Wildlife film-maker

Born: February 23, 1939;

Died: September 6, 2018

JOHNNY Kingdom, who has died in a digger accident aged 79, was a wildlife film-maker, photographer and writer who was best known as the star of several BBC series in which he explored the wildlife of Exmoor, although he also made programmes about Lapland and the Scottish Highlands and was a regular guest on Springwatch.

Kingdom's greatest passion was always Exmoor - it was where he grew up and where he first started making films as part of his recovery from a serious accident. He found that he loved it and began selling his films at local markets which then led to his TV career.

It was the latest in a long line of jobs. Born in north Devon, he had worked as a labourer, poacher and gravedigger, but it was while working as a lumberjack that he was seriously hurt. A hydraulic arm smashed into the cabin of his tractor, leaving him with multiple injuries.

He also became severely depressed until a friend lent him his camera. "After my accident, and the breakdown I suffered afterwards, my friend Roger Gregory lent me a video camera to help me get out and about again. So, off I went out on Exmoor and started filming. I found I loved it.

"I already knew and understood wildlife from my poaching days, so found it easy to get up close. I was soon getting some great shots. Then I began making films that I sold at our local markets. It all took off from there."

The local films led to his first television documentary in 1993 and a number of programmes for the BBC including A Year on Exmoor, Johnny Goes to Scotland, and Johnny's Year with the Birds. He also wrote a number of books including A Wild Life On Exmoor and West Country Tales. And as a photographer , he was was well-known for taking pictures of red deer - particularly stags - and badgers.

His television agent Hilary Knight paid tribute after his death, saying Kingdom was one of the last true characters of rural Britain and embodied all the attributes associated with true countrymen.

"Born and bred an Exmoor man through-and-through he loved his Devon patch and all the flora and fauna within," she said.

"He lit up our TV screens with his enthusiasm and passion. He became a very proficient photographer and cameraman and his work became very sought after."

His literary agent, Jane Turnbull, said Kingdom was a man of tremendous energy, charisma, kindness and passion for his native moor and embodied a way of life that would soon be gone forever.

In a statement, Kingdom's family asked his fans to continue his love for Exmoor.

They said: "Johnny would want you all to continue with his love for Exmoor as you all meant so much to him. As the loving man himself would have said: 'Farewell to all you lovely people'."

Johnny Kingdom died at Knowstone, Devon in an accident involving a digger and is survived by his wife and two sons.