Walking With Dinosaurs - Everything you need to know about the ground-breaking series

BBC News

23-05-2025

BBC Factual presents a reimagining of one of the most iconic brands in television history – Walking With Dinosaurs. 25 years on since they first stomped across our screens to critical and audience acclaim, this new series will showcase the lives of six incredible dinosaurs like never before.
From the mountainous forests in Alberta to the red rock canyons of Utah; viewers can anticipate a unique journey back through time, witnessing the incredible life stories of these long-lost giants. Across the six episodes we will meet a range of spectacular dinosaur species in an array of prehistoric landscapes. These include a Spinosaurus - the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever to walk the earth - roaming the rivers of ancient Morocco; a youthful Triceratops battling a ravenous T. rex in North America; and a lonely giant Lusotitan risking it all for a love in Portugal.
Thanks to cutting-edge science, experts can reveal how these prehistoric creatures lived, hunted, fought and died more accurately than ever before. As the dinosaurs' bones emerge from the ground, the series will bring these prehistoric stories to life with state-of-the-art visual effects – making each episode a gripping dinosaur drama based on the very latest evidence.
Watch Walking With Dinosaurs from Sunday 26 May at 6.25pm on BBC One and iPlayer and add to your Watchlist
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Meet the Dinosaurs
Episode 1 - The Orphan
In Laramidia, a lush, subtropical landscape 66 million years ago, we meet Clover, an orphaned baby Triceratops. Alone and vulnerable without a herd for protection, she's stalked by the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex.
Today, palaeontologists in Montana are uncovering her fossils, allowing us to imagine Clover's life and the dangers she faced. Through stunning VFX we recreate her dangerous encounters and bring her fight for survival vividly to life.
Triceratops - Clover
At 8 tonnes and nearly 9 metres in length, Triceratops was the largest and most iconic of the horned dinosaurs. With two one-metre-long horns over its eyes, and a giant bony frill behind its head, Triceratops was an imposing sight.
Triceratops is thought by scientists to have evolved in tandem with Tyrannosaurus rex – an evolutionary arms race resulting in the ultimate predator and the ultimate defender.
Clover was a baby Triceratops, thought to only be about four years old and the size of a large dog. She was found in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, not far from the remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex. In this dangerous world of giants, Clover was in desperate need of a protector.
Helen Thomas, Executive Producer, said:
'The story of Clover is so fascinating because, like the whole series, it is based on the real finds from a unique dig site. In the case of Clover, finding the bones of a very young Triceratops is rare in itself as so many ended up as lunch for the many predators roaming north America in the late Cretaceous. But Clover's story was something even more special - close to her dig site the team found remains of the most infamous predator of them all – T. rex. Unearthing the bones of predator and prey so close together enabled us to reveal the latest science of these iconic species and tell their extraordinary stories'.
Episode 2 – The River Dragon
At the edge of the Moroccan Sahara, an international team of palaeontologists lead by Dr Nizar Ibrahim has uncovered the bones of one of the largest predatory dinosaurs that ever walked the Earth: a Spinosaurus. A specimen that lived and died here one hundred million years ago.
Back then, land that is desert today, was a vast river system, supporting acres of scrub and forest. And far from being a monster, Sobek, the Spinosaurus we meet in this episode, is a new dad. Like some species of modern bird, it's thought that once the eggs are laid, the job of looking after the babies falls to the male.
Sobek and his young family live on the banks of a nursery pool, because bones found at the dig suggest Spinosaurus spent much of their time in the water. Although the pool offers relative safety for his family, Sobek knows they must leave their home and travel somewhere they can catch far more substantial food. But the journey won't be easy...
Spinosaurus - Sobek
Bigger even than T. rex, Spinosaurus was a giant predator unlike any other dinosaur – because it spent most of its time in the water. With a sail over 2 metres tall on its back, a paddle tail and webbed feet, this animal was perfectly adapted to live in the rivers and swamps of ancient Morocco.
