.jpg)
Julian Hector (born 1958) is a British television and radio producer and executive who was Head of theBBC Natural History Unit.[1] During his career, he has been producer ofDavid Attenborough's Life Stories onBBC Radio 4, producer of theTigers about the House television series, writer and producer of theLakes and Rivers episode in theBBC’sWild Africa series, producer ofWorld on the Move, and instrumental in establishing the BBC'sTweet of the Day.[2][3][4][5][6] He was described bySir David Attenborough as ‘one of the most inventive producers in radio’ and during his award of an honorary doctorate from theUniversity of Bristol was credited with bringing ‘live natural history programming toRadio 4’.[3]
Julian Alan Lowther Hector was born in 1958 in Nairobi, Kenya and educated atBedford Modern School.[3] He readZoology at theUniversity of Bristol, graduating in 1981, obtained a PhD fromBristol in 1985 and was made an honoraryDoctor of Science by theUniversity of Bristol in 2014.[3][7]
In the later stage of his days as an undergraduate, Hector worked as aseabird ecologist with theBritish Antarctic Survey inSouth Georgia, an unpopulated British island 1400 km from theFalkland Islands.[2][3] The project involved studying the breeding patterns ofAlbatrosses onBird Island under the ultimate directorship ofJohn Croxall andSir Brian Follett.[2][3] The project's work was ‘pioneering’ and uncovered whyAlbatrosses only breed every two years.[2][3] Unfortunately the project coincided with theFalklands War which led to the four-man team being stranded onBird Island[2][3] asSouth Georgia was then occupied by the Argentine Army.[2][3] The team was eventually rescued by theRoyal Navy.[2][3]
After a spell as an academic and working for various conservation organisations, Hector joined theBBC Natural History Unit in 1993 as a producer where he is credited with bringing ‘live natural history programming to Radio 4’ andSir David Attenborough described him as ‘one of the most inventive producers in radio’.[2][3] He became head of theBBC Natural History Unit[8] and has been the producer of many popular series includingDavid Attenborough's Life Stories, writer and producer of theLakes and Rivers episode in theBBC’sWild Africa series,Migration Live,World on the Move,Saving Species[9] andShared Planet,[10] at all times ‘connecting the natural and human environments to tackle questions of conservation and social justice’.[2][3] For television, in 2014 he was Executive producer of theTigers about the House series.[6][11]
Hector interviewedSir David Attenborough at theEdinburgh International Television Festival (2017) in the 60th year of the NHU about the past, present and future of the NHU and its cultural contribution to the understanding and value of the natural world.[12]
In 2019, Hector addressed the UN in Geneva at a panel on Circular Economy, Oceans and Plastics Pollution and talked about the "Blue Planet II Effect". The series full of emotional storytelling, captivated, entertained and surprised viewers and showed how devastating this very modern polluting phenomenon is having on marine creatures in our shared world.[13]
In November 2019, theChatham House Prize was jointly awarded byHer Majesty the Queen to Sir David Attenborough andBBC Studios NHU for the impact thatBlue Planet II has had on tacklingocean plastic pollution. In his acceptance speech Hector said, "No one is immune to the upheaval caused by shifting climate. …Winning this prize and recognition for the work that we do at BBC Studio's Natural History Unit feels particularly significant this year, 2019, when the environment is the biggest story of them all."[14]
Hector is credited with being one of the most influential chiefs of the Natural History Unit in its history adapting the content to serve audiences changing relationship with nature; growing the NHU business to an unprecedented level; changing the culture to fully reflect an inclusive culture and leaving a legacy that will last many years into the future.[15]
Hector was made Honorary Professor at Salford University in March 2022 (announced 17 March 2022)[16]
Julian Hector is married toMary Colwell and has five children, three from a previous marriage (Rowena, Hannah and Elkie) and two with Mary Colwell (Dominic and Gregory) and six grandchildren. He is a qualified diver, sportive cyclist and sails a Wayfarer class dinghy.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
