Keith Scholey
Encyclopedia
Keith Scholey is a British producer of nature documentaries
for television and cinema, and a former television executive. He is currently directing the feature film African Cats
for Disneynature
, in partnership with Alastair Fothergill
. He is also the executive producer of the series 'North America' for the Discovery Channel
.
in 1978 and subsequently completed a PhD in Zoology at the same university. In 1983, he began working as a researcher at the BBC Natural History Unit
on David Attenborough
’s series ‘The Living Planet
’. He rose to become a producer in this BBC department, making programmes for ‘The Natural World’ and ‘Wildlife on One
’ series as well as for David Attenborough
’s award winning series 'The Private Life of Plants
’. He also created and produced the original series of ‘Big Cat Diary
’, which has continued for over a decade, began and series produced the ‘Wildlife Specials’ and became the series editor of ‘Wildlife on One
’.
In 1998, Scholey became the Head of the Natural History Unit. During his four and a half year tenure, the NHU made the memorable David Attenborough series ‘State of the Planet’ and ‘The Life of Mammals
’, and also ‘The Blue Planet
’, ‘Andes to Amazon
’ and ‘Wild Africa
’. The department also reinvented its live broadcasting creating ‘The Abyss - Live’ and “Springwatch’.
In 2002, Scholey became the Controller of Specialist Factual for the BBC
’s Factual and Learning division. With responsibility for Science, Arts, Business, History, Religion as well as Natural History departments, he oversaw programmes with a range from landmark programming including, ‘Auschwitz’, ‘Planet Earth
’, ‘Egypt’, ‘Supervolcano’ and ‘The Power of Art’ to the classic long running series of Horizon, Timewatch, Natural World, and Arena and live events including the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
In 2006, Scholey became the Controller of Factual Production for BBC
Vision, with the responsibility for all BBC Factual in-house production. During this time, he oversaw the creation of ‘The One Show
’, the biggest factual commission in the organisation's history. He was also the Deputy Chief Creative Officer for BBC
Vision Productions, with responsibilities across all in-house TV production. In 2008, he resigned from the BBC to pursue a career as an independent film director and television producer.
In recent years, Scholey has directed and produced the feature film African Cats
for Disneynature
, which is due to be released in the USA on Earth Day, 22 April 2011.(6) He is also the executive producer on the landmark Discovery Channel
series 'North America', through his company Wild Horizons Ltd.
Scholey was made a Doctor of Science (DSc) in 2001, by the University of Bristol
for his contribution to the public and to biological sciences. He is a trustee of Wildscreen
. Scholey is a qualified SCUBA diver and pilot.
Nature documentary
A natural history film or wildlife film is a documentary film about animals, plants, or other non-human living creatures, usually concentrating on film taken in their natural habitat...
for television and cinema, and a former television executive. He is currently directing the feature film African Cats
African Cats
African Cats is a nature documentary film directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill about several lions and cheetahs trying to survive on the African savannah. The film is the fourth release by Disneynature, and was released in theaters on Earth Day, April 22, 2011. The film is narrated by...
for Disneynature
Disneynature
Disneynature is an independent film label of The Walt Disney Company, founded on April 21, 2008 as a division of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group...
, in partnership with Alastair Fothergill
Alastair Fothergill
Alastair Fothergill is a producer of nature documentaries for television and cinema. He is the executive producer of the multi-award winning series The Blue Planet and Planet Earth and the co-director of the associated feature films Deep Blue and Earth.Fothergill attended Harrow...
. He is also the executive producer of the series 'North America' for the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
.
Career
Scholey graduated from Bristol University with a degree in ZoologyZoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
in 1978 and subsequently completed a PhD in Zoology at the same university. In 1983, he began working as a researcher at the BBC Natural History Unit
BBC Natural History Unit
The BBC Natural History Unit is a department of the BBC dedicated to making television and radio programmes with a natural history or wildlife theme, especially nature documentaries...
on David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
’s series ‘The Living Planet
The Living Planet
The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth is a BBC nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, first transmitted in the UK from 19 January 1984....
