Alastair Fothergill

Alastair Fothergill is a British natural‑history filmmaker, author, and producer widely recognised for creating some of the most influential wildlife documentaries of recent decades. Born on 10 April 1960 in London, he studied zoology before joining the BBC Natural History Unit in 1983, where he worked on groundbreaking series including The Blue Planet and Planet Earth and later served as head of the unit. After leaving the BBC, he co‑founded Silverback Films, which produced landmark Netflix series such as Our Planet and its sequel Our Planet II.

As an author, Fothergill co‑wrote the companion book Our Planet alongside Keith Scholey and Fred Pearce, featuring stunning photography, maps and informative text that expand on the themes of the Emmy‑winning Netflix documentary. This book, with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough, celebrates the beauty of Earth’s ecosystems while also exploring the impacts of environmental change and the urgent need for conservation.

Fothergill’s work combines scientific insight with cinematic storytelling to engage global audiences with the natural world and inspire action to protect it.