BBC's Tony Soper left wife eye-watering sum as will revealed year after his death
BBC TV presenter Tony Soper left his family £628,000 in his will following his death last year at the age of 95. Tony, who specialised in presenting wildlife TV shows, had instructed his legal team to leave the six-figure sum to his wife, Hilary, with whom he shared a home in Devon.
Tony first launched his career with the broadcaster in 1947 when he landed a job as a trainee engineer. He then progressed to starting to navigate his way within radio and producing.
Through determination, Tony's first break into the world of wildlife presenting came when he stepped in as an assistant floor manager for Wild Geese in Winter, in 1954.
But he finally made his debut as a TV presenter when he landed a slot on Animal Magic alongside Johnny Morris during the sixties.
Tony then became a co-founder of the broadcaster's Natural History Unit which was launched in 1957 and went on produced a host of wildlife TV shows.
The unit was responsible for creating shows including Planet Earth, which was narrated by the iconic Sir David Attenborough.
The Sun reported that according to Tony's website he worked as a freelancer from 1963 in order to be close to the sea in Devon, where he lived until his death.
Tony's career took on many avenues as he not only became a film producer, led wildlife cruises to the Artic and Antartica, but was also an author.
Following his death last year, a string of celebrities and friend rushed to social media to pay their respects.
Lorraine Kelly posted a message on her social media that read: "On one of my very first shows presenting on TVam, this wonderful kind man came on to talk about his book on owls."
She added: "He was a joy and a delight." Wildlife TV presenter wrote: "Very sad news - Tony Soper was a huge influence on generations of birders and broadcasters."
He went on to add: "I had the huge privilege of working with Tony and getting to know him. "The last person who was there at the start of the BBC Natural History Unit - a lovely man."
Tony has left behind his wife and two sons Tim and Jack, along with his five grandchildren.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
BBC star reveals horror after landlord recorded naked images on hidden spy cam
She claims he spiked her drink the night before she discovered the device Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BBC actress has told of her horror after discovering her landlord planted a spy cam in her bathroom. The Scots star — who has appeared in prime-time comedies and dramas — found the recording device hidden in a washing basket after taking a shower. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A BBC actress (pictured) opened up on her spy cam ordeal as cops launch a probe Credit: Newsline 4 The clandestine device was stashed inside a washing basket in the bathroom Credit: Supplied 4 The performer's pervert landlord inadvertently filmed himself on his own device Credit: Supplied 4 The shocked star quickly removed the camera and fled the property Credit: Supplied She fled the flat before watching back the footage and finding intimate clips of herself — plus an image of the creep changing the memory card. Cops have launched a probe. Last night the telly star said: 'I was in a state of absolute shock. He filmed me when I was at my most vulnerable.' The performer told how she moved into the property in France last July after a break-up with a boyfriend. Her 40-something landlord — whom she believed was a drug user — soon seemed suspicious. The actress recalled: 'Something didn't feel right with him.' Later she found two holes drilled into the bathroom wall which she plugged with cotton earbuds. And the night before she found the recording device she claimed the sicko spiked her drink. She recalled: 'It was like something out of a horror movie. 'I always used to notice this little black dot in the washing basket across from the shower. 'I never in a million years thought he'd be spying on me. But given what had happened the night before, I went to have a closer look. 'My heart just stopped and I burst into tears. There was a green light flashing on the camera. 'I knew that it was on and I was being recorded.' Initially she remained in the bathroom and switched off the lights fearing the sicko could be waiting outside 'with a knife'. Eventually she packed a bag and fled the property before returning with cops days later. She eventually plucked up the courage to watch the video and was horrified saying: 'I was in complete shock.' Police said: 'The subject of the complaint is a violation of privacy by filming or recording or transmitting the image of a person of a sexual nature.'
The Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Sun
More woke madness as classic 1980s sitcom is whacked with trigger warning by ITV over ‘offensive language'
CLASSIC Ronnie Barker sitcom Open All Hours has been hit with a woke trigger warning — over lusty references to Nurse Gladys. The 1970s and 80s hit was deemed too naughty for modern audiences. 2 2 It followed the fortunes of stammering shopkeeper Albert Arkwright, played by Barker, and ran for four seasons on BBC1, with more than 15 million viewers at its peak. But catch-up service ITVX, which owns the rights, warns it 'contains language and sex references which may offend some viewers'. In an episode in season one, randy Arkwright fakes an illness to attract the attention of Lynda Baron's Nurse Gladys, who is said to have a 'tightly packed blouse'. Another in series four sees Albert's nephew and assistant Granville (Sir David Jason) place an innuendo-filled advert in the dating section of a local newspaper. Other episodes warn of 'language of the time that may offend'. Senior Tory MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke blasted: 'There are things in these shows that society has moved on from, such as racist language. 'But innuendo was and is the backbone and hallmark of some of the best British comedy for generations. This type of warning represents everything that has gone wrong in our country.' We previously reported how shows including Father Ted and The Royle Family had been hit with warnings.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Strictly star breaks down in tears and says he's ‘ashamed' after falling victim to cruel scam
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A STRICTLY star broke down in tears while revealing he fell victim to a cruel scam. TV and radio presenter Ore Oduba, 39, won the BBC dancing series back in 2016. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Strictly star Ore Oduba revealed he fell victim to a cruel scam Credit: oreodubaofficial / Instagram 4 The presenter was visibly emotional while telling his Instagram followers Credit: oreodubaofficial / Instagram 4 Ore was crowned Strictly Come Dancing winner back in 2016 Credit: BBC Taking to Instagram, the star opened up about having fallen for a scam. During an appearance on Loose Women, Ore praised US podcaster Mel Robbins and her self-help books. In particular, he told how Mel's bestselling 2024 release The Let Them Theory had "changed his life". Speaking in an emotional six-minute video, Ore shared: "I reposted that interview, I tagged the Mel Robbins podcast, tagged the Let Me theory, tagged Mel, tagged everybody who cared, and then I got an email from my agent who forwarded on an email from the team at the Mel Robbins podcast. "I could have cried - they knew who I was! I got an email from the Mel Robbins podcast team." Continuing, Ore explained how he "told Mel everything" and added: "How she had changed my life. "And I literally said at the end of the email, even for you to know who I am, is everything. Thank you so much for getting in touch." After revealing he was "ashamed and embarrassed" about falling for the con, Ore recounted how the email extended an invite to Mel's hugely popular podcast. He said: "I wrote back and I said, "Mel, I'm holding back tears. Is this for real? You must have AI helping you correspond with all of these fans." "Mel wrote back, "of course it's me - it's Mel Robbins!" So then I lost my s**t, I absolutely lost my s**t, in tears on an Avanti West Coast train from Birmingham to London, thinking that my whole life was about to change." Ore Oduba and Portia Announce Separation After Nine Years Ore recalled he "used to host a show about scammers" and had "watched enough Watchdog to last a lifetime". However, as the star said: "That doesn't stop me being in the middle of it. 'I never thought I'd be the person that would be scammed.' He realised the email came from a Gmail account - which sparked an immediate red flag. Even worse, Mel's name had been incorrectly spelled with a double 'L.' Upon contacting Mel's PR team via her official website, Ore had his fears confirmed - any correspondence sent from a Gmail account would likely be malicious. His post caption included: "Still inspired by and love @melrobbins @letthemtheory and so grateful to them for their swift response. I got lucky - it could so easily have been too late." Fellow presenter Sean Fletcher commented: "So sorry to hear this Ore. "I was excited and then so gutted for you listening to this. Important to share your story. Hope you're ok." Another follower wrote: "Oh Ore, I'm just sad that it wasn't the real Mel team for you." A third added: "Easy mistake to make because they went via your agent first!" While Ore himself remarked: "Thank you so much everybody… there's a lot of kindness out there, I see it and I'm grateful for it (dw I've deleted and blocked the drivel."