Spinosaurus lived in the Kem Kem, an ancient ecosystem more dangerous than any other, with an abundance of predatory dinosaurs, over 7 species of crocodile, and hunting pterosaurs watching from above.
Sobek was a young male Spinosaurus, found in Morocco. Every year, he treks to a special stretch of river where enormous numbers of prehistoric sawskate fish gather. This time he will have to run the gauntlet of predators while protecting his young offspring to ensure their survival.
Dr Nizar Ibrahim, Anatomist & Palaeontologist at the University of Portsmouth who features in this episode, said:
'Spinosaurus is the most enigmatic and exciting dinosaur in the world right now, and we just have one skeleton of this spectacular, sail-backed, crocodile-snouted, and largely aquatic predator, hailing from an under-explored corner of the world: the Sahara. Resurrecting this dragon from deep time for an iconic series like Walking With Dinosaurs, was obviously a very special experience for my research team - unearthing this animal has been an incredible decade-long team effort, piecing together 100-million-year-old fossils, harnessing the power of digital anatomy, and braving sandstorms, snakes, scorpions and much more. Most people are somewhat familiar with the dinosaurs we all grew up with - but in this spectacular Saharan adventure they are going to come face-to-face with a very different giant - longer than T. rex - and a reminder that there is a lot we don't actually know about dinosaurs and that these creatures were a lot more diverse and adaptable than we previously gave them credit for.'
Episode 3 – The Band of Brothers
In the heart of the Utah desert a team of palaeontologists lead by Dr Jim Kirkland and Dr Josh Lively has uncovered the bones of one of the most heavily armoured dinosaurs that ever walked the earth: a Gastonia that lived and died here 130 million years ago.
George, a young Gastonia, must stay close to his parents for protection as they come face to face with a group of predatory Utahraptors, the heavyweight cousins of Velociraptor. The size of a grizzly bear, they are one of the most formidable predators that ever lived.
Gastonia - George
The spikiest dinosaur known; Gastonia belongs to the group of armoured dinosaurs known as ankylosaurs. Covered from head to toe in bony plates and osteoderms, these animals were well protected from predators.
Gastonia was one of the few social armoured dinosaurs known, being found in bonebeds consisting of multiple young individuals. Scientists believe that these individuals were juveniles that grew up together, so they had safety in numbers.
George was a juvenile Gastonia found in the Lorrie's Site quarry, in the Cedar Mountain Formation. While George's cause of death is unknown, he was found alongside multiple other young Gastonia, indicating they were possibly living together. Growing up here, the youngsters would have to deal with the ever-present threat from predatory Utahraptor.
Kirsty Wilson, Series Showrunner, said:
'Band of Brothers is an emotional rollercoaster of an episode. George the Gastonia might not be the fastest or biggest of all the dinosaurs, but this armoured dino may be the spikiest to have ever lived, and he has to face one of deadly predators of all time, Utahraptor. Lots of people assume that the infamous velociraptor they see in Hollywood movies is the most fearsome raptor, but actually, it was only the size of a turkey! Utahraptor was an altogether more terrifying animal. The fossil evidence reveals that it was fiercely smart, may have worked in a team and was the size of a bear. The production team loved working with the scientists to tell this dramatic and at times heart wrenching tale of a young dinosaur battling for survive against this ultimate adversary.'
Episode 4 – The Pack
71 million years ago we meet Rose, a teenage Albertosaurus; a faster, nimbler relative of T. rex. In modern day Alberta, a team of palaeontologists led by Mark Powers is unearthing the remains of this teenage Albertosaurus and attempting to uncover the secrets of Rose's world. They find more bones belonging to multiple Albertosaurus, suggesting a mass grave where many individuals died together.
Rose is a member of a fearsome Albertosaurus pack, a group that hunts together and forms strong bonds - Rose even has a mate. Together, the pack hunts the enormous herd animal, Edmontosaurus, 'the McDonald's of the Cretaceous" as palaeontologist, Henry Sharpe, puts it. As our story of Rose unfolds, we learn that volcanic eruptions have delayed the migrating Edmontosaurus and Rose's pack will have to find food elsewhere.
