World's Wildest Cities / © ITV
ITV has commissioned a “groundbreaking” new factual series examining the way animals survive and thrive in big cities around the globe.
Called World’s Wildest Cities, each episode will focus on a different major city – Rio de Janeiro, New York, Melbourne, Singapore and London – before concluding with a sixth, behind-the-scenes episode showing how the series was filmed.
An official synopsis reads: “Today over half of the human population lives in cities and we are now joined by a surprising cast of wild animals – from possums to penguins, giant monitor lizards to cheeky monkeys who through ingenuity, bravery and cunning are now calling our cities home. These savvy city slickers don’t always play by our rules, but that’s okay – they’ve learnt how to conquer the city life.
“New York City mice are adapting to break down inedible pizza cheese, London’s urban foxes are developing shorter snouts that are better at ripping open bin bags, and are almost appearing dog-like. And in Rio de Janeiro, marmosets are altering their calls to be heard over the roar of the traffic. Animals aren’t just adapting to their new, fast-paced homes – they’re thriving.”
Speaking about the new show, ITV factual controller Jo Clinton Davis said: “We’re delighted to bring this unique and revolutionary wildlife series, free-to-air, on ITV next year. Working with the top class wildlife programme makers at Plimsoll Productions, the six-part series encapsulates the heart and soul of the wildlife that lives among us in our cities.
“World’s Wildest Cities showcases the constant challenges urban animals face in these hostile environments and the ever-changing wild landscape, as more animals emigrate and make special adaptations to survive.”
The show will premiere on ITV in 2027.
