BBC2 is looking to build on the success of The Secret Life of the Cat with a series examining the behaviour and intelligence of different breeds of dogs.
The broadcaster has commissioned Windfall Films to make 3 x 60-minute show The Wonder of Dogs, which will be presented by Kate Humble and Steve Leonard.
Similarly to The Secret Life of the Cat, the series will focus on the canine population in a single UK community. It will explore how different dogs can be from each other and test their intelligence through a number of challenges, such as assessing if some can even be trained to read.
Along the way, historian and presenter Ruth Goodman will travel around the country to unearth the extraordinary stories behind some of the most iconic breeds of dog.
BBC commissioner for science and natural history, Kim Shillinglaw, said: “I want us to show viewers just how different they can be, and how and why. Science is really allowing us to dig into these questions, rather than lumping all dogs together.”
Shillinglaw ordered The Wonder of Dogs alongside Cassian Harrison, commissioning executive producer for history, science and natural history. Harrison will executive produce the show with Windfall’s David Dugan and Leesa Rumley. Jamie Lockhead is the series producer.
Horizon’s The Secret Life of the Cat clawed in 5.1m (20.9%) viewers when it aired in June.
BBC2 is not the first broadcaster to tackle dogs this year, in January ITV aired an Oxford Scientific Films one-off doc, The Secret Life of Dogs.
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