BBC presenter & film producer left six-figure sum for his wife after death aged 95

The Sun

19-07-2025

A FORMER BBC presenter and film producer left a six-figure sum for his wife following his death last year, aged 95.
Tony Soper, the former BBC wildlife presenter, died in September 2024 and left a £628k fortune to his family.
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Soper left instructions in his will for his estate to pass to his wife Hilary, who he had lived with in a home in Slapton, Devon.
He was born in Southampton in 1929 and brought up in Plymouth.
It was there that he began his long career at the BBC as a trainee engineer in 1947 before progressing onto radio and producing.
His TV break came when he filled in as unofficial assistant floor manager for Wild Geese in Winter in 1954.
And his debut as a presenter was on Animal Magic with Johnny Morris in the 1960s.
He was the co-founder of the BBC's Natural History Unit which began in 1957 in Bristol and has produced countless wildlife programmes around the globe.
The unit has become world renowned and produced the Planet Earth series narrated by another wildlife icon, Sir David Attenborough.
According to his website, he started working as a freelancer in 1963 so he could live closer to the sea in Devon.
As well as a wildlife camera operator, Soper was also a film producer and went on to present a number of TV shows.
His skill in front of the camera earned him the nickname 'One-take Tony'.
BBC presenter Tony Soper introduces Birdwatch
He presented Birdwatch, Birdspot, Discovering Birds, Discovering Animals, Beside the Sea, Wildtrack and Nature.
Soper later pursued a career in leading wildlife cruises to the Arctic and Antartica.
He also penned a string of books about wildlife in the UK and further afield.
Following his sad passing last September, former colleagues flocked to social media to pay their tributes.
Lorraine Kelly said at the time: "On one of my very first shows presenting on TVam, this wonderful kind man came on to talk about his book on owls.
"He was a joy and a delight."
Wildlife presenter Stephen Moss said: "Very sad news - Tony Soper was a huge influence on generations of birders and broadcasters.
"I had the huge privilege of working with Tony and getting to know him.
"The last person who was there at the start of the BBC Natural History Unit - a lovely man."
Soper is survived by his wife Hilary, his two sons Tim and Jack and his five grandchildren.
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