National Geographic

Working Lives: Wildlife Filmmaker and Explorer

Bertie stands in a snowy landscape on a snowmobile, which is towing an assortment of goods

His latest series, Secrets of the Penguins, is now delighting viewers on ­Disney+ following its debut on National Geographic Wild earlier this year. And a new series of Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory is on the horizon.

What does the job involve?

Being in the right place at the right time to hang out with cool animals. You need help to do this – wildlife filmmaking is a real team sport.

Do you need specialist knowledge? 

Nat Geo uncovers the secrets of penguins in new wildlife series

A black and white penguin with its wings stretched out is in full view of the camera, with two penguins softly out of focus behind

Having so far uncovered the secrets of whales, elephants and octopuses, National Geographic has turned the camera towards a natural history staple – the penguin – for its latest series.

The opening episode of Secrets of the Penguins had its UK premiere in front of a packed RTS audience at Bristol’s Watershed cinema, and was followed by a Q&A.

How National Geographic is harnessing new technology to bring sharks up close

Were bringing a scientific view of sharks to the world. Theyre not villains – theyre just misunderstood.” Executive Producer Drew Jones was discussing National Geographics innovative series Shark Attack 360 at an RTS London online event in July.

The show uses 3D creation tool Unreal Engine to bring the presenter – marine biologist Dr Diva Amon – up close to virtual sharks so she can explain their behaviour and predatory characteristics.

Wildstar shines a light on the queens of the jungle

“None of us could believe it hadn’t been done before,” recalled Chloe Sarosh, discussing Wildstar Films’ natural history series about female-led societies. As the series producer and writer of Queens, she was there from the start.

Five years, 12 countries and more than 1,700 days in the field later, seven engrossing episodes have come to National Geographic and Disney+.

Factual commissioners share what they're looking for

It’s quite a shopping list, but it’s a flavour of what broadcasters are looking for in factual programming, a panel of commissioners told an audience at an RTS East event in Cambridge last month. 

Louisa Compton’s investigations unit at Channel 4 needed no more introduction than a brief clip of her recent Dispatches film on Russell Brand, but she stressed that, as well as seeking high-level, impactful investigations, she is looking for subjects to get people talking, such as Rebekah Vardy: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Me

Working Lives: Natural History film-maker

What does the job involve?

It runs all the way from the first spark of an idea, through to developing that idea, bringing in funding, to shooting the programme. I spend more time overseeing projects now, but I still get out of the office – I spent six weeks in Africa filming two shark shows for Discovery and National Geographic at the end of last year, which was a lot of fun.

What was your route into natural history filming?

National Geographic explores new frontiers in scripted shows

Racy, raunchy and risky are three words not usually associated with National Geographic. But the brand’s first foray into high-end scripted television, the 10-part Genius about the life and times of Albert Einstein, gives viewers an eyeful in its very first episode.

“Monogamy is not natural, it is a construct of religious authority,” theorises Geoffrey Rush playing the married physicist, as he pleasures a lover, pants around his ankles, pressed up against a blackboard covered in equations.

This week's Top TV: 12 - 18 September

Hooten and the Lady confront hair-raising obstacles as they travel the globe in search of hidden treasures (Credit: Sky)

Monday

Celebrity Home Secrets

ITV, 8pm


Janet Street Porter (Credit: ITV)

In this show, famous faces revisit their former homes to share memories and secrets from when they lived there.

This week we get an insight into the colourful life of Janet Street Porter as we look back at her various homes, including the ‘castle’ she built in the middle of London.