DIY Deadly with Steve Backshall

S1 E1 - Deadly Gardens

In this episode, Steve focuses on our parks and gardens. This green space may look pristine, but for wildlife it’s savannah, jungle and mountains all rolled in to one. And judging by CBBC’s most observant viewers, its packed full of deadly animals! Steve unravels the mystery of some blue eggs in a nest, explains how a spider uses camouflage and trickery to lure in its prey, and tells about a worm that isn’t a worm... it’s a lizard! In a DIY demo, Steve then shows us how to keep hedgehogs warm and toasty during winter by building a hibernation house. But that’s not all. The audience gets their chance to ‘beat Backshall’ in a 60-second quickfire round. The question is, how many can Steve get right before his time is up? We also learn that fox cubs are endearing alarm clocks, and why you wouldn’t want to wander around an Australian garden without a grown-up!

Jun 22, 2020 • 13m

S1 E2 - Deadly Skies

In this episode Steve explores our aerial assassins, and judging by CBBC’s most observant viewers, the skies above us are home to a huge variety of deadly animals! Steve unravels the mysteries of a bird nest and a feather collection, explains that kites are spreading far and wide, and how to bring birds to your bird table without making them dinner themselves! In a DIY demo, Steve then shows us how to make fat ball dessert for our feathered friends, before basking in butterfly, bee and wasp glory! But that’s not all. The audience gets their chance to Beat Backshall in a 60 second quickfire round. The question is, how many can Steve get right before his time is up? In a fun-filled, fast and furious 13 minutes, we’ll also get to see some of the best bits from 13 years of deadly exploration. In this episode Steve gets hunted down by a silent forest predator, and catches the world’s biggest and most feisty wasp!

Jun 23, 2020 • 13m

S1 E3 - Deadly Woodlands

In this episode Steve focuses on our woodland wildlife, which hides some of our most fascinating and secretive animals. And judging by CBBC’s most observant viewers, our forests packed full of deadly animals! Steve explores why bees swarm, explains how bizarre bugs feed, and revels in the antics of a snuffling Badger! In a DIY demo, Steve then shows us how to catch Britain’s most secretive animals on film by using a camera trap! But that’s not all. The audience gets their chance to Beat Backshall in a 60 second quickfire round. The question is, how many can Steve get right before his time is up? In a fun-filled, fast and furious 13 minutes, we’ll also get to see some of the best bits from 13 years of deadly exploration. Steve gets stung by killer bees and gets a bit too close a south African Badger that’s armed with serious attitude!

Jun 24, 2020 • 13m

S1 E4 - Deadly Towns and Cities

Steve tells us why pigeons are the perfect prey for peregrine falcons. He unravels the mystery of a skull, then in a DIY demo, he dissects an owl pellet to see what this nocturnal assassin has been eating. We learn how bats see the unseeable using sound, and uncover their favourite hideaways, some of which are surprisingly close to us! From bats to bugs he identifies Britain's coolest spider found in a Bristol bath and another that puts our finest highjumpers to shame! But that’s not all. The audience gets their chance to ‘Beat Backshall’ in a 60 second quickfire round. The question is, how many can Steve get right before his time is up? In a fun-filled, fast and furious 13 minutes, we’ll also get to see some of the best bits from 13 years of deadly exploration. In this episode Steve becomes a hunting peregrine falcon’s favourite snack… in a sportscar, and gets very close to a hungry hyena in an Ethiopian city.

Jun 25, 2020 • 13m

S1 E5 - Deadly Freshwater

Wildlife expert Steve Backshall turns detective to solve CBBC viewers’ animal mysteries.

Jun 26, 2020 • 13m

S1 E6 - Small but Deadly

In this episode, Steve explores animals that are often overlooked - our minibeasts! And judging by the questions and videos sent in by the CBBC audience, the deadliest live amongst us in their droves! Steve identifies a venomous vole no bigger than your little finger, as well as revealing that mysterious holes in a patio are actually built by unusual bees and that driver ants are truly deadly. He even introduces us to a spider with what looks like a golf ball stuck on its behind! In a DIY demo, Steve then shows us how to transform our green spaces into wildlife havens. And he creates seed bombs, turning conservation into a fun game of backyard boules!

Jun 29, 2020 • 13m

S1 E7 - Deadly Snake Special

In this episode, Steve delves into the lives of perhaps the most popular of all deadly animals - the fast-striking, super-sinuous slithering snakes. Steve is wowed by a grass snake’s hunting technique, shows us how to work out whether an adder is male or female, and explains what to do to attract snakes to your green space! In a DIY demo, Steve gives us a privileged view of one of his most prized possessions – a puff adder skeleton in all its glory! We see that this venomous viper can strike in the blink of an eye, and that corn snakes are awesome pets.

Jun 30, 2020 • 13m

S1 E8 - Deadly Backyard Beasts

In this episode, Steve delves into the lives of the animals that live in and around our backyards. He explains how beetles find a mate, unravels the mystery of a trampoline tryst and reveals otters caught on camera by a clever viewer. We see a colourful escapee, a stick insect named Steve and a caterpillar colony that puts spiders to shame. In a DIY demo, Steve then shows us how to make a super-speedy bird bath to keep our feathered friends clean and fresh!

Jul 1, 2020 • 13m

S1 E9 - Deadly Seas

In this episode, Steve delves into the lives of the animals that live in our seas and on our coasts. He unravels the mystery of a curled-up British shark and a squid egg mass. In a DIY demo, Steve then shows us his secret treasure chest, which includes the most venomous animal in the oceans, a fossilised shark tooth as well as one from a sperm whale.

Jul 2, 2020 • 13m

S1 E10 - Deadliest

In the last episode of the series, Steve delves into the deadliest animals ever to have lived. He finally reveals what he thinks is the deadliest animal on the planet, lets us in to the secret of his all-time scariest moment and shows us not only the biggest but the most dangerous spider. Closer to home, we see a mystery bat brought in by a cat and a garden trap that has lured many a fly to a grisly end! In a DIY demo, Steve then shows us how to make a five-star bug hotel to turn our gardens in to a wildlife wonderland.

Jul 3, 2020 • 13m