As we follow Rose's quest for food, our team on the ground at the dig site learn one final surprise. Palaeontologist Colton Coppock has unearthed a tiny Albertosaurus jawbone, "the youngest individual we have". Could the baby possibly have belonged to Rose?
Albertosaurus - Rose
A smaller, but just as deadly, relative of T. rex, Albertosaurus were the speedsters of the dinosaur world. Young Albertosaurus were capable of reaching speeds of over 30 miles per hour, easily chasing down their prey.
Scientists have found Albertosaurus buried in groups, suggesting these hunters worked in groups to tackle larger animals.
Rose is a young Albertosaurus found in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Alberta, finding her place in her pack. A migration of Edmontosaurus draws close, and Rose will need to play her part to perfection to bring down one of these giants.
Mark Powers, Researcher at the Department Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, and Albertosaurus expert featured in this episode, said:
'Albertosaurus is the faster and sleeker cousin of T. rex. What it lacks in size it makes up for in speed and cooperation. No tyrannosaur has been found in such big groups as Albertosaurus, making it the most likely to have lived, or at least hunted in coordinated group efforts. It is astonishing to see these animals brought to life like never before in what can only be described as the most accurate and life-like restoration of this once apex predator!'
Episode 5 - The Journey North
Based on an unprecedented discovery in Alberta, Canada, The Journey North, tells the epic tale of one of the largest dinosaur herds that ever lived, the Pachyrhinosaurus, through the eyes of one of its youngest members, Albie.
To find enough food to survive, this close relative of Triceratops, must embark on a gruelling 400-mile migration North across hostile wilderness. As multiple herds begin to merge along the route, swelling the herd's numbers into the tens of thousands, tensions rise as the strongest bulls begin to battle for their pick of their mates. A violent confrontation leads Albie to become separated from his mother. Pachyrhinosaurus, however, are thought to have had a remarkable way of finding each other. At the dig site the team, led by Dr Emily Bamforth, unearths something each Pachyrhinosaurus had - a horned, bony head frill. No two frills unearthed at the dig have been identical and it's thought these unique frills may have allowed them to identify each other.
Pachyrhinosaurus - Albie
Closely related to Triceratops, Pachyrhinosaurus did not have eyebrow horns, and instead had a thick slab of bone over its nose, known as a boss, used for combat between males. Every single Pachyrhinosaurus discovered has had different horns on their bony headdress, known as a frill - almost like a fingerprint.
Scientists believe this unique arrangement of horns on their frill was used by Pachyrhinosaurus to identify each other in their giant herds, numbering in the thousands.
Albie is a little juvenile Pachyrhinosaurus, one of many found in the Wapiti Formation in Alberta, Canada. Every year, his herd makes an epic journey north as the seasons change. Along the way, he will encounter clashing bulls, tyrannosaur predators, and freak weather events.
Dr. Emily Bamforth, Palaeontologist and Curator at the Philip. J Currie Dinosaur Museum in Alberta, Canada, said:
'This episode is based on fifty years of research conducted at the Pipestone Creek Pachyrhinosaurus Bonebed in northwest Alberta. The Pipestone Creek Bonebed, tucked away in Canada's mixed boreal forest, captures the moment when a herd of potentially thousands of Pachyrhinosaurus, an enigmatic ceratopsian (horned) dinosaur with a distinctive bulbous bump on the nose, was preserved in a single event. The bonebed provides an unparalleled opportunity for paleontologists to study growth, social structure, parental care, and behavior in a single community of dinosaur from a single point in time. The episode uses VFX and the integration of science-in-action to beautifully capture the immensity and scale of the bonebed, revealing the dramatic story of this dinosaur mega-herd, and the late Cretaceous world in which they lived.'
Episode 6 – Island of Giants
Island of Giants tells the tale of one of the largest dinosaurs ever to walk the earth, a colossal, long-necked Lusotitan, known as Old Grande.
