Survival TV series: The nature programme with Norfolk roots

Oh and as for the puffin outside the Savoy Hotel in London…it wasn’t.

An old Anglia Television handout for the Survival nature TV series. (Image: Anglia Television)

The series went on to be called Survival and became one of the most famous and best loved natural history programmes in the world. More than 1,000 programmes were broadcast in 112 countries

This story starts in 1960 when the brilliant Anglia TV director and naturalist Aubrey Buxton – later Lord Buxton – put together a 15-minute programme from Norwich called Countryman with his friend Peter Scott and planned to follow-up it up with a new wildlife series for ITV.

Anglia TV director and naturalist Aubrey Buxton – later Lord Buxton. (Image: Submit)

Peter Scott in 1987. (Image: Newsquest)

Coypu’s – remember them? He produced a film about the South American rodents causing widespread damage on Norfolk Broads.

The problem was, money to support the series came from Associated Rediffussion in London. They didn’t fancy Coypu’s and preferred a film on “wildlife” called The London Scene.

An old Anglia Television handout for the Survival nature TV series. (Image: Anglia Television)

It was Colin Willock who given the job who was given the job to look after it…and he went on to become the head of Anglia’s natural history for the next 27 years.

Talking about that first programme he said: “To be fair we never suggested our puffin was standing outside the Thames Embankment entrance to the Savoy Hotel. We merely suggested that one had been found and then proceeded to show the bird in its wild state – in Pembrokeshire!

“The fish we filmed naturally – unnaturally – in fish tanks,” he admitted.

As for the title Tooth and Claw.

“Both Aubrey and I objected to it on the grounds that nature was not really like that. In the end we came up with Survival,” said Colin.

Alan Root seen here handling a snake, was a cinematographer for the Survival television series. (Image: Newsquest)

The second programme was made closer to home looking at the life and times of the Avocet, the wading bird nesting in our region.

While Survival filmed across the world it also turned Ted Eales, the warden at Blakeney Point, into a fine film-maker along with Norfolk farmer Chris Knights. They were presenters on Countryman for many years.

Much-admired Norfolk countryman Ted Eales with faithful companions along the nature trail. (Image: Submit)

A man closely involved with Survival was Sir Peter Scott. The only son of Scott of the Antarctic, advised on the making of a ground-breaking two-hour documentary on the wildlife but also warned of the threats to the future caused by climate change and human exploitation.

Peter Scott outside his lighthouse home on the banks of the Nene at Sutton Bridge (Image: Submit)

World-famous filmmakers Alan Root shooting on location. (Image: Submit)

Filmmakers Cindy Buxton and Annie Price. (Image: Submit)

Another great filmmaker was Aubrey’s daughter Cindy Buxton, who was filming penguins on South Georgia with Annie Price, during the Falklands War.

Such world-famous filmmakers such as Alan Root and Dieter Plage, and many more, made wonderful and fascinating wildlife films around the world. It ran for 40 years before being moved from Norwich to Bristol…and then axed.