routine.

  6. E1

    1. Day One

    A series of wildlife reports from Kenya's Masai Mara. Simon King and Jonathan Scott follow a cheetah and her cubs, a pride of lions and the elusive leopard.

Season 2

1998 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 27 years ago

Big Cat Diary Season 2 release dates →
  1. E10

    10. Day 10

    Simon King and Jonathan Scott conclude their study of the Masai Mara's lions, leopards and cheetahs, with sightings of Half-Tail, Shadow, Amber and the Marsh pride.

  2. E9

    9. Day 9

    The latest update from Kenya's Masai Mara. Jonathan Scott returns to the scene of the previous episode's carnage, while Simon King follows the saga of Amber the cheetah and her three full grown cubs and also enjoys a close encounter with baboons.

  3. E8

    8. Day 8

    In Kenya's Masai Mara we follow the cheetahs hunting an impala, Jonathan Scott sees Shadow the leopard having problems with a noisy jackal, and the lion cubs are in danger.

  4. E7

    7. Day 7

    Torrential downpours every afternoon make life hard for the film crews, but bring hunting opportunities for the big cats, as the gazelles huddle with their backs to the rain.

  5. E6

    6. Day 6

    Shadow the leopard marks her territory, the cheetah cubs make their first solo kill, and the Marsh pride cubs are in danger from a herd of buffalo.

  6. E5

    5. Day Five

    The cheetahs have good luck and bad - killing a warthog, but having their next meal stolen by a hyena. Shadow's luck is all bad, but the lions are having a better day.

  7. E4

    4. Day Four

    Vultures, buffalo and a rival pride cause trouble for the Marsh pride lions. Amber the cheetah reappears after three days' absence, and Half-Tail the leopard has new cubs.

  8. E3

    3. Day Three

    Zebras are in for trouble as they try to swim across crocodile infested waters. Half-Tail the leopard has become a mother again, and a Marsh pride male plays with his cubs.

  9. E2

    2. Day Two

    The Marsh lions are doing well, but Amber the cheetah and family are chased off by baboons and Half-Tail the leopard almost comes to a tragic end.

  10. E1

    1. Day One

    The intimate lives of cheetahs, lions and leopards are revealed in a true life diary of totally wild animals. Features Amber, Shadow and the Marsh pride.

Season 3

7 episodes

Big Cat Diary Season 3 release dates →
  1. E7

    7. Extras- Duma and the Cheetahs

    Air date TBA
  2. E6

    6. Extras- Big Cat, "The Big Story"

    Air date TBA
  3. E5

    5. Day Five

    Air date TBA
  4. E4

    4. Day Four

    Air date TBA
  5. E3

    3. Day Three

    Air date TBA
  6. E2

    2. Day Two

    Air date TBA
  7. E1

    1. Day One

    Air date TBA

Season 4

2007 · 5 episodes · Last episode: 18 years ago

Big Cat Diary Season 4 release dates →
  1. E5

    5. Episode 5

    Finale

    Tamu the lioness has once again lost one of her cubs. Bella the leopard is still trying to hunt, but must beware of other predators around her. Honey the cheetah mum and her cubs are confronted by lions.

  2. E4

    4. Episode 4

    Tamu the single lioness mum is still searching for her missing cubs. Bella the leopard is back to her elusive ways. Honey, the cheetah mum gives her three male cubs some lessons in how to be a successful cheetah.

  3. E3

    3. Episode 3

    Tamu searches for her cubs. Bella is hungry and keen to hunt, but there are other cats in the area who want a slice of the action. As the Wildebeest migration arrives in Honey's home range the arrival of so much prey brings in other predators that Honey and her cubs could do without.

  4. E2

    2. Episode 2

    Honey the cheetah mum now has only three cubs, what has happened to the fourth? Bella the leopard is in heat and attracting all the male leopards in the area. Tamu the lone lioness is struggling against incredible odds to keep her family alive.

  5. E1

    1. Episode 1

    Saba is on the trail of Bella the leopard, a star from the last three series. Bella has just got rid of her overgrown son Chui and is now being courted by all the male leopards in the area. For single mums Tamu the lion and Honey the cheetah, life is a constant battle. Honey has to make some life-threatening decisions, while Tamu the lioness has to protect her family.

Season 5

2008 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 18 years ago

Big Cat Diary Season 5 release dates →
  1. E8

    8. Episode 8

    Finale
  2. E7

    7. Episode 7

  3. E6

    6. Episode 6

  4. E5

    5. Episode 5

  5. E4

    4. Episode 4

  6. E3

    3. Episode 3

  7. E2

    2. Episode 2

  8. E1

    1. Episode 1

Big Cat Diary FAQ

Will there be new episodes of Big Cat Diary?

Big Cat Diary has ended, so no new episodes are scheduled. The final episode aired on October 12, 2008.

When did the latest episode of Big Cat Diary come out?

The most recent episode of Big Cat Diary, Season 5 Episode 8, aired on October 12, 2008.

How many seasons of Big Cat Diary are there?

Big Cat Diary has 5 seasons with 36 episodes in total.

When did Big Cat Diary first air?

Big Cat Diary first aired on BBC One on September 11, 1996.

How do I get notified when new episodes of Big Cat Diary are released?

Download the Streambay app, follow Big Cat Diary, and you'll get a push notification the moment each new episode is released.

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