James Alexander Glancy, CGC (born August 1982)[1] is a British television presenter, conservationist and former politician. He formerly served as a member of the Royal Marine Commandos and was a Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020.[2]
James Glancy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the European Parliament for South West England | |
| In office 2 July 2019 – 31 January 2020 | |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Dartmouth |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Alexander Glancy August 1982 (age 42) Surrey, England |
| Political party | Brexit (2019-2020) |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (before 2019) |
| Alma mater | St Anne's College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Conservationist/Presenter |
| Website | www |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | Royal Marines |
| Years of service | 2001–2013 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Special Boat Service |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Conspicuous Gallantry Cross |
| Occupation | Film maker |
| Years active | 2018 - present |
| Organization | Discovery Channel |
| Known for | Conservation biology |
| Notable work |
|
| Style | Documentary film |
| Awards | Conspicuous Gallantry Cross |
| Website | jamesglancey.com |
Early life and education
editGlancy was born in Surrey in 1982. Glancy studied history at St Anne's College, Oxford.[3][4] He was captain of the university's boxing team.[4] He was sponsored through university by the Royal Marines.[3]
Military service
editGlancy served in the Royal Marines and the Special Boat Service (SBS).[5] In March 2013, the then Captain Glancy was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 April 2012 to 30 September 2012".[6] The CGC is a second level UK honour, with only the Victoria Cross ranking higher for combat gallantry. He completed three tours of Afghanistan.[7]
Filmmaking
editGlancy presented the environmental show Planet SOS on the Mail Plus and hosts documentaries on National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, including Shark Week.[8]
Afghanistan
editAfghanistan is a documentary film produced by Featuristic Films, offering a detailed insight into the United States invasion of Afghanistan.
The documentary originally set out to capture Glancy's return to Afghanistan, reflecting on his experiences and pondering the worth of the U.S. invasion. However, during its production, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of American troops. This move triggered a swift offensive by the Taliban, culminating in the Afghan government's collapse.
The narrative combines Glancy's personal tales, stories from his father who mingled with the Mujahideen in the 1980s, and insights into the daily life and culture of Afghanistan. Filmed across six provinces, the documentary reveals secret interactions with Taliban members, frontline combat alongside Mujahideen and Afghan special forces, and the voices of a diverse set of Afghans—from female mountaineers to inhabitants of refugee camps, and direct confrontations with the Taliban.
Glancy expressed deep concern regarding the rapid Taliban takeover after the documentary's production, opining that their work might be among the last to capture the lives of Afghans during that era.[9]
Sharkwrecked
editGlancy co-starred in the Discovery Channel's Sharkwrecked. The show's producers wanted to set the show at the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) wreck site where one of the USA's worst documented shark attacks occurred.[10] However, owing to the scarcity of oceanic whitetip sharks in that region, the location shifted to Cat Island in the Bahamas. The revised goal delivered a conservation message in a survival documentary-style format.
The special moved to Cat Island in The Bahamas, which is one of the whitetip's last habitats. Glancy collaborated with Paul de Gelder, an Australian military veteran who lost a hand and a leg to a shark in 2009. Both shared family ties to World War naval tragedies.
The duo braved 43 hours in open seas, facing threats from sharks, sheer exhaustion, dehydration, and hunger. They relied on life jackets during nighttime to prevent separation and used a netted barrier to deter sharks.
During their filming, an unexpected shift in ocean currents doubled their distance to the coast, prolonging potential medical rescue to approximately five hours. This situation was further complicated by sporadic storms in the vicinity.
Despite the risks, Glancy observed the oceanic whitetip shark's cautious nature and the dichotomy between the creature's reputation and his lived experience. The documentary emphasised the need for conservation, noting the severe decline in oceanic white-tip shark numbers due to overfishing.[8]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | World's Biggest Bullshark? | Camera Operator/Director/Producer [11] | |
| 2021 | Great Hammerhead Stakeout | Camera Operator/Director/Producer[12] | |
| 2023 | Afghanistan | Camera Operator/Director/Producer | |
| 2023 | Squid Fleet | Additional Drone/Cinematography | Short |
| 2023 | Les oiseaux - Voyageurs du ciel | Photography | TV Series |
| 2022 | Deep Water Salvage | Camera Operator/Director/Producer | TV Series, Rated 7.7 |
Political career
editGlancy stood as a candidate in the 2019 European Parliament election for the Brexit Party. He was placed at number two on his party's list and was elected as one of its three MEPs in the South West England constituency alongside Ann Widdecombe and Christina Jordan.[14]
References
edit- ^ "James Alexander GLANCY – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk.
- ^ "The UK's European elections 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ a b Bellini, Luciana (2 February 2016). "How posh is your bodyguard?". Tatler. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Cherwell takes up…boxing with James Glancy". Cherwell. 17 October 2003. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ Coates, Sam (24 April 2019). "European elections: Leave and Remain party candidates". The Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ "No. 60456". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 March 2013. p. 5738.
- ^ "James Glancy". Military Speakers. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ a b Bierly, Mandi (25 July 2018). "43 Hours, Circling Fins, No Boat: All for the Shark Week Glory". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ Barraclough, Leo (17 August 2021). "First Look at Feature Documentary 'Afghanistan,' Featuring Former British Commando James Glancy (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ 2 men stranded in ocean for 'Shark Week' stunt (Video). 27 July 2018.
- ^ "World's Biggest Bullshark?".
- ^ "Great Hammerhead Stakeout". IMDb. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "James Glancy ImbD". IMDb. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "South West Region – 6 MEPs". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 6 December 2019.