’. He rose to become a producer in this BBC department, making programmes for ‘The Natural World’ and ‘Wildlife on One
Wildlife on One
Wildlife on One was the BBC's flagship natural history programme, first broadcast in 1977. Each programme ran for half an hour. The narrator was Sir David Attenborough. When repeated on BBC2, the programmes were retitled Wildlife on Two. The programme was terminated in 2005.The 2003 season...
’ series as well as for David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
’s award winning series 'The Private Life of Plants
The Private Life of Plants
The Private Life of Plants is a BBC nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, first shown in the UK from 11 January 1995....
’. He also created and produced the original series of ‘Big Cat Diary
Big Cat Diary
Big Cat Diary, also known as Big Cat Week or Big Cat Live, is a long-running nature documentary series on BBC television which follows the lives of African big cats in Kenya's Maasai Mara. The first series, broadcast on BBC One in 1996, was developed and jointly produced by Keith Scholey, who would...
’, which has continued for over a decade, began and series produced the ‘Wildlife Specials’ and became the series editor of ‘Wildlife on One
Wildlife on One
Wildlife on One was the BBC's flagship natural history programme, first broadcast in 1977. Each programme ran for half an hour. The narrator was Sir David Attenborough. When repeated on BBC2, the programmes were retitled Wildlife on Two. The programme was terminated in 2005.The 2003 season...
’.
In 1998, Scholey became the Head of the Natural History Unit. During his four and a half year tenure, the NHU made the memorable David Attenborough series ‘State of the Planet’ and ‘The Life of Mammals
The Life of Mammals
The Life of Mammals is a nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, first transmitted in the UK from 20 November 2002....
’, and also ‘The Blue Planet
The Blue Planet
The Blue Planet is a BBC nature documentary series narrated by David Attenborough, first transmitted in the UK from 12 September 2001.Described as "the first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world's oceans", each of the eight 50-minute episodes examines a different aspect of...
’, ‘Andes to Amazon
Andes to Amazon
Andes to Amazon is a nature documentary TV series co-produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, England and Animal Planet, first transmitted in the UK on BBC2 in November 2000. In other territories it was sometimes broadcast under the title Wild South AmericaEach of the six 50-minute...
’ and ‘Wild Africa
Wild Africa
Wild Africa is a BBC nature documentary series exploring the natural history of the African continent, first transmitted in the UK on BBC2 in November 2001.The series comprises six episodes. Each concentrates on a particular environment...
’. The department also reinvented its live broadcasting creating ‘The Abyss - Live’ and “Springwatch’.
In 2002, Scholey became the Controller of Specialist Factual for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
’s Factual and Learning division. With responsibility for Science, Arts, Business, History, Religion as well as Natural History departments, he oversaw programmes with a range from landmark programming including, ‘Auschwitz’, ‘Planet Earth
Planet Earth (TV series)
Planet Earth is a 2006 television series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit. Five years in the making, it was the most expensive nature documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC, and also the first to be filmed in high definition...
’, ‘Egypt’, ‘Supervolcano’ and ‘The Power of Art’ to the classic long running series of Horizon, Timewatch, Natural World, and Arena and live events including the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
In 2006, Scholey became the Controller of Factual Production for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Vision, with the responsibility for all BBC Factual in-house production. During this time, he oversaw the creation of ‘The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
’, the biggest factual commission in the organisation's history. He was also the Deputy Chief Creative Officer for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Vision Productions, with responsibilities across all in-house TV production. In 2008, he resigned from the BBC to pursue a career as an independent film director and television producer.
