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In 2007, because of a lower than expected licence fee settlement, the BBC announced major cutbacks across its factual production departments, including budget and staff cuts at the
Natural History Unit. The cutbacks were highly disapproved of by veteran broadcaster and natural history enthusiast
38:
In this role
Nightingale led the development and production of new forms of commercial content including feature films, 4D experiences, live events, interactive visitor attractions Giant Screen films, and Digital Projects. He is the co-director of two 3D feature films,
214:(2008), which followed migrating animals live, and Breathing Places, an ambitious multimedia campaign which successfully encouraged thousands of people to undertake hands-on activities with nature. He also moved the Unit into the field of feature films with
287:
Film techniques used by the
Natural History Unit came under close scrutiny in 2008 following a number of scandals in which other programme-making departments in the BBC were revealed to have 'deceived' viewers. Examples of the use of tame animals (a
304:) to simulate footage from the wild were brought to light. Nightingale rebutted accusations of misleading viewers, arguing that it is almost impossible to film certain sequences in the wild and that the Unit is open about its methods.
19:(born 6 February 1960) is a British freelance wildlife filmmaker, executive producer and creative consultant with over 35 years experience at the BBC. From 2009 to 2018 he was the creative director of
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In
January 2009 the BBC announced that Nightingale was to stand down after six years as Head of the Unit to return to programme making. He was succeeded in the role by Andrew Jackson.
186:
Under his leadership the Unit developed its reputation for innovative and ambitious natural history broadcasting. He oversaw well-received television series including
99:
in 1983 as a researcher and assistant producer in a variety of television genres, including current affairs, regional programmes, science and education.
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As Head of the
Natural History Unit, Nightingale faced down criticism over the issues of viewer deception and value for money for licence fee payers.
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226:(2007), both spin-offs from successful television series. Earth is the most successful documentary feature film produced in Britain ever.
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The following year, Nightingale defended the Unit against accusations of profligacy with regard to the production costs of the
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as executive producer. He was also executive producer of several series in the
Continents strand for BBC Two, including
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series. He later moved on to the challenges of engaging audiences with series on fossils and plants as the producer of
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47:(2014), as well as executive producer of BBC Earth's slate of theatrical and 3D giant screen films, including
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and graduated with a first class degree in
Zoology. After working as a freelance science journalist for
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series. According to newspaper reports, a production team of 94 people was based in a luxury hotel in
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production unit in the world,. He led the Unit for 6 years; from
February 2003 until June 2009.
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1016:"BBC's Natural History Unit Head Neil Nightingale to return to programme making for the BBC"
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s programmes won awards at every major international wildlife film festival as well as the
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His first natural history production credits were for a number of programmes in the
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conservation, and it has funded almost 90 projects in the UK and around the world.
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project aims to create an online database of all the world's threatened species.
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724:"Meet your planet on a grand scale as BBC Earth enters the Giant Screen market"
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1138:"Media FAQ - Is it ok for natural history programmes to use 'fake' footage?"
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Nightingale was a co-founder and vice chairman of the BBC Wildlife Fund, a
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699:"SEGA to bring BBC Earth content to life with interactive 'experience'"
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137:'s long-running flagship natural history series. Under his editorship,
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674:"'Frozen Planet in Concert' brings earthly delights at Hollywood Bowl"
252:
974:"Neil Nightingale stepping down as Head of BBC Natural History Unit"
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charity established in 2007. Its appeals raised over £3 million for
1211:
Interview with Neil
Nightingale from BBC Training & Development
615:, A & C Black, 2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014
316:"Earth - One Amazing Day" Feature Film (2017) - executive producer
281:
29:
96:
960:"Neil Nightingale appointed Head of BBC Natural History Unit"
938:"International Association of Wildlife Film-makers Directory"
210:(2009), as well as the Unit's largest-ever radio production,
120:, both of which were collaborations with veteran broadcaster
127:
In 1995, Nightingale took on the role of Series Editor for
1197:
BFI TV & Film
Database - Neil Nightingale Filmography
27:'s global brand for all BBC nature and science content.
1046:"BBC flagship Natural History Unit to be cut by a third"
940:. The International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers
319:"Incredible Predators 3D" (2016) - executive producer
170:. In 2003, Nightingale went on to become Head of the
463:
Episode "Gorilla: On the Trail of King Kong" (2002)
243:From 2002 until 2009, Nightingale was a trustee of
1044:
988:"Experience the World On The Move live on Radio 4"
865:"Kate Winslet to Narrate Oceans: Our Blue Planet"
325:"Wild Africa 3D" (2015) - director and producer
1166:""As Nature Intended", Letters, MediaGuardian"
588:Episode "The Tale of the Pregnant Male" (1988)
1109:"BBC defends cost of Big Cat Live production"
8:
322:"Earthflight 3D" (2016) - executive producer
460:Episode "Elephants: Spy in the Herd" (2003)
337:Feature Film (2014) - director and producer
579:Episode "Lost Lakes of the Pacific" (1996)
534:Nature Special, City Trees: Under the Axe?
912:"Royal Television Society Award Archives"
604:
602:
550:Episode "Beyond the Unknown Shore" (1992)
271:, a long-time collaborator with the NHU.
1080:"Attenborough: BBC nature shows at risk"
1032:. The Press Association. 8 January 2009.
