(From Left:) Sir David Attenborough and Mike Gunton filming Green Planet, Finland in 2020. (Photo: Rosie Thomas)
Sir David Attenborough is turning 100 and few people have worked as closely with him over the years as Mike Gunton. As the Creative Director at the BBC Natural History Unit and executive producer on landmark series including Planet Earth II, Dynasties, and The Green Planet, Gunton has had a long-standing working partnership with the legendary personality.
Their collaboration spans more than three decades, beginning with The Trials of Life in the late 1980s, and has helped shape some of the most influential nature documentaries ever made. Here, Gunton reflects on how it all began, what Attenborough is like behind the scenes, and how their partnership—and the genre itself—has evolved.
You’ve been crafting nature documentaries for a few decades now. What sparked your interest in the field?
I started in 1987, so it’s been nearly 40 years. I was always interested in television and made films as a student. Initially, I thought I’d work in observational documentaries, but like many of my generation, I grew up watching David Attenborough. I remember seeing Life on Earth and thinking what an extraordinary experience that must be—seeing such incredible things—and I wanted to be part of it.
I heard that he was making what was said to be his final series at the time, The Trials of Life. I thought, “This is my only chance—I have to try to work on it.” As it happened, I knew the person running the series and managed to get a meeting. They were looking for someone with experience working with presenters, which I had, so I was brought into the team—despite never having made a wildlife film before.
It was a risk, but I had a background in biology, and the producer was willing to take a chance on me. I thought I’d do it for three years and then move on. But once I’d done it, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. So, I stayed—and here I am, nearly four decades later, still doing it and still working with David.
On location in Costa Rica filming Trials of Life, 1988. (Photo: Graham Ross)
Do you recall what was your first impression of Sir David Attenborough?
I was in my twenties when I met him, and of course he was already a television hero, so I was quite nervous. But he was incredibly unassuming—completely unstarry. He was genuinely interested in what I’d done and what I cared about. We talked about animals, biology—just straightforward things.
We got on well from the start, and over the years we’ve spent a huge amount of time together—in cars, planes, boats, even termite mounds and the Arctic. It’s been an extraordinary experience for both of us, I think. I doubt either of us expected to still be doing this decades later, but I’m very glad we are.
And how has that working relationship evolved over time?
His programmes have evolved, and so has our collaboration. With Life on Earth, The Living Planet, and The Trials of Life, David had very clear ideas—each series had a strong central theme, and our role as producers and directors was to realise his vision.
Over time, the process has become more collaborative. We’ve had greater input into shaping the stories and how they’re told. David is still the storyteller and the face of the programmes, but it now feels much more like a creative team effort.
Another aspect is trust. Part of our job is to come up with compelling and sometimes ambitious ways for him to engage with the natural world on camera. Some of the things we’ve asked him to do over the years have been quite extreme, but there’s a shared understanding that it must serve the story—not just spectacle. That mutual trust and collaboration have been central to our long working relationship.
Filming Green Planet in the UK in 2019. (Photo: Ella Morgan)
From a storytelling point of view, we’re interested to know if advances in technology and environmental awareness changed the approach to these documentaries?
Technology has been transformative. Both David and the production teams have always been interested in how new tools can reveal things we couldn’t previously see—whether that’s low-light cameras, high-speed filming, or remote systems.
In the past, technology limited what we could show. Now, we can revisit animals or behaviours and reveal entirely new aspects of their lives. That’s why the work remains exciting—we’re still discovering new ways to tell familiar stories.
At the same time, our understanding of the natural world has deepened. Earlier programmes sometimes risked presenting nature as a kind of untouched paradise. We’ve become more aware of the need to show the broader context—the pressures on ecosystems and the vulnerability of species due to human impact.
However, it’s important to strike a balance. We want to tell the truth without creating a sense of hopelessness. There are real challenges, but there are also examples of recovery and positive change. Over my career, I’ve seen places that have been lost—but also places that have recovered remarkably. Both stories matter.
(From Left:) Gunton and Attenborough during production of Dynasties in Zimbabwe in 2018. (Photo: Patrick Avery)
As Sir David approaches 100, what do you see as his most important legacy?
I think he would see himself primarily as an educator. He’s always been driven by curiosity and a desire to share the wonder of the natural world with as many people as possible.
That’s his greatest legacy: helping people understand how complex and remarkable nature is. Through television, he’s made learning experiential rather than instructional—it’s about discovery rather than lecturing.
The second part of his legacy is responsibility. His work reminds us that if we value nature, we also have a duty to protect it. It’s not someone else’s job—it belongs to all of us. If you live on this planet, you share responsibility for its future.
Sharing a moment on the production of Green Planet, Croatia in 2019. (Photo: Paul Williams)
What is your fondest memory of working with him?
It’s the laughter. He has a fantastic sense of humour and is a brilliant storyteller. He’s had so many extraordinary experiences, and he tells those stories wonderfully.
Of course, the filming and the places we’ve been are unforgettable, but my strongest memories are the quieter moments—when filming ends, the equipment is packed away, and we’re back at camp or in a hotel, sharing a drink, swapping stories, and laughing together. That sense of camaraderie is what stays with me most.
To mark the extraordinary milestone of Sir David Attenborough turning 100, BBC Earth will premiere two new programmes as part of a special anniversary special. Catch Sir David Attenborough 100th Birthday Anniversary Special on 8 May, Friday at 8pm on BBC Earth on Unifi TV channel 501, Astro channel 554 and BBC Player.