In recent years, Scholey has directed and produced the feature film African Cats
African Cats
African Cats is a nature documentary film directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill about several lions and cheetahs trying to survive on the African savannah. The film is the fourth release by Disneynature, and was released in theaters on Earth Day, April 22, 2011. The film is narrated by...
for Disneynature
Disneynature
Disneynature is an independent film label of The Walt Disney Company, founded on April 21, 2008 as a division of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group...
, which is due to be released in the USA on Earth Day, 22 April 2011.(6) He is also the executive producer on the landmark Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
series 'North America', through his company Wild Horizons Ltd.
Scholey was made a Doctor of Science (DSc) in 2001, by the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
for his contribution to the public and to biological sciences. He is a trustee of Wildscreen
Wildscreen
Wildscreen is an educational charity based in Bristol, England, working globally to promote the conservation of nature, and the public’s appreciation of biodiversity, through wildlife imagery....
. Scholey is a qualified SCUBA diver and pilot.
Producer
- Big Cat DiaryBig Cat DiaryBig Cat Diary, also known as Big Cat Week or Big Cat Live, is a long-running nature documentary series on BBC television which follows the lives of African big cats in Kenya's Maasai Mara. The first series, broadcast on BBC One in 1996, was developed and jointly produced by Keith Scholey, who would...
(1996) - Natural Neighbours: Invasion of the Tree Smashers (1996)
- Dawn to Dusk: Elephant Back Safari (1996)
- Wildlife on OneWildlife on OneWildlife on One was the BBC's flagship natural history programme, first broadcast in 1977. Each programme ran for half an hour. The narrator was Sir David Attenborough. When repeated on BBC2, the programmes were retitled Wildlife on Two. The programme was terminated in 2005.The 2003 season...
: Reef Encounter (1996) - The Private Life of PlantsThe Private Life of PlantsThe Private Life of Plants is a BBC nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, first shown in the UK from 11 January 1995....
(1995) - Wildlife on OneWildlife on OneWildlife on One was the BBC's flagship natural history programme, first broadcast in 1977. Each programme ran for half an hour. The narrator was Sir David Attenborough. When repeated on BBC2, the programmes were retitled Wildlife on Two. The programme was terminated in 2005.The 2003 season...
: Malice in Wonderland (1994) - Natural WorldNatural WorldNatural World is the longest-running nature documentary series on British television. 2008 marked the series' 25th anniversary under its present title, though its origins can be traced back to its predecessor The World About Us which began over 40 years ago...
; Island of the Ghost Bear (1994) - Prisoners of the SunPrisoners of the SunPrisoners of the Sun is the fourteenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. It is a continuation of The Seven Crystal Balls, and is one of very few Tintin...
(1992) - Natural WorldNatural WorldNatural World is the longest-running nature documentary series on British television. 2008 marked the series' 25th anniversary under its present title, though its origins can be traced back to its predecessor The World About Us which began over 40 years ago...
: Running for their Lives (1990) - Wildlife on OneWildlife on OneWildlife on One was the BBC's flagship natural history programme, first broadcast in 1977. Each programme ran for half an hour. The narrator was Sir David Attenborough. When repeated on BBC2, the programmes were retitled Wildlife on Two. The programme was terminated in 2005.The 2003 season...
: Haunted Huntress (1990) - Natural WorldNatural WorldNatural World is the longest-running nature documentary series on British television. 2008 marked the series' 25th anniversary under its present title, though its origins can be traced back to its predecessor The World About Us which began over 40 years ago...
: Island in the Air (1989) - The Great Rift (1988)
Series Editor
- Wildlife on OneWildlife on OneWildlife on One was the BBC's flagship natural history programme, first broadcast in 1977. Each programme ran for half an hour. The narrator was Sir David Attenborough. When repeated on BBC2, the programmes were retitled Wildlife on Two. The programme was terminated in 2005.The 2003 season...
(1994 to 1997) - Wildlife Specials (1997)
- Nature Specials (1997)
External links
- Disney: African Cats www.disney.com/africancats
- Wild Horizons www.wildhorizonsltd.com