Living 150 million years ago on an island called the Iberian Meseta, this titan dwarfs every other dinosaur in the region. His remains are being uncovered near Pombal, Portugal, by a team of palaeontologists led by Prof. Franciso Ortega, Dr Elisabete Malafaia and Dr Pedro Mocho. As the most complete Lusotitan ever found, his bones allow the team to tell his story like never before. At 25 metres long his intimidating size is only part of his story. His goal is to win over a female and secure his legacy.
Lusotitan – Old Grande
A giant of the Jurassic, Lusotitan was 25 metres long, and over 40 tonnes. Closely related to the iconic Brachiosaurus, this titan roamed ancient Portugal 150 million years ago, when Europe was a series of fragmented islands.
Air sacs and hollow bones throughout its neck and spine, helped Lusotitan to grow massive. Scientists have speculated that the large cavity in Lusotitan's skull, just past the nose, could have been used to inflate balloons of skin, like modern frigate birds.
Old Grande was the largest Lusotitan ever found, being unearthed in the hill town of Pombal. In search of a mate, he would have to contend with other bull Lusotitans, hungry predatory Torvosaurus, and the rapidly changing seasons.
Q&A with Series Showrunner Kirsty Wilson
What can viewers expect to see from this series? What's different about this series of Walking With Dinosaurs compared to the original?
25 years ago, the BBC broadcast one of the most visually stunning and successful shows it has ever made. The VFX and animatronics in the first series of Walking With Dinosaurs was nothing like anyone had ever seen before. So, we knew we had to have the same innovative ambition when it came to this show. Although to be honest, reimagining one of the most iconic and most loved BBC programmes ever was a terrifying challenge!
So, whilst the first series focused purely on the prehistoric world, we decided it was time to feature real dinosaur digs and base our VFX on the scientific evidence coming out of the ground today. This allowed us to tell the most amazing dinosaur stories, but also viewers will literally be able to see the scientific evidence these narratives were based on emerging from the dust for themselves!
But perhaps our biggest twist, is that each episode focuses not on a species in general but tells the tale of a single lead character dinosaur at one of the most dramatic points in their life. This is a series that will have you yelling for your dinosaur hero, rooting for them to find 'love', biting your nails as they face unimaginable obstacles and on the edge of your seat as they battle for survival!
Do you have any stand-out moments?
There were so many it's hard to pick one! Being on the dig sites, capturing moments on camera where segments of dinosaur arm bones bigger than us emerged from the ground, or filming the remains of one of the largest herds on earth to have ever existed, and knowing we were the first people to see them in over 65 million years ago, was staggering. Filming each and every one of our incredible dig sites was a real privilege.
But then there were some really silly moments I will never forget, like watching members of the production team stomping around, running or even swimming through rivers on location, head to toe in blue suits pretending to be dinosaurs! For the record this wasn't what the team got up to in their downtime! We dress in head to toe blue (including full face masks!) and walk about to create movement in the environment, as if we were dinosaurs brushing past ferns or creating ripples in the water, and then the VFX company can remove us from the shot later – the blue suit makes this a lot easier! I wasn't immune myself, running through the bushes in the rain pretending to be a baby Triceratops!
But ultimately when we saw our hero dinosaurs, characters we had been thinking of, writing about, looking at their bones for years, finally come to life on screen for the very first time, it was truly unforgettable and actually quite emotional!
What was the biggest obstacle in production when making the show?
Ensuring that we were telling exciting stories and doing our heroes justice, whilst being totally scientific accurate, was something we took very, very seriously.
There were so many things we encountered that took us by surprise that we had to adjust to. I personally didn't realise grass hadn't evolved during the time of our dinosaurs! I've often joked that trying to find locations to set our dinosaurs in without modern grass was like asking to film on the moon! But our team did it.
At every turn we consulted with expert after expert. We collated huge amounts of scientific data and checked it and checked it again. We monitored every step of our dinosaur creations from the translucency of their eyelids to the look of their toenails. It was a never-ending challenge for the team to make sure we were as true to the science as humanly possible, but I'm very proud to say they did an amazing job!
