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Saving Lives at Sea on TV
Our action-packed documentary, Saving Lives at Sea, returns to the BBC for a brand-new series this summer. Join our volunteer crews on real-life rescue missions and find out just what it’s like onboard our lifeboats.
What is Saving Lives at Sea about?
Saving Lives at Sea has been the RNLI's flagship documentary series since 2016. Now in its 11th series, the BBC show follows our lifesaving volunteer crews as they tackle challenging rescue missions around the UK and Ireland. Through onboard footage, interviews with crew members and those they’ve rescued, and narration from Steven Mackintosh, the show highlights the dangers posed by the sea and the incredible bravery of RNLI volunteers.
You can watch the new series of Saving Lives at Sea (series 11) from Tuesday 18 August at 8pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, along with episodes from previous series.
Saving Lives at Sea: Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Saving Lives at Sea?
You can watch the new series (series 11) of Saving Lives at Sea when it airs on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this summer. Some episodes from previous series of the show are also available on BBC iPlayer, so you can revisit favourite episodes or experience them for the first time. You'll need to be a TV licence holder and watching in the UK.
How many series of Saving Lives at Sea have there been?
There are currently 11 series of Saving Lives at Sea, with the most recent airing on BBC Two in summer 2026. Over ninety episodes have been broadcast since the series launched in July 2016, with plenty more to come.
How is Saving Lives at Sea filmed?
The series is filmed at RNLI lifeboat stations all around the country, following our volunteer crews and the people they have saved. Rescue footage is captured in real-time, using specially designed boat-mounted cameras and helmet cameras, so film crews are not needed onboard. The production team then identify rescues of interest from the RNLI's news and media libraries and work directly with volunteers to research the stories behind the rescues.
Each episode also includes interviews with the volunteers and members of the public involved in each rescue, as well as footage from exercises filmed at lifeboat stations.
How accurate is Saving Lives at Sea?
The show gives viewers a valuable insight into the remarkable work of RNLI volunteers and the risks they take every day to save the lives of those in danger. And while it's true that not all our shouts are as action-packed as those featured on TV, everything you see on Saving Lives at Sea is true to life, using genuine rescue footage from aboard our lifeboats.
Edits will sometimes be made for time, but any changes are done in the interest of clarity and none of our rescue stories are scripted or artificially dramatized.
Where can I find out more about the rescues in each episode?
You can follow us on our social channels, where we share all sorts of extra content about the rescues featured on Saving Lives at Sea. Join the conversation by using #SavingLivesAtSea.
You can also visit our online magazine, where you'll find more extraordinary rescue stories, interviews with the lifesavers, and tales of courage from throughout the RNLI's history.
How can I get involved with the RNLI?
Inspired to join our crew? There are so many ways you can get involved with the RNLI, from volunteering at our lifeboat stations and shops, becoming a beach lifeguard or joining our Water Safety Team.
Whatever time or skills you can offer, your support will help the RNLI to save more lives at sea. Visit our volunteering pages to find out more.
How can I stay safe on the coast?
The stories shown on Saving Lives at Sea can be a scary watch, but our job is to help you understand how to stay safe on the coast, not to put you off from visiting all together.
If you and your family are heading to the seaside this summer, choose a lifeguarded beach, patrolled by our highly trained lifeguards whose job is to keep you safe. You can also visit a lifeboat station and learn more about the work of the crews you've seen on TV.
For more information on how to stay safe, head to our water safety information online, and for kids, our RNLI Storm Force Membership is a brilliant introduction to the work we do, packed with exciting and educational stories and activities.
Where can I find information and support for issues raised in Saving Lives at Sea?
You can find information and support on the BBC Saving Lives at Sea Information and Support page.
Learn how you can keep you and your loved ones safe at the coast and in the water with advice from the RNLI’s water safety experts.
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