BBC Natural History becoming lone, proud beast in a threatened world

Natural history films have a special place in all our hearts, but filmmakers and broadcasters must face the grim fact that this ecology is imploding, like the natural world itself.​
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Image: still from One Life, by the BBC Natural History Unit.

Blue Chip natural history series are truly some of the pearls of international television. But the BBC now seems to be the only large producer which can still summon up the old magic.

Mike Gunton is the creative director and senior executive at BBC Natural History, which has always been the best of the best, and the greatest innovator in blue chip documentaries. He is also the creative director of BBC Factual, has been with the unit since 1999, and has a doctorate in behavioural anatomy.

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David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.