How have advances in science and technology informed the series?
Both advances in science and technology have absolutely been at the heart of this series. Palaeontology is an ever-evolving discipline, and new incredible things are being discovered about dinosaurs all the time. When the original Walking With Dinosaurs came out, we didn't know that dinosaurs had feathers or that they could have certain brightly coloured patterns. This series reflects the very latest findings, and the team have worked tirelessly to reflect as accurately as possible these cutting-edge discoveries.
The latest filming techniques and VFX methodologies were totally key to our approach. We used a huge range of the very best equipment, moving cranes through the Sahara Desert, or trekking hundreds of pounds of kit to the top of a mountain. We wanted this series to be a visual feast, and we wanted viewers to feel like they could be watching a natural history drama taking place today. So, ensuring we achieved that feel, whilst being as immersive as possible was key.
If you had to pick one, which would be your favourite dinosaur and why?
Everyone always asks me what my favourite dinosaur is and it's just not possible to answer. I have lived and breathed our six hero dinosaurs for three years. I always get asked, do they feel real to you? No, they don't feel real, they are real! These are real creatures! I've seen their very remains come out of the rock and I know from the evidence that they lived real, beautiful and complex lives. So, sure our big Lusotitan searching for love pulls at my heart strings, and our slow lumbering armoured dinosaurs make me chuckle, and baby Clover, our triceratops feels like such a loveable, plucky toddler, but no, I can't pick a favourite!
The Science Behind the Series
The non-avian dinosaurs ruled the Earth for a whopping 140 million years. In fact, they ruled for so long, that the time gap between our oldest featured species, Lusotitan, and our youngest featured species, Triceratops, is over 80 million years – a full 14 million years longer than the gap between Triceratops and us.
Birds are not just the descendants of dinosaurs – they are dinosaurs themselves. Specifically, theropod dinosaurs – the branch that includes giants such as T. rex and Spinosaurus.
Advancements in palaeontology and paleobiology mean we know more about dinosaurs than ever before – in some cases, we have preserved skin, pigment, and even internal organs. This allows scientists to put together a more complete picture of what these animals were like in life.
The pterosaur featured in the episode 1 about Triceratops is a newly named species – Infernodrakon.
Episode 1, featuring juvenile Triceratops Clover takes place in the famous Hell Creek Formation – one of the best studied dinosaur fossil sites in the world. This locale is home to some of the most iconic dinosaurs, including Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, Edmontosaurus, and Ankylosaurus.
Spinosaurus, featured in episode 2, is a notoriously mysterious dinosaur among palaeontologists. A big part of this mystery came from the fact that the original Spinosaurus skeleton, discovered in 1912 in Egypt, was destroyed during an Allied bombing raid in World War 2.
In episode 3 'Band of Brothers' featuring Gastonia, we see a forest fire tear through the home of our Gastonia gang. We know these were common occurrences thanks to the discovery of charcoal layers in the ground.
The fossils of Gastonia were found to possess impressive spikes and spines all over. In life, these would have been over 25% larger due to a sheath of keratin, the same material that makes up our fingernails and hair, and even rhino horns.
Utahraptor featured in episode 3 is the largest of the 'raptor' dinosaurs. While the majority of its cousins are speedy and small, Utahraptor took the opposite approach to hunting and grew big, powerful, and stocky. The species of Utahraptor discovered in this episode is likely a new species, living 20 million years apart from other known species of Utahraptor.
Many dinosaurs are now known to have feathers. Our Albertosaurus in episode 4 is covered in fur-like feathers, something we can infer thanks to fossil evidence of related species preserving these details perfectly. The 9m long tyrannosaur from China, Yutyrannus, was found to have had a shaggy coat, and is currently the largest feathered animal known.
The Pachyrhinosaurus bonebed featured in episode 5 is only part of a much bigger site – scientists estimate the fossils continue underground for miles, meaning there are thousands upon thousands of dinosaurs still to be discovered.
