Published by Paul Bradshaw
November 10, 2026
Executive Overview
Renowned globe-trotting wildlife presenter and conservationist Gordon Buchanan is preparing to return to UK theatres with an encore run of his acclaimed live stage show, Lions and Tigers and Bears. Set to tour throughout February and March 2027, the production offers audiences a rare, unfiltered look behind the scenes of extreme wildlife filmmaking.
In a wide-ranging, candid interview, the MBE-honoured broadcaster reflects on a career spent tracking apex predators across the globe—from Jaguars in Guyana to basking sharks off the coast of Mull. Moving beyond his landmark BBC television series such as Big Cats 24/7, Springwatch, and various Lost Land expeditions, Buchanan discusses the parallels between field journalism and theatrical storytelling, his aversion to uninspired company, unexpected celebrity run-ins with Louis Theroux, and a surprisingly robust retirement plan involving advanced home renovation.
Detailed Chronology: From Childhood Ambitions to Conservation Icon
The Early Years and the Call of the Wild
Long before he was tracking wolves through the Yukon or staring down polar bears in the Arctic, a young Gordon Buchanan harbored ambitions that ran far counter to the trajectory of a natural history documentarian. Reflecting on his childhood, Buchanan recalls an adolescent desire to become a circus clown—despite a professed personal dislike of actual clowns. Raised alongside three siblings in an environment where playfulness was a staple of daily life, this early affinity for physical performance inadvertently laid the groundwork for a career that requires equal parts patience, theatrical timing, and unyielding resilience.
Buchanan’s formal entry into wildlife filmmaking was forged in the harshest environments on Earth. Over a career spanning decades, he has built a reputation for bringing viewers intimately close to the planet’s most magnificent and formidable creatures. Honoured with an MBE in 2020 for services to conservation and wildlife filmmaking, his expeditions have taken him to the remote jungles of Guyana, the freezing expanses of northern Canada, and the coastal waters of Scotland.
The Evolution into Live Performance
Despite the physical dangers and grueling conditions of shooting in the wild, Buchanan views his transition to the stage as an extension of his core vocation: communication.
“It’s different, but the same,” Buchanan notes, speaking from his kitchen. “Whether I’m out in the supermarket and I have a little chat with somebody at the checkout… or I’m standing in front of hundreds of people in a theatre; it’s all just storytelling, and that’s what I love. It’s about sharing my experiences of the things that I care about. And I want other people to care about them too.”
Following the success of his initial theatrical outings, Lions and Tigers and Bears is returning for a heavily anticipated second leg. Buchanan takes immense pride in the production, viewing it as an antidote to passive modern entertainment. Encouraging audiences to step away from their television screens and streaming queues, he champions the value of live, shared human experiences.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Behind the Scenes of Global Broadcasting
The Perils of Studio Shooting Versus Field Work
While Buchanan’s career is defined by sweeping vistas and untamed wilderness, not every project has met with success or personal satisfaction. When asked about the worst jobs he has undertaken, Buchanan points to a five-week studio shoot involving captive reptiles and insects. Stripped of the natural elements, unpredictable animal behaviors, and authentic conservation narratives that define his best work, the controlled studio environment felt, to him, like a bureaucratic drag on his passion.
The Tragedy of Lost Broadcasts
Even the most celebrated broadcasters face the vagaries of television scheduling. Buchanan highlights a three-part expedition series filmed in Burma (Myanmar) as one of the most disheartening experiences of his professional life. Despite featuring rich biodiversity and vital conservation messages, the series suffered an unfortunate collision with global sports history:
- Episode One launched directly opposite an Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
- Episode Two clashed with a major marquee Olympic event.
- Episode Three aired squarely against the men’s 100-meter track final.
The compounding scheduling conflicts effectively starved the series of viewers, ultimately bringing an end to that specific strand of expeditions—a consequence Buchanan describes as "gutting."
Off-Screen Talents: The Handyman Extraordinary
Away from the cameras and the theatre stage, Buchanan harbors a hidden aptitude that rivals his fieldcraft: home renovation. Dismissing the term "DIY" as diminutive of his actual abilities, he asserts a high level of competency across electrical work, plumbing, and joinery. Having recently tackled complex renovations on his own property, Buchanan jokingly considers master-level handiwork as his ultimate retirement plan.
Official Statements and Q&A Insights
During his interview, Buchanan offered rapid-fire insights into his personal preferences, industry reflections, and peculiar superstitions:
- On Being Stuck in a Lift: Buchanan names comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Bob Mortimer as his ideal elevator companions, citing his allergy to "boring people" who lack conversational substance.
- On Celebrity Run-ins: He recalls a missed opportunity sitting next to Louis Theroux at Last Night At The Proms, spending the evening trying to act mature before realizing Theroux shared his mischievous sense of humor.
- On Superstitions: While moving away from traditional spirituality, Buchanan remains strictly superstitious—refusing to walk under ladders—and maintains pre-show rituals that involve dancing to music backstage to build energy before curtain-up.
- On Musical Inspirations: Demonstrating a deep connection to grassroots British music, Buchanan recently attended a concert by the traditional Scottish band Tide Lines at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, expressing immense pride in their ability to pack the venue.
Future Outlook: The 2027 Lions and Tigers and Bears Tour
As television audiences continue to follow his modern documentary efforts, Buchanan’s immediate future is firmly anchored to the live stage. The upcoming 2027 encore of Lions and Tigers and Bears promises to deliver unvarnished accounts of close encounters with nature, blending heart-stopping wildlife footage with self-deprecating humour and theatrical showmanship.
For the conservationist, the tour represents more than just a series of dates on a calendar; it is an interactive dialogue with the public about the fragile state of the natural world. By bringing the untamed wilderness directly into urban theatres, Buchanan continues to bridge the gap between remote ecological frontiers and everyday audiences, ensuring that the stories of the planet’s most vulnerable species continue to resonate far beyond the television screen.
Gordon Buchanan’s Lions and Tigers and Bears tours UK venues throughout February and March 2027.
