BBC host leaves eye-watering fortune to wife months after tragic death

BBC wildlife presenter Tony Soper died in September 2024 at the age of 95 and left a staggering fortune for his family. Decades after kickstarting his career as a broadcaster in 1947, he instructed his legal team that £628,000 be given to his wife, Hilary, whom he had lived with in Slapton, Devon, until his death.

Born in Southampton in 1929, Tony and his family later relocated to Plymouth, where he began his long career at the BBC as a trainee engineer before progressing to radio and producing. He navigated his way into the TV world as a wildlife presenter when he stepped in as an assistant floor manager for Wild Geese in Winter in 1954.

Tony finally made his debut as a presenter on Animal Magic with Johnny Morris in the 1960s.

The TV star is widely regarded as a trailblazer after he co-founded the BBC's Natural History Unit in 1957 in Bristol, which has produced countless wildlife programmes worldwide.

The unit has become world-renowned and produced the Planet Earth series, famously narrated by another wildlife legend, Sir David Attenborough.

According to his website, after getting married in 1960, Tony resigned just three years later and started working as a freelancer so he could live closer to the sea in Devon.

In addition to his on-screen work, the presenter became a film producer, led wildlife cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica, and is an author.

Following his death, a string of celebrities, including ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly, joined fans to pay touching tributes on social media.

She penned: "On one of my very first shows presenting on TVam, this wonderful kind man came on to talk about his book on owls. He was a joy and a delight."

Wildlife TV presenter Stephen Moss wrote: "Very sad news - Tony Soper was a huge influence on generations of birders and broadcasters.

"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 is survived by his wife Hilary, his two sons Tim and Jack and his five grandchildren.