Tony Soper co-founded the BBC’s Natural History Unit and made wildlife films worldwide. Organising far-flung wildlife adventures, he was the Unit’s first wildlife cameraman and became its first film producer. He was familiar as former presenter of long-running series such as Animal Magic, Nature, Discovering Birds and Birdwatch, and subsequently narrated many National Geographic productions. In a parallel career he was one of the pioneers of polar expedition-cruising, sailing as expedition leader on icebreakers and ice-hardened vessels in the Antarctic in the austral summer and in the Arctic in the northern summer, sharing his experience with passengers. Soper accumulated over 40 years’ experience running small vessels on wildlife cruises as well as lecturing on everything from seaside tripper-boats to the largest and grandest cruise ships. His 14 books include all five editions of Bradt’s The Arctic: a Guide to Coastal Wildlife and Northwest Passage. Tony Soper died in September 2024.