Mike Gunton is a British television producer and a senior executive at the BBC Natural History Unit, the world's largest production unit dedicated to wildlife film-making.[1] In November 2009 he became the Unit's first Creative Director.[2]
As Creative Director of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, he is responsible for bringing new and pioneering stories about the natural world to global audiences,[3] including the BAFTA and Emmy winning Planet Earth II, which was viewed by millions worldwide[4]. In 2018, his ground-breaking animal behaviours series, Dynasties, won a number of awards and was acclaimed by Sir David Attenborough as inventing a new genre in natural history film making.[5] A fellow of the Royal Television Society, he also speaks internationally and is an ambassador for natural history making, BBC Studios and the natural world.[6]
He was the executive producer of Life, a nature documentary series which revealed the adaptive survival strategies of animals around the world, and as the co-author (with Martha Holmes) of the accompanying book. He co-directed (with Holmes) a feature film version of Life, and was the executive producer of a major BBC One series on African wildlife, broadcast in 2013.[7]
Film and TV credits edit
- The Green Planet (2022) - executive producer
- Dynasties (2018) - executive producer
- Planet Earth II (2016) - executive producer
- Life Story (2014) - executive producer
- Hidden Kingdoms (2014) - executive producer
- Africa (2013) - executive producer
- One Life (2011) - co-director
- Madagascar (2011) - executive producer
- The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart (2010) - executive producer
- Life (2009) - executive producer
- Yellowstone (2009) – executive producer
- Galápagos (2006) – executive producer
- Life in the Undergrowth (2005) – executive producer
- Europe: A Natural History (2005) – executive producer
- Journey of Life (2005) – executive producer
- Nile (2004) – executive producer
- British Isles: A Natural History (2004) – executive producer
- Natural World (2001-2004) – series editor
- Steve Leonard's Extreme Animals (2002) - executive producer
- Steve Leonard's Ultimate Killers (1999-2001) - executive producer
- Animal People (1997-1999) – series producer
- Violent Planet (1999) - series producer
- Tales from the Riverbank (1997) - series producer
- Natural Neighbours (1994) - series producer
- The Trials of Life (1990) – producer
- Episode "Finding Food"
- Episode "Home Making"
- Episode "Once More into the Termite Mound: The Making of The Trials of Life"
References edit
- ^ "Directory of Production Companies". The International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
- ^ Rushton, Katherine (19 November 2009). "NHU head Jackson makes mark with key exec changes". Broadcast magazine.
- ^ Koblin, John (15 January 2020). "Nature Shows Are Hot Again". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Wollaston, Sam (7 November 2016). "Planet Earth II review: Attenborough's rollercoaster wildlife tour returns". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ "Dynasties review: David Attenborough's new series is immaculate". The Independent. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ "Mike Gunton - Creative Director, BBC Studios Natural History Unit". Media Masters. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ "BBC One explores African continent in major new commission for Bristol's Natural History Unit". BBC Press Office. 29 April 2010.