The Executive Producer of BBC Natural History’s “Dynasties,” Michael Gunton works for BBC Worldwide and the BBC as the Creative Director of Factual and The Natural History Unit. Mike began working for the BBC after he graduated with a first class degree in Zoology and a Doctorate at Bristol and Cambridge Universities. His work within the Natural History Unit has seen him establish the “People and Animals” output, run the Natural World strand and oversee more than 200 wildlife films, including critically acclaimed series from “Yellowstone” to “Life,” “Africa,” “Life Story,” and the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning “Planet Earth II.”
Mike’s series all have his own stamp of innovative storytelling that uses unique perspectives and pioneering technology to evoke wonder for the natural world.
“Dynasties” is about animal families and the unique situations where the family has the ability to control and dominate the landscape. However, it’s not only about the power of family, it’s also about the struggle to become the most powerful within the family.
Mike calls “Dynasties” a gritty and important journey into the natural world with an environmental subtext: “all these animals are in decline because there isn’t enough space for them. We tell incredibly dramatic stories of these animals living really difficult lives against their rivals, their enemies and each other, and that’s hard enough. But when you superimpose them also having their space taken from them by humanity, which adds to the pressure, it almost feels unfair.”
In addition to “Dynasties,” some of Mike’s recent successful projects include “Shark” (2015), “Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur” (2016), “Planet Earth II” (2016) and “Big Cats” (2017). Outside of TV, Mike has directed the Emmy Awardwinning film “One Life,” worked closely with Sir David Attenborough, and has interviewed E.O. Wilson, demonstrating his fundamental grounding in the scientific community.