Interview
Stuck In A Lift
Gordon Buchanan could fix your bathroom taps
The globe-trotting wildlife presenter chats clown wigs, Louis Theroux and crack DIY skills ahead of his new live tour
“You know you’re getting old when grown adults have never heard of The Wizard Of Oz…” laughs Gordon Buchanan, back with an encore run for his hit live tour, Lions and Tigers and Bears, and still struggling not to say “oh my!” every time someone mentions it.
Best known for bringing us close to the world’s most amazing animals on landmark TV shows including Big Cats 24/7, Springwatch, the Lost Land expeditions and the …Family & Me films, Buchanan received an MBE in 2020 for services to conservation and wildlife filmmaking. He’s tracked jaguars through Guyana, raced huskies through the Yukon and kayaked with basking sharks off Mull, so it’s safe to assume he’s got a few good stories to tell.
“It’s different, but the same,” he says, speaking to us from his kitchen, weighing up the differences between his day job and his UK stage tour. “It’s all about communication, and I think that’s what I love about everything I do. Whether I’m out in the supermarket and I have a little chat with somebody at the checkout, or I’m posting something on my social media, or I’m standing in front of a camera and presenting a wildlife program, 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.”
Promising uncut tales from the frontline of wildlife filmmaking, Buchanon is bringing Lions and Tigers and Bears back for a second run of UK shows in 2027 – with dates booked throughout February and March. “It is a really entertaining evening for people, and it’s fun,” he says. “I think that’s the good thing about taking this particular show back on the road – I know that it works and, genuinely, I’m more proud of this than probably anything I’ve ever done.
“Too many evenings just sit in and watch Bake Off or catch up on Traitors. But I’m always just so glad when I put aside the time and do something instead. And I’m so grateful that people are interested enough to come and see this show. You can sit at home and watch TV anytime!”
Before he gets back on the road, or back behind a camera, we asked Buchanon the big questions…
Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?
I’m thinking maybe Bob Mortimer. No, actually, hang on… Romesh Ranganathan. When he first popped up I really liked that guy, and my love has only grown over the years. So Romesh. And if he wasn’t available, or if he got into the other lift, Bob Mortimer. For the same reasons.
Who would you least like to be stuck in the lift with?
Probably people that I’ve worked with…! [laughs] No, just someone that’s boring, I think. I mean, even if you say, “I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a lift with Donald Trump”, I think, well, actually, that would be an experience – and at least it wouldn’t be boring. I’m allergic to anyone who doesn’t have anything to say for themselves. And I don’t mean shy or retiring people of course, because it’s not always about saying things out loud. I just fundamentally don’t like boring people, and I definitely wouldn’t want to be stuck in a lift with them.
What’s the weirdest interaction you’ve ever had with a famous person or celebrity?
This isn’t weird, but it was a missed opportunity. I got invited to Last Night At The Proms. The BBC has a box, and years ago I got invited along. I sat down, and sitting beside me was Louis Theroux. I always loved his programs, but I didn’t realise how funny he was and how mischievous he could be. This was way before his podcast or anything like that, so I just thought he was very straight and studious. So I wasted a whole evening in his company trying to be mature and grown up, which I’m not, and I think he was doing the same.
What about a famous animal? Michaela Strachan met a celebrity dolphin, apparently.
I met Hollywood’s number one acting chimpanzee once. But that just made me fundamentally sad. This poor intelligent being was just pimped out for TV adverts and movies – there was just a complete lack of respect for who he was. I think probably because he was really sociable. And he was obviously good his job, which was to make money.
Which work of yours didn’t get the attention that you think it deserved?
There are certain projects I’ve done where it’s as if they never happened. I think the perfect example of that was an expedition that we did to Burma. It was three-part series, with lots of amazing wildlife. It’s an amazing place, and the people are phenomenal. I can’t remember what year it was, but it was an Olympic year, and the producer got in touch and told us episode one was going out at the same time as the opening ceremony… You know, leaving money aside, people are putting blood, sweat and tears into these projects, and there were really important messages of conservation too, so obviously you want as many people to see it as possible.
And then the second episode clashed with another major Olympic event, I can’t remember what the event was, but it was a big one. And then on the third week, it was the men’s 100 meters… So nobody saw that expedition, and it actually put an end to the whole strand. That was the last expedition we did. We did maybe five of those series, and that was the last one. Gutting. Just gutting.
What did the 12-year-old you imagine that you would be doing now?
Bizarrely, I wanted to be a clown. And I don’t like clowns, so I don’t know where that came from. I just thought that I would maybe make a good one. I was tuned out at school, so I just probably thought, “Oh God, everyone has to get a job, and getting a job is boring.” Whereas I’ve managed to get to this age without really having to ever get a proper job, or certainly a job that’s boring!
Did you ever do anything towards becoming a clown? Did you learn any circus skills?
No. I cut a football in half and put it on my head. Then I put on a red nose and that was about it. I think with three siblings clowning around was a big part of our childhood. And adulthood! [laughs]
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I’ve had to do lots of things as part of my job that are not that pleasant. I did a five-week studio shoot for a series once, and when I got the job, I was like, “Oh, that’s great! It’s sort of interesting… It’s working with this lizard or that reptile or that insect…” But I realised it was actually five weeks of filming animals in captivity, in a studio, and it just basically stripped away everything that I loved about working with animals and making wildlife documentaries. It was the closest I’ve got to this job ever feeling like a bit of a drag.
What’s the skill that no one else knows that you’re great at?
I am an incredible handyman. When it comes to DIY… I don’t even like call it DIY because that belittles my skillset. I’m only saying this because I’ve been doing a lot of work in my new place and people are always amazed that I’ve done it myself. It’s only a bit of electric. It’s only a bit of plumbing. Only a bit of joinery. And what I’ve learned over the last few weeks is that I’m pretty good at all of this this stuff, to the point that… I’m going out on a limb here… I’m actually better than a lot of plumbers and joiners and electricians that I’ve employed.
That’s at least three fallback careers for you there then?
Well, do you know what? Actually, that’s sort of my retirement plan. If I was to ever retire, I could just sort of tout myself out as a handyman.
What’s the last gig or show that you went to?
The last gig I went to was to a band called Tide Lines. I think most of them are from the west coast of Scotland, and when I was on Mull, on holiday in the summer, somebody got me and my son tickets to see them at Bunessan Village Hall, which is where Ross, the keyboardist and one of the songwriters, is from. When I was there I realised it was their road to the Hydro, so I booked tickets to that too. We went a couple of weeks ago, and it was amazing. I was so proud, and I don’t actually know any of the boys, but I was just brimming with pride that this traditional Scottish band could pack Scotland’s biggest venue, rocking thousands of people. It was fab.
Have you got any superstitions?
I’m less and less spiritual. But I am very superstitious. I never walk under ladders.
You might need to if you become a handyman.
True, but I’ll still always just walk around it. I have pre-show rituals I need to stick to too. Before I go on stage, when I get to the venue and set everything up, I’ll often need to put on some music to get my vibe on. I’ll just dance about like an idiot to kind of energise me. That, and not drinking too much water, as you don’t want to be on stage and need to answer the call of nature…