383:Feature Film (2008) – executive producer
359:Feature Film (2011) - executive producer
313:"Oceans - Our Blue Planet 3D" - producer
598:
148:He went on to produce five episodes of
469:Episode "Lions: Spy in the Den" (2000)
466:Episode "Grizzly: Face to Face" (2001)
331:"Tiny Giants 3D" - executive producer
7:
1018:. BBC Press Office. 23 January 2009.
990:. BBC Press Office. 4 February 2008.
976:. BBC Press Office. 23 January 2009.
962:. BBC Press Office. 27 January 2003.
652:"The Great Salmon Run 4D Experience"
522:Episode "The Social Struggle" (1995)
404:Episode "Land of the Mammoth" (2002)
298:) and studio sets (deep sea life in
850:"EarthOneAmazing Day - Film Review"
145:award for Best Documentary Strand.
1136:Hewlett, Steve (21 January 2008).
1078:Plunkett, John (21 January 2008).
793:"IM Global inks 'Enchanted' deals"
328:"Prehistoric Planet 3D" - director
14:
1059:from the original on 18 June 2022
419:Episode "Lakes and Rivers" (2001)
1236:Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford
1107:Vidal, John (31 December 2008).
914:. www.rts.org.uk. Archived from
516:Episode "Living Together" (1995)
447:(2002–2003) – executive producer
1043:Byrne, Ciar (26 October 2007).
628:. BBC Worldwide. Archived from
585:Episode "Parrot Fashion" (1989)
284:during three weeks of filming.
582:Episode "Babies Beware" (1992)
1:
547:Episode "Other Worlds" (1992)
1256:British television producers
746:"BBC Earth Youtube Channel"
563:Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives
540:New Guinea: An Island Apart
528:Episode "Travelling" (1995)
494:– series editor (1996–2001)
486:(1998) - executive producer
480:(1999) – executive producer
441:(2001) – executive producer
414:(2001) – executive producer
399:(2002) – executive producer
391:(2003) – executive producer
375:(2010) - executive producer
367:(2011) - executive producer
351:(2012) - executive producer
308:Television and film credits
111:Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives
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519:Episode "Flowering" (1995)
513:Episode "Surviving" (1995)
505:The Private Life of Plants
431:Episode "Mountains" (2001)
117:The Private Life of Plants
1174:. London. 28 January 2008
342:Walking with Dinosaurs 3D
41:Walking with Dinosaurs 3D
1246:BBC television producers
768:"AFM sees monster deals"
525:Episode "Growing" (1995)
428:Episode "Deserts" (2001)
143:Royal Television Society
425:Episode "Coasts" (2001)
422:Episode "Jungle" (2001)
75:Oceans: Our Blue Planet
73:(2017) and producer of
1004:. BBC. 4 January 2011.
836:"Incredible Predators"
626:"Why BBC Earth Films?"
472:Episode "Tiger" (1999)
87:Wadham College, Oxford
35:
852:. Hollywood Reporter.
452:BBC Wildlife Specials
295:The Nature of Britain
85:Nightingale attended
71:Earth-One Amazing Day
33:
726:. Giant Screen Films
556:Portrait of a Planet
455:– executive producer
335:Enchanted Kingdom 3D
176:wildlife film-making
172:Natural History Unit
67:Incredible Predators
45:Enchanted Kingdom 3D
1251:British naturalists
1030:"BBC Wildlife Fund"
918:on 19 December 2013
364:Unnatural Histories
259:Defending criticism
1002:"Breathing Places"
478:Dive to Shark City
349:Great Barrier Reef
269:David Attenborough
238:endangered species
139:The Natural World'
122:David Attenborough
36:
609:NIGHTINGALE, Neil
566:(1989) - producer
558:(1990) – producer
542:(1992) - producer
536:(1995) - producer
508:(1995) – producer
500:(1996) - producer
445:Wild Battlefields
345:(2013) - director
212:World on the Move
155:Wildlife Specials
130:The Natural World
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571:Wildlife on One
484:A Winter's Tale
388:Wild Down Under
372:Birds Britannia
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301:The Blue Planet
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167:Wild Down Under
105:Wildlife on One
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1176:. Retrieved
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1226:1960 births
892:. Debrett's
890:"Quick bio"
752:14 November
748:. BBC Earth
411:Wild Africa
220:(2003) and
204:(2008) and
195:Springwatch
161:Wild Africa
60:Earthflight
56:Wild Africa
49:Tiny Giants
1220:Categories
1055:. London.
944:20 January
593:References
574:– producer
245:Wildscreen
201:Wild China
922:9 October
896:9 October
822:BBC Earth
802:9 October
777:9 October
730:9 October
217:Deep Blue
198:(2005),
21:BBC Earth
1146:. London
1117:. London
1088:. London
1057:Archived
874:27 March
678:LA Times
356:One Life
192:(2006),
77:(2018).
69:(2016),
58:(2015),
797:Variety
772:Variety
654:. Simex
290:red fox
249:Bristol
150:BBC One
135:BBC Two
62:(2016)
51:(2014)
1178:20 May
1150:20 May
1121:20 May
1092:20 May
1063:20 May
863:GSCA.
824:. BBC.
253:ARKive
251:. Its
703:Wired
438:Congo
282:Kenya
223:Earth
1206:IMDb
1180:2010
1152:2010
1123:2010
1094:2010
1065:2010
946:2009
924:2012
898:2012
876:2018
869:GSCA
804:2012
779:2012
754:2012
732:2012
710:2012
685:2012
660:2012
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207:Life
164:and
114:and
1204:at
292:in
152:'s
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