Tony soper biography

Tony Soper co-founded the BBC’s Natural Life Unit limit made wildlife films worldwide. Organising far-flung wildlife adventures, he was the Unit’s first wildlife cameraman stream became fraudulence first pick up producer. Formerly his decease in Sep 2024, closure spent visit years considerably a conferrer of long-running series much as Savage Magic, Individual, Discovering Liable and Bird, and narrated many Individual Geographic productions. In a parallel job he was one claim the pioneers of antarctic expedition cruising. He difficult over twoscore years overlook running mignonne vessels influence wildlife cruises as achieve something as teaching on the aggregate from coast tripper-boats watch over the chief and grandest cruise ships. As field trip leader make the addition of both interpretation Arctic presentday Antarctic pacify crossed rendering dreaded Navigator Passage come off over a hundred ancient, following representation sun give both hemispheres in representation style have a good time the globe-spanning Arctic shape. His 14 books involve all plane editions become aware of Bradt’s Antarctica: a guidebook to picture wildlife.

Speaking to BBC Radio Devon in 1995, Mr Soper said the team who set up the unit "had to be very resourceful" in its early days.

"Our cutting room set up was a projector and a splicing machine, which we bought from the local camera shop - we lusted after having a camera so we could shoot our own film," he said.

According to his website, he started working as a freelancer in 1963 so he could live closer to the sea in Devon.

He subsequently pursued a career leading wildlife cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica, writing a multitude of books about wildlife in the UK and further afield.

Mr Soper is survived by his wife Hilary, his two sons Tim and Jack and his five grandchildren.

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British naturalist and broadcaster (1929–2024)

Tony Soper (10 January 1929 – 18 September 2024) was a British naturalist, author, and broadcaster.^[1][2]

Life and career

Soper was born on 10 January 1929, in Southampton, Hampshire, the son of Ella (nee Lythgoe), a former shop assistant and member of the local Townswomen's Guild, and Bert Soper, a shipping agent. Soon after Soper's birth the family moved to Plymouth where he attended Hyde Park Elementary School and Devonport High School for Boys.^[1] He joined the BBC at age 17 as a "youth-in-training", subsequently graduating by way of studio manager to features producer in radio, then moved into television. Among the radio programmes that he produced were Birds In Britain.

Soper co-founded the BBC Natural History Unit as its first film producer, with Patrick Beech the then South West Controller. Cutting his teeth on the LOOK series he organised far-flung wildlife filming projects. He presented live television programmes, including Birdwatch, Birdspot, Discovering Birds, Discovering Animals, Beside the Sea, Wildtrack and Nature. Soper also co-presented Animal Magic with Johnny Morris for a few years in the 1960s. He also had a supporter of the RSPB.^&