Black and white portrait of a middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing a dark blazer over a T-shirt.

Duncan McAlpine

Co-CEO

With over four decades in television, Duncan McAlpine brings deep creative and editorial experience to the Call of the Wild Network. His work focuses on developing original, intelligent ideas that resonate with audiences, excite commissioning editors, and align with the values and purpose of the Network.

Duncan began his career at BBC Drama, where he quickly learned the realities of television production — including an early stint herding Daleks through Hammersmith. Since then, he has worked across a wide range of genres and formats, building a reputation for shaping ideas into compelling, broadcaster-ready projects.

In 2001, Duncan created Britain’s Worst Driver, a format that went on to achieve long-running international success and continues to be produced around the world. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a rare ability to balance entertainment with relevance, developing programmes that are topical, engaging, and distinctive.

At the Call of the Wild Network, Duncan is driven by collaboration. He thrives on working with creative, intelligent teams to refine ideas and turn strong concepts into projects that broadcasters are fully committed to supporting. He believes that great development is not just about having ideas, but about understanding how to shape them so they can travel, endure, and make impact.

Outside of work, Duncan’s lifelong love of popular culture remains undiminished. Inspired early by shows such as Doctor Who, Thunderbirds, and Batman, he is also a dedicated Batman collector and an occasional backing singer, having performed with artists including Noel Gallagher and Ray Davies — even appearing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

Duncan’s guiding principle, in television and in life, is simple: kindness matters. His favourite quote reflects this ethos:
“This above all, to thine own self be true.”Duncan’s guiding principle — in television and in life — is simple: kindness matters. His favourite quote reflects this ethos: “This above all, to thine own self be true.”