Tony Soper dead: BBC presenter dies aged 95 as Lorraine Kelly leads tributes to ‘wonderful and kind’ TV pioneer
BBC PRESENTER Tony Soper has died aged 95 – with Lorraine Kelly leading tributes to the “wonderful and kind” TV pioneer.
Wildlife presenter and BBC Natural History Unit co-founder Soper’s death aged 95 was announced on Wednesday.
Soper fronted nature programmes including Birdwatch and Beside the Sea.
Paying tribute, Lorraine Kelly said: “On one of my very first shows presenting on TVam, this wonderful kind man came on to talk about his book on owls. He was a joy and a delight.”
Wildlife presenter Stephen Moss said: “Very sad news – Tony Soper was a huge influence on generations of birders and broadcasters.
“I had the huge privilege of working with Tony and getting to know him.
“The last person who was there at the start of the BBC Natural History Unit. A lovely man.”
Soper is survived by his wife Hilary, their sons, and five grandchildren.
He began his BBC career aged 17 as a “youth-in-training” before becoming a radio producer.
His TV break came when he filled in as unofficial assistant floor manager for Wild Geese in Winter in 1954.
Soper went on to help establish the BBC’s Natural History Unit before making his debut as a presenter on Animal Magic with Johnny Morris.
He later presented Birdwatch, Birdspot, Discovering Birds, Discovering Animals, Beside the Sea, Wildtrack and Nature.
His long career took him on wildlife cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica.