Gillian Burke
Gillian Burke (born 1974 or 1975[1]) is a natural history television programme presenter, producer and voiceover artist.[2] She is best known for co-presenting BBC nature series Springwatch and its spin-offs since 2017.
Gillian Burke | |
---|---|
Born | 1974 or 1975 (age 48) |
Nationality | Kenyan/British |
Alma mater | University of Bristol |
Occupation(s) | producer, TV presenter |
Years active | 2000–present |
Children | 2 |
Career
Burke studied biology at Bristol University, and subsequently worked as a researcher for the BBC's Natural History Unit.[3] She worked as a producer and director on several series for Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, and as a voiceover artist,[4] before becoming a regular presenter on Springwatch in 2017.[3] As part of her role, Burke has also presented its seasonal spin-offs Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
In 2019, she hosted Nature's Strangest Mysteries: Solved (Animal Planet), and in 2020 narrated Thailand's Wild Side (National Geographic Channel).[5][6][7] In 2020, Burke became vice president of the Wildlife Trusts.[8] In 2022, Burke took a break from presenting The Watches programmes due to schedules clashing between roles.
Personal life
Burke was born in Kenya, and moved to Vienna at the age of ten.[8] Her ancestry is Afro-Trinidadian, Seminole, Mauritian and Somalian; her mother was a journalist and worked with the United Nations.[9] As a teenager, she developed an interest in wildlife through photography. She now lives in Cornwall with her two children.[3] She is an ambassador of the rainforest protection charity Cool Earth.[10]
References
- "Meet Winterwatch's new presenter Gillian Burke". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- "CREDITS". Gillian Burke.
- "Meet Winterwatch's new presenter Gillian Burke".
- "Who is Winterwatch presenter Gillian Burke?". Caroline Westbrook. Metro. 30 January 2019.
- "Nature's Strangest Mysteries: Solved, TV".
- "Thailand's Wild Side" – via www.imdb.com.
- "An Evening with Gillian Burke - Talks - What's On - The Poly at Falmouth". thepoly.org.
- Trewhela, Lee (1 December 2020). "TV presenter didn't feel she belonged until moving to Cornwall". CornwallLive. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- Gray, Interview by Susan (29 September 2017). "Gillian Burke: 'I am a product of generations of people moving between continents'" – via www.theguardian.com.
- "Ambassadors". Cool Earth. Retrieved 6 May 2020.