John Downer
Director, Producer, Writer
A passionate zoologist, John has been making nature documentaries for the BBC for over 30 years. He made his name by abandoning the traditional style of nature documentaries and pioneering a highly inventive subjective approach using new technology and dramatic story-telling techniques
His innovative approach to filmmaking has brought him numerous international awards for series such as Supersense, Weird Nature, Earthflight and Penguins – Spy in the Huddle. Never afraid to experiment, his first music video, for Peter Gabriel, even won a Grammy
His innovative approach to filmmaking has brought him numerous international awards for series such as Supersense, Weird Nature, Earthflight and Penguins – Spy in the Huddle. Never afraid to experiment, his first music video, for Peter Gabriel, even won a Grammy
Known For
Filmography
| 2004 | The Way We Went Wild · as Self |
| 2000 | BBC Breakfast · as Self |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno · as Self - Guest |
| 1979 | Antiques Roadshow · as Self |
| 1975 | Länder - Menschen - Abenteuer · as Self |
| 1968 | 60 Minutes · as Self - Wildlife Filmmaker (segment: Spy On Ice) |
| 1952 | Today · as Self - Guest |
| 2023 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2009 | |
| 2008 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1975 | |
| 1962 |
| 2019 | Serengeti · as Executive Producer |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | Snow Bears · as Executive Producer |
| 2017 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2008 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1982 |
| 2019 | Serengeti · as Storyline |
| 2011 | Earthflight · as Series Producer |
| 2009 | Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasions · as Series Producer |
| 2004 | Bears: Spy in the Woods · as Written By |