Ah, yes, it’s that time again — my favourite fortnight of the year (okay, I’m exaggerating a bit, but it is nonetheless a televisual event that I look forward to, almost as much as, ahem, Strictly Come Dancing.) The leaves start to turn, the evenings draw in, woolly jumpers become the staple and, sure enough, weekday evenings will find my attention focused on the windswept hair of Kate Humble and the comfortingly familiar beard and belly of former Goodie Bill Oddie as they and the Autumnwatch team guide us through the seasonal changes in the natural world around us.
From rutting deer to grey seals, from Heligan WebCams to oystercatchers and black-tailed godwits (don’t you just love that name?!), these are but a few of the delights in store. The central base for this year’s show is Brownsea Island, but additional reports will come from the surrounding area — including Poole Harbour, the Dorset coastline and the New Forest — as well as the Farne Islands and… Birmingham (believe it or not, there are apparently muntjac deer and otters to be found there.)
All in all, it looks set to be a thoroughly enthralling fortnight. And with a bit of luck, Bill just might manage to offend a few ridiculously prudish people again!
