# Where to watch The Ascent of Man (1973) in the UK

> The Ascent of Man (1973) is available to watch free in the UK on BBC iPlayer. Last verified on 14 May 2026 by ScreenSearch.

**Type:** TV series  
**Year:** 1973  
**Runtime:** 50 minutes per episode  
**TMDB rating:** 8.5/10  
**Genres:** Documentary  
**Seasons:** 1  
**Region:** United Kingdom (GB)  
**Last verified:** 14 May 2026 (2026-05-14T21:43:10.294Z)  

## Synopsis

The Ascent of Man is a thirteen-part documentary television series produced by the BBC and Time-Life Films first transmitted in 1973, written and presented by Jacob Bronowski. Intended as a series of "personal view" documentaries in the manner of Kenneth Clark's 1969 series Civilisation, the series received acclaim for Bronowski's highly informed but eloquently simple analysis, his long unscripted monologues and its extensive location shoots.

## Streaming options in the United Kingdom

### Free (with ads or TV licence)

- [BBC iPlayer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=The%20Ascent%20of%20Man)

## Frequently asked questions

**Where can I watch The Ascent of Man for free in the UK?**

The Ascent of Man (1973) is available free (with adverts or a TV licence) on BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom.

**Are all seasons of The Ascent of Man on the same service?**

Not always — TV licensing is sometimes negotiated season by season. ScreenSearch shows availability across all seasons on the title's page; for season-specific availability, look at the season picker inside the search dialog.

**Is The Ascent of Man on Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video in the UK?**

The Ascent of Man is not currently included with any major UK subscription service. It may still be available to rent or buy.

**How accurate is this TV series's availability data?**

Availability is sourced from The Movie Database (TMDB), which in turn pulls from JustWatch. Listings are refreshed daily. For purchase decisions, the provider's own site is the source of truth.

## Sources

- Streaming availability: The Movie Database (TMDB), refreshed daily.
- Underlying licensing data: JustWatch.
- Canonical URL: https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/34851/the-ascent-of-man-1973
- Poster image: https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/usT68RGcKcXThqyeaaqP4IMdHO4.jpg
- JSON variant: https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/34851/the-ascent-of-man-1973.json

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