Mike Salisbury

John Michael Salisbury was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, on 29 March 1942, and raised in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.^[1][2]

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.^[3]

In 2007, he was made an OBE in the New Year Honours List for his services to broadcasting.^[4]

Salisbury died on 13 May 2026, aged 84.^[5]

• 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

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