Clacton & North East Essex Arts & Literary Society

October 31st
What does it take to get some of those magic wildlife moments? The adventures, the risks, the frustrations, and the comedy………… All will be revealed when award-winning wildlife broadcaster FIONA PITCHER delves deep into her “WILDEST DREAMS”.
Sponsored by MICHAEL and JULIE PAYNE.

Fiona Pitcher a creative TV professional

 Fiona Pitcher wins business and delivers the best from people in sometimes extraordinary circumstances - leading teams and presenters up to 100-strong in the African bush, across continents and right around the UK. Fiona has many years' experience as an executive producer and commissioner on more than 50 series across all factual genres. She has been part of award winning teams - winner of BAFTA, RTS and Emmy awards. Most recently she created the BBC wildlife primetime hits Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Big Cat Week and a has been a key supplier to the One Show.

An exceptional executive producer

 As Executive Producer for the BBC Natural History Unit for almost 12 years, Fiona Pitcher has delivered high quality fast turn-round films and television formats for top shows. She generated over 250 films for the One Show and created a successful new 'animal soap' format for Big Cat Week on BBC One (peak audience 7 million).

Fiona led the biggest ever live wildlife outside broadcast - Springwatch - as well as launching Autumnwatch for BBC Two. As part of an award winning team, Fiona helped raise £5 million for the blue chip South Pacific series which won an Emmy and Best in Festival in the US and was a global hit on YouTube.

Earlier in her career, Fiona was Commissioning Editor and acting Head of BBC Learning. She spearheaded new approaches such as working for the first time with advertising agency Bartle, Bogle and Hegarty to create an adult literacy campaign with 30-second promos, Read and Write Together which won an RTS Education award. She commssioned multi-channel and cross-platform campaigns on men’s health - The Trouble with Men for BBC Two, and cancer, The Big C, for BBC One.

Fiona Pitcher is a graduate of the London School of Economics - B.Sc (Econ) in Government - First. She is also a postgraduate of the Centre for Journalism Studies, Cardiff (Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism – Distinction).

South Pacific
"If you took away the licence fee, only an infinitesimally small percentage of people would ever be lucky enough to see the wonders on display in thei fabulous six-part wildlife series.

"No licence fee and no turquoise waters, meat-eating caterpillars or happy fruit flies – and we would all be the poorer for it ..... it offers the perfect blend of reverence and accessibility."
David Chator - The Times

“Utterly fascinating”
Financial Times

“Truly magical”
Mail on Sunday

"Just look at the clip ..... could be a contender for TV moment of the year." TV Scoop

Super Slo-mo Surfer! - South Pacific - on YouTube »

Decade of Discovery
“Incredible footage ..... a startling and entertaining reminder that the age of natural wonders is far from over.”
Daily Mail

Fiona Pitcher's Agent David Foster Management