Catch up TV

5. Conquest of the Waters



Fish occur in populations of billions and there are over 30,000 species, more than in any other group of backboned animals. The development of the backbone was a crucial advance in evolution - and it probably came from a most unlikely source, a little jelly-like creature called a sea squirt.

Source: BBC 4

Most recent episodes of Life on Earth

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 5. Conquest Of The Waters

5. Conquest Of The Waters

Fish occur in populations of billions and there are over 30,000 species, more than in any other group of backboned animals. The development of the backbone was a crucial advance ...

18-07-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 4. The Swarming Hordes

4. The Swarming Hordes

David Attenborough looks at the role of a few of the millions of insect species, some of which have developed extremely close relationships with plants. Insects pollinate flower ...

11-07-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 3. The First Forests

3. The First Forests

For most of Earth's history there was no life on land. But over 400 million years ago some tiny plants began an invasion from the water, closely followed by the first animals - ...

04-07-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 2. Building Bodies

2. Building Bodies

Bright blue starfish, crimson feather stars, shell-less snails in designs as extravagant as any Paris fashion show, shrimps of every colour, others that are transparent - just a ...

27-06-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 1. The Infinite Variety

1. The Infinite Variety

The first ever episode of the landmark natural history series Life on Earth. David Attenborough explores the wildlife and landscape that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evol ...

20-06-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Most popular episodes of Life on Earth

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 4. The Swarming Hordes

4. The Swarming Hordes

David Attenborough looks at the role of a few of the millions of insect species, some of which have developed extremely close relationships with plants. Insects pollinate flower ...

11-07-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 3. The First Forests

3. The First Forests

For most of Earth's history there was no life on land. But over 400 million years ago some tiny plants began an invasion from the water, closely followed by the first animals - ...

04-07-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 2. Building Bodies

2. Building Bodies

Bright blue starfish, crimson feather stars, shell-less snails in designs as extravagant as any Paris fashion show, shrimps of every colour, others that are transparent - just a ...

27-06-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 1. The Infinite Variety

1. The Infinite Variety

The first ever episode of the landmark natural history series Life on Earth. David Attenborough explores the wildlife and landscape that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evol ...

20-06-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

Life On Earth

Life On Earth - 5. Conquest Of The Waters

5. Conquest Of The Waters

Fish occur in populations of billions and there are over 30,000 species, more than in any other group of backboned animals. The development of the backbone was a crucial advance ...

18-07-2026

BBC 4

All episodes

BBC 4

© 2026 - Catchupplayer.co.uk