Every individual of Pachyrhinosaurus has a different horn orientation – almost like a fingerprint. There are three known species of Pachyrhinosaurus, each with a different horn arrangement. Our species is Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai and possesses a unique singular horn projecting from the centre of its head – informally known as the 'unicorn' horn.
Lusotitan which features in episode 6 'Land of Giants' is one of the largest dinosaurs ever found in Europe.
Like other brachiosaurid dinosaurs, it is thought that Lusotitan had a nasal resonating chamber in its head – potentially for making loud sounds, or for inflatable display structures.
The dramatic mountains featured at the start of episode 6 are a representation of an ancient, raised landform known as the Berlenga Horst. The remnants of this prehistoric formation can still be seen today, as the rocky archipelago off the coast of Portugal known as the Berlengas.
Based on the footprints found in the Kem Kem, this unnamed titanosaur species may have been one of the largest animals to walk the earth, coming in at an estimated size of 35 meters – a full 5 meters longer than the longest blue whale.
The Making Of
The creation of the VFX dinosaurs was a heavily involved process, starting with a rigorous and detailed brief document, the VFX team built up the skeleton, musculature, and finally the skin (and occasionally feathering) of the animals. From start to finish the creatures took around 2.5 years to create.
During the filming of the paleontological dig for Albertosaurus in episode 4, the scientists on the ground discovered a pterosaur bone. This was hugely exciting for the team, as pterosaur bones are notoriously fragile and rarely found.
To create a beached giant ammonite featured in episode 4, the team ordered a set of custom-made four-foot-long silicone tentacles which were then placed on the beach. The team then scattered sand, seaweed, and other debris to match images of beached giant squids in the modern day.
The Canadian Palaeontologists digging the Pipestone Creek bonebed discover from 100 to 300 bones per year, but it had been almost two decades since a skull was found. Shortly after filming for the Walking With Dinosaurs episode was completed, the palaeontologists discovered a skull. It was nicknamed 'Big Sam' after a member of the BBC Studios team.
To simulate a tiny Triceratops running through the dense undergrowth, our team used a bright blue blow-up exercise ball tied to a rope, which was then dragged through the ferns. Using VFX, the ball was later replaced with our little baby Triceratops.
To create the ominous footprints of the stalking Utahraptor in episode three, the team made plaster replicas of the soles of the animal's feet. These were based on brilliantly preserved footprints found in China, which show the trackway of a raptor of a similar size and build to ours. These trackways show two-toed footprints – the telltale sign of a raptor's killing claw, always held high off the ground.
In episode two, to accurately simulate the interactions between our VFX Spinosaurus and the water it swam in, our team commissioned a bright blue, 8kg and nearly 2-metre-long, 3D printed head to dunk into the river. Our director then got in his wet-suit and pushed it along!
Despite being about an entirely different species, the episode 'Island of Giants' featuring Lusotitan takes inspiration from moments of the 'Cruel Seas' episode of the original 1999 Walking With Dinosaurs. Keen-eyed viewers may notice some parallels – a beached pliosaur, two predators squabbling over a carcass, and most obviously, the island setting of Jurassic Europe.
Read More: BBC Factual and PBS confirm award-winning actor Bertie Carvel as narrator for the new series
Walking With Dinosaurs, a 6x50, was commissioned for BBC One and BBC iPlayer by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. Bill Gardner is Editorial Consultant for PBS. Diana El-Osta is the Executive in Charge for PBS. It is a BBC Studios Science Unit Production co-produced with ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC and PBS. The Executive Producers are Andrew Cohen and Helen Thomas; the Showrunner is Kirsty Wilson; the Producer/Directors are Stephen Cooter; Tom Hewitson and Owen Gower; and the Line Producers are Max Brunold and Libby Hand. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Tom Coveney. BBC Studios is handling global sales, in addition to negotiating the co-production deals with PBS, ZDF, and France Télévisions.