TV review: Penguins - Spy in the Huddle

But what's this? Step aside 007, there's a new spy on the scene – the name's Guin, Penguin.

In the first of a three-part BBC1 series, Doctor Who veteran David Tennant added narration to the unique pictures filmed in the Antarctic, Falkland Islands and the deserts of South America.

As the time-travelling Doctor, Tennant encountered many a strange creature. Had his familiar blue Police Box landed at any of the harsh locations visited in last night's programme, you could have been forgiven for mistaking it for an episode of the sci-fi drama.

Robot penguins of all shapes and sizes, many rather convincing, had infiltrated the domain of three varieties. Coupled with 'egg-cams' and other covert devices, it made for a fascinating hour.

Cumbersome emperor penguins were seen waddling along, sometimes crashing to the ground, visibly cursing themselves in embarrassment. This was clearly a natural history series of the likes never before attempted.

In the documentary, rockhoppers had been filmed in the Falkland Islands by both land and aquatic versions of the mock-penguin technological marvels. Tenacious in their attempts to make land, the rockhoppers were time and again swept from the sanctuary of the rocky shore. Having been at sea for five months – and somewhat out of practise – each struggled to live up to the name, frequently misplacing a leap from one craggy outcrop to the next.

Comically, one such penguin is seen hitching a ride on another of the camera crew's ingenious spy devices – a camera in a remote controlled car disguised as a rock.

Elsewhere, the humboldt of Peru and Chile – known for being a shy breed – is fairly common in our zoos and safari parks, but rarely caught on film in their natural habitat. And as the humboldt was seen struggling to find safe haven from the desert sun, Antarctic emperor penguins dealt with the opposite problem, battling against the elements to locate the nesting grounds.

Surely a highlight for many viewers was the sight of rockhoppers, which having literally climbed a rock face, then bound towards their destination in a sackless sack race, bouncing excitedly to claim space among hundreds of fellow creatures.

For the emperor penguins, a long journey is broken as huddled together against the bitter weather and driving snow, the group was joined by one fortunate companion, which briefly separated in the maze of ice on the way to the icy colony, happened upon its pals..

With all the nests prepared, the rockhopper males were then joined by the females. Squawking on the beach, the girls race to find their partners, preening each other once reunited.

One lonely little soul looked a bit fed up, perhaps believing his partner was lost at sea? His attentions soon turned to the robotic camera penguin – a new object for his affections. Then, the long lost partner found her way to a confused love-interest. Hilariously, the jealous female attacked penguin-cam, pecking it to the ground.

Emperor penguins do things a little differently. At the rendezvous, it was something like speed dating, with males wandering up to a female, checking out the talent, before moving on to 'a prettier bird'. What other way is there to p-p-p-pick-up a penguin? Sorry.

Mating rituals dealt with, and eggs deployed, the different varieties may have their own landscapes but they deal with the same problem, that of egg thieves, in much the same way - viciously. Birds of prey appear to be no match for the feisty penguins. In the next episode we are promised the fluffy chicks.

Fans of the Happy Feet movies can't miss episode two. But, if you missed last night's first episode, I implore you to get on iPlayer, check the schedules for a possible repeat or order a copy of the forthcoming DVD. You won't regret it.