Ahead of his Irish tour next month, wildlife presenter and cameraman Gordon Buchanan tells TEN's Harry Guerin about earning a living in the great outdoors.
Harry Guerin: Was there a light bulb moment when you said, 'I'm going to devote my life to wildlife'?
Gordon Buchanan: I always loved watching wildlife films and spending time outdoors. At the age of 17 I met Nick Gordon, an acclaimed filmmaker. I hadn't considered this as a career, but as I found out more about it, I wanted to do his job. I had to jump through hoops to convince Nick to take me on as his assistant. He did, and I found out that jumping through hoops was the easy part!
Did carving out such an unusual career seem a bit outlandish at first, or did you always know it would happen?
I always wanted to leave the island [The Isle of Mull in western Scotland] where I grew up and explore more of the world. Definitely at first it was a little crazy to go straight from school into a year-and-a-half living in the forests of Sierra Leone in West Africa. But I've been doing it so long that 'normal' to me probably isn't that normal to most people.
Early on, who were the biggest influences on your work and who helped you the most?
Nick Gordon was a huge influence. I spent five years almost glued to his side. Not easy to work and live so closely with someone in that way but we became great friends, had a laugh every day and worked incredibly hard. The high standards that Nick set and expected from me are something that has defined my work ethic through life.
What are your favourite places you have visited?
I've been to the Arctic a few times now and I absolutely love it. The sense of freedom is unparalleled. There is literally no one there. Long may that last. The animals that live in the Arctic are true survivors so I have a huge admiration for their ability to survive in a place where we humans really struggle.
What was the scariest situation you've found yourself in during the course of your work and what did you learn about yourself from it?
A rafting trip in Alaska was about the scariest thing I've ever done. It was a river that had never been explored and descended before so we didn't have a map of the rapids. We underestimated the severity and danger of the river. What was supposed to take three days took 12. We flipped boats almost daily, lost communications with the outside world and ran out of food. I forgot the cub scout code 'Be Prepared'.
Your job involves a lot of travelling - do you find it hard to settle back into a normal routine when you get back home or of crave it?
I get 12 hours' decompression time after a trip, then it's back to being a dad and husband. I fit really quite well into both parts of my life and try to enjoy them both equally. I love spending time with the kids and seem to have got the balance right between home and the rest of the world!
As part of your job there's a lot of waiting around - do you do much soul-searching in the depths of winter and blazing heat while you're waiting for something to happen?
No soul-searching. I just try to enjoy the moment wherever I am. I love what I do and it's easy to enjoy my job if like travelling to wild places. It's great to be in places free of all the stresses of normal life.
What do you think the biggest misconception is about your line of work?
I suppose that it is fundamentally dangerous. Respect of the animal and experience teaches you to stay safe in even the most edgy-looking situations.
What can people expect from your Irish shows?
Excitement, adventure, the weird, the wonderful, the feathered, the furry and hopefully a few laughs thrown in!
Tell us about your upcoming BBC series The Snow Wolf Family and Me.
I spent three months getting to know a pack of wolves in the Canadian Arctic this summer. Wolves are a lot less like dogs and a lot more like us than you'd ever image.
When I look at wolves' eyes on TV I think, 'These animals can look right into people's souls'. Does that sound completely ridiculous?
Not at all! The things that make wolves happy, make us happy. The fears that wolves have, we share. We find it easy to understand them and in turn I think they understand us. Our existence together goes a long way back: we have been their primary enemy as far back as we shared the land together.
Apart from all the amazing animals you've 'met' what are some of the highlights in terms of people you've encountered along the way?
It's hard to beat meeting a reformed cannibal in Papua New Guinea. He gave me a lovely recipe that only the most committed carnivore would appreciate... The best thing about travelling around the world is that you can find interesting eccentric people wherever you find people.
Is there one dream project that's on your bucket list?
I'd love to travel to Antarctica to film underwater. I've spent a lot of time in the Arctic. So now I've seen what life is like at the tip of the world, I'd like to see what life is like at the bottom of the world.
A lot of people, as they get older, seem to become more and more attached to wildlife - even if it's just watching on TV. Have you any theories on this?
We live lives that are so detached from the natural workings of the world. I think as we age we realise and appreciate the simple pleasures and lessons that wild places and animals can offer. It's uncluttered and perfect in such a diverse and interesting way that I think that folk reach out to that in an attempt to make sense of all life.
Tour Dates Gordon Buchanan: Lost Adventures
Tuesday November 11 - Lyric Theatre, Belfast (7.30pm)
Wednesday November 12 - An Grianán, Letterkenny (7.30pm)
Thursday November 13 - Royal Theatre, Castlebar (8pm)
Friday November 14 - Station House, Clifden (8pm)
Saturday November 15 - Town Hall Theatre, Galway (8pm)
Monday November 17 - St Michael’s Theatre, New Ross (8pm)
Tuesday November 18 - Theatre Royal, Waterford (8pm)
Wednesday November 19 - Glór, Ennis (8pm)
Thursday November 20 - Triskel Christchurch, Cork (7.30pm)
Friday November 21 - George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow (7.30pm)
Saturday November 22 - Axis, Ballymun, Dublin (8pm)
