Sam and Ade Go Birding tonight: Sam and Ade head to Yorkshire Coast for puffin-spotting adventure

Sam and Ade Go Birding concludes its current series tonight at 7pm on Channel 5, as Sam West and Ade Edmondson travel to the Yorkshire Coast for a spectacular seabird encounter, a personal conversation about getting older and one final attempt to spot a puffin.

The final episode sees the pair visit Bempton Cliffs, home to England’s largest seabird colony, where hundreds of thousands of birds gather above the North Sea. But while the breathtaking scenery promises plenty of wildlife, Ade has one particular bird firmly in his sights — and Sam is confident he can help him find it.

• When to watch: Tonight at 7pm on Channel 5.
• Where they go: Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head on the Yorkshire Coast.
• The big challenge: Ade is determined to see a puffin before the weekend is over, while Sam has a special birthday surprise planned for his friend.

Sam and Ade Go Birding: What happens in the series finale?

Sam and Ade’s latest adventure takes them to the towering chalk cliffs of Bempton, where around half a million seabirds gather every year to breed.

The colony is England’s largest, creating a spectacular and noisy natural world filled with razorbills, gannets, kittiwakes and puffins, all packed onto narrow ledges high above the North Sea.

Ade arrives with a clear mission: he wants to see a puffin. Sam confidently assures him that they will find one, but their first glimpse of the colony is so overwhelming that the pair are momentarily distracted by the sheer scale of the spectacle.

Thousands of birds cover the cliffs, many busy raising their young. Among the sights is a gannet chick that is just hours old, offering a glimpse of new life in one of Britain’s most remarkable wildlife habitats.

However, despite the abundance of birds, Ade’s much-wanted puffin remains elusive.

Sam opens up about his fears of getting older

The sight of so many young birds prompts a more reflective conversation between the two friends as they consider the passing of time and their own futures.

With his 60th birthday approaching, Sam talks openly about the fears he carries following his mother’s dementia. The experience has made him think about ageing and the importance of staying active, and he discusses his determination to take up dancing and keep himself fit.

Ade, meanwhile, is looking ahead to turning 70 next year. He reflects on how losing weight has given him renewed energy and confidence, offering reassurance as he approaches another milestone birthday.

The conversation adds a poignant dimension to their coastal adventure, showing that Sam and Ade Go Birding is about more than spotting wildlife. Their shared love of the natural world also provides an opportunity to reflect on friendship, health and the changes that come with age.

A secret birthday surprise for Sam

Away from the cliffs, the pair discover another side of the Yorkshire landscape.

The wildflower-rich hedgerows around Bempton provide a habitat for the threatened tree sparrow, giving the birders another species to look out for as they explore the local countryside.

But Ade has a secret mission of his own. Quietly slipping away from the birdwatching, he is discovered in the car working on a painting that he is preparing as a birthday present for Sam.

Later, the friends settle in for the evening, with Ade cooking fresh fish while Sam works through the day’s birding list. Their peaceful surroundings soon deliver more wildlife encounters, as a wild hare appears in the garden and a kestrel arrives to roost.

The following morning, Sam heads out to survey the local patch, giving Ade time to put the finishing touches to his painting before they set off for the next part of their journey.

Will Ade finally see a puffin at Flamborough Head?

Their next stop is Flamborough Head, where Ade hopes to achieve his weekend ambition and finally catch sight of a puffin.

To round off their Yorkshire Coast adventure, Sam has also arranged a boat trip to see Bempton’s famous seabird colony from the sea.

There is just one potential obstacle: the wind has picked up, leaving the trip in doubt. With conditions uncertain, the prospect of getting out onto the water is far from guaranteed.

Nevertheless, the chance to see seabirds at close quarters — including gannets plunging into the sea — proves too tempting to resist. The pair board the Brid Explorer and leave the relative safety of the harbour for their final wildlife adventure.

With Ade still hoping to tick puffin off his list, the trip promises an exciting conclusion to their coastal weekend.

When is Sam and Ade Go Birding on Channel 5?

The final episode of the current series of Sam and Ade Go Birding airs tonight at 7pm on Channel 5.

Sam West and Ade Edmondson head to the Yorkshire Coast for an adventure featuring the spectacular seabird colony at Bempton Cliffs, a visit to Flamborough Head and a potentially challenging boat trip along the coast.

Along the way, the friends share a heartfelt conversation about ageing and staying healthy, while Ade secretly works on a special birthday painting for Sam.

The series finale promises a fitting blend of wildlife, humour and friendship — with one last question hanging over the weekend: will Ade finally get his puffin?

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