Mike Salisbury

John Michael Salisbury, OBE (29 March 1942 – 13 May 2026) was an English documentary filmmaker specialising in natural history programmes for television.

Life and career

John Michael Salisbury was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, on 29 March 1942, and raised in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

In a career spanning four decades, he spent over 30 years working for the BBC Natural History Unit where he produced a string of award-winning series, many in collaboration with David Attenborough.

He retired from the Unit in 2006 but continued to work as a freelance producer.

In 2007, he was made an OBE in the New Year Honours List for his services to broadcasting.

Salisbury died on 13 May 2026, aged 84.

Film and television credits

• Natural World strand:

Episode "Cork: Forest in a Bottle" (2008) – producer

Episode "Transylvania, Living with Predators" (2001) – producer

Episode "Wolves and Buffalo: An Ancient Alliance" (1997) – producer

Episode "Snowdonia: Realm of the Ravens" (1994) – producer

Series editor (1989–1993)

Miniseries New Guinea: An Island Apart (1992) – executive producer

Episode "Haida Gwaii: Islands of the People" (1990) – producer

Miniseries Kingdom of the Ice Bear (1985) – writer & producer

Episode "Through Animal Eyes" (1985) – writer & producer

• "Gorillas Revisited" (2006) – on-screen participant
• Life in the Undergrowth (2005) – series producer
• The Way We Went Wild (2004) – on-screen participant
• The Life of Mammals (2002) – series producer
• They Said It Couldn't Be Done (1999) – on-screen participant
• The Life of Birds (1998) – executive producer
• BBC Wildlife Specials strand:

Episode "Wolf" (1997) – producer

• The Private Life of Plants (1995) – executive producer
• Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives (1989) – executive producer
• Wildlife on One strand:

Episode "Unearthing the Mole" (1989) – producer

Episode "Shipwreck" (1980) – producer

• The Discovery of Animal Behaviour (1982) – producer
• Animal Olympians (1980) – assistant producer
• Life on Earth (1979) – assistant producer
• Animal Magic (1975) – director
• The World About Us (1974) – assistant producer

See also

• Nature documentary
• BBC Natural History Unit
• NHU Filmography
• David Attenborough
• Green Screen film festival International Wildlife Filmfestival Eckernfoerde

References

External links

• Mike Salisbury at IMDb
• Profile at WildFilmHistory
• Oral history at WildFilmHistory
• Filmography at the British Film Institute

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