91ɫ��Ƭ

I am Tom “The Blowfish” Hird, the world’s only heavy metal marine biologist! I work as a wildlife presenter, scuba diver and shark expert and I am extremely proud to say that my first ever showreels and pilot were recorded at Menai Bridge.

I was born and raised in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and developed a love and understanding of animals from a very early age. This love, combined with seaside holidays and the near constant Yorkshire rain, built the desire in me to investigate and explore the undersea world, so I started scuba diving as soon as I could!

I came to 91ɫ��Ƭ in 2003 to study a degree in Marine Biology. It was during this time that ‘The Blowfish’ was born. I picked up this nickname from the surf club which allowed me to combine all the loves in my life and attempt to make a difference in the world we live in. Since then, I have worked to educate, entertain and conserve the marine environment by speaking with love and passion about all the coolest critters you could ever possibly want to meet (or not!), whether it be the function of gills or the awesome power of the mighty dogwhelk!

I’ve appeared in many productions over the years, including shows for BBC, Discovery, Animal Planet, Discovery Canada, Channel 4 and ITV, as well as having been a regular on Discovery Shark Week for a number of years.

After graduation, I came up with an idea for a show and, thanks to the incredible people at Earth X TV and Off the Fence Productions, it became “Ocean Wonders”, which ran for two series. This show covers the best, boldest, wildest, weirdest, oddest, and grossest facts about the ocean, and the creatures that call it home, and is great fun! I even filmed on Church Island for it.

My TV career has allowed me to develop a trusted and unique delivery style, both above and below the water. I'm well skilled in working with live animals either in studio or on live and have even been performing my own stunts! This year, I spent 2 months out on location filming a brand-new series for a worldwide streaming service. I can’t say anything more right now but watch this space - it will be extremely sharky!

In 2017 I published my book, ‘Blowfish’s Oceanopedia: 291 Extraordinary Things You Never Knew About The Sea’, which quickly became a best seller on Amazon, as well as receiving great reviews from BBC Wildlife Magazine and New Scientist.

In 2018 I was overjoyed and extremely proud to be invited to become an Ocean Ambassador by the . This charitable role consists of working with the MCS to promote, support, and champion some of the great conservation work being undertaken to protect our oceans, working towards better seas for all and a healthy ocean for years to come. Having supported the Marine Conservation Society for a long time, being given the chance to champion their work is a true honour.

I’ve had some amazing experiences during my career and feel privileged to be able to share my passion for Marine Biology in so many varied ways. I look forward to continuing to do so!