Plimsoll Productions strengthens its natural history unit, tapping multi-award-winning filmmaker Mark Brownlow as Executive Producer

UK-based global content creator Plimsoll Productions, an ITV Studios company, today announced the hire of multiple BAFTA- and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Mark Brownlow, renowned for his work on the acclaimed BBC-produced and David Attenborough-narrated blue-chip Blue Planet II and its successful follow-up series Frozen Planet II. He joins Plimsoll’s highly reputable, premium natural history unit as an executive producer, reporting directly into Martha Holmes, Chief Creative Officer of Natural History and Science. 

A seasoned and highly esteemed producer and director who’s credited with more than 20 ambitious natural-history titles, Brownlow has spent the last 28 years with BBC, having led the creative vision behind some of the genre’s most recognizable achievements. Fusing ground-breaking technology with a new wave of bold storytelling about life beneath the surface, Blue Planet II (BBC/BBCA) has become one of the most-watched wildlife series ever, earning numerous awards, including an Emmy and BAFTA. As executive producer, Brownlow helped catapult its 2022 successor Frozen Planet II (BBC) to enormous success in just its initial month on the air. 

Most recently, Brownlow executive produced a 10-part, yet-to-be-announced wildlife series for Apple TV+, along with Eden: Untamed Planet (BBC 2/AMC Networks) and Earth’s Tropical Islands (BBC/PBS). He produced the ‘Shallow Seas’ and ‘Freshwater’ episodes of the four-time Emmy-winning and four-time BAFTA-winning quintessential series Planet Earth (BBC 1/Discovery) and two episodes of the Emmy-winning Wild Pacific (BBC 2/Discovery). He also served as series producer for Hidden Kingdoms (BBC 1/Discovery) and directed its award-winning 3D-originated giant screen Tiny Giants (BBC). He went on to then produce two further giant-screen films, Oceans: Our Blue Planet 3D and Arctic: Our Frozen Planet (BBC). Further producer credits include Ocean Giants (BBC/PBS), Inside the Perfect Predator (BBC 1/Discovery), and prior to joining BBC, Brownlow produced Supernatural: The Unseen Powers of Animals (BBC 1) and the Emmy-nominated Weird Nature (BBC/Discovery). 

“Mark is an inspired and respected storyteller who’s behind some of the most iconic natural-history programs of our time, so it’s a huge win to bring him on board,” says Martha Holmes, Chief Creative Officer of Natural History and Science at Plimsoll Productions. “We’re eager to tap into his expertise and energy to create timely and distinct content that continues to astound and uplift audiences around the world.”

Mark Brownlow adds: “I couldn’t be more delighted to join Plimsoll which, in my view, is the most dynamic and progressive independent production company in the UK. I look forward to bringing my big blue chip innovation and storytelling experience to the mix  and help broaden its ever growing, diverse and cutting edge portfolio.”

Coming off its busiest year ever, Plimsoll is in production across 20 series, including the highly anticipated The Ascent with Alex Honnold and Great Migrations for National Geographic/Disney+. Most recently, the company appointed Alan Eyres as Head of Plimsoll USA and premiered the James Cameron-executive produced and Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated Super/Natural for National Geographic/Disney+. Other recent credits include Animal (Netflix), The Women of 9/11 (ABC), Malika the Lion Queen (Fox), When Big Things Go Wrong (History) and Tiny World (Apple TV+). 

About Plimsoll Productions:

Headquartered in Bristol, Plimsoll Productions, an ITV Studios company, is one of the largest television production companies in the UK. Its BAFTA, Academy and Emmy Award-winning team specialize in wildlife, documentary, live and factual entertainment shows and it is a global leader in natural-history programs. Since the business was founded in 2013, Plimsoll has grown rapidly with a total workforce of more than 400 across its offices in Los Angeles, Bristol and Cardiff. It is behind more than 50 series, 14 live shows and seven films, including the James Cameron-executive produced and Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated Super/Natural for (National Geographic/Disney+), Emmy-nominated Hostile Planet with Bear Grylls (National Geographic), Night on Earth (Netflix), Tiny World (Apple TV+), Handmade: Good with Wood(Channel 4), Yellowstone Live (National Geographic),  Rescue Dog to Super Dog (Channel 4), Britain’s Parking Hell (Channel 5), The Women of 9/11 (ABC), Malika the Lion Queen (FOX),  Life at the Extreme (ITV), Sit Baby Sit (Channel 4) as well as the highly anticipated The Ascent with Alex Honnold (Disney+), among many more.