“Dyslexia is my superpower.” Strictly champ Hamza Yassin on his childhood heroes, living in the Scottish Highlands and how he mastered wildlife photography

“To even be mentioned in the same sentence as him is an honour.”  Hamza Yassin has quietly shared a moment that left fans emotional — admitting he would love to carry on the legacy of Sir David Attenborough, while making it clear that no one could ever replace him. Inspired by giants like Steve Irwin and conservation “patron saint” Sir Peter Scott, Hamza now lives in a remote Scottish village surrounded by deer, otters and eagles — choosing nature and community over spotlight. He says dyslexia isn’t a weakness, but his secret weapon, allowing him to read the land, predict animal behavior, and capture moments others would miss. This isn’t about fame or replacing legends — it’s about picking up the baton, running with it, and one day passing it on. And suddenly, fans are asking… could this be how the next era of wildlife storytelling begins?

Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin’s new book inspires us to discover natural wonders on our doorstep

Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin’s latest book inspires us to discover natural wonders closer to home. Margaret Bartlett chats to him about life in the UK, childhood heroes and why he considers his dyslexia his “superpower”.

What did you find most surprising about moving to the UK at the age of eight?

The UK was a far-flung and exciting-sounding place I’d heard of as a boy growing up in Sudan. I think it’s part of the reason why the UK will forever remain a source of wonder to me. The thing that most surprised me was the seasons. Near the equator, autumn, spring, summer and winter are basically meaningless.

As a young aspiring wildlife photographer, who were your heroes?

Sir Peter Scott is one, alongside Sir David Attenborough, Steve Irwin, Dame Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. But it was Sir Peter who helped guide me towards the career I chose. He presented the BBC’s first natural history programme live from his lounge. In 1961, he designed the famous panda logo for the celebrated organisation he helped to establish: the World Wildlife Fund [now WWF].

Sir Peter also invented the rocket net, used to catch birds safely so they can be recorded, tagged and treated. In 1973, he became the first person to be knighted for services to conservation. You can see why his pioneering work so influenced Sir David Attenborough, who famously called Peter the “patron saint of conservation”.

What attracted you to live in a remote spot in the Scottish Highlands?

First, the views are incredible. For nature lovers, there’s no better place: there’s a good chance you’ll see a stag, an otter and an eagle from your doorstep! Second, it’s a community like no other. We all have our parts to play. It’s one of the reasons Scotland felt like home so quickly. In my small village, we want to help each other with whatever skills we possess. If there’s anything I can do, I will do it.

Do you think having dyslexia has helped you become a good observer of wildlife?

I genuinely see dyslexia as my superpower. As a young person, I started being very aware of the world around me and realised I was good at picking up patterns, and nuances within those patterns, and that has been so helpful in my work as a cameraman. For example, if I notice a crow behaving unusually, my brain scans for possible dangers she and her chicks might face – I expect a peregrine falcon to appear, and the crow to respond by mobbing together with others to see off the threat. It means I’m there and ready with the camera.

The combination of having to find creative workarounds for dyslexia and the nature of my work makes me finely attuned to behaviour.

How can we discover more local wildlife?

If there’s one thing Covid lockdowns taught us, it’s how much we value the natural world. That one hour outside was the highlight of everyone’s day. There were no cars on the roads, and the night sky became clearer. Birdsong sounded more beautiful because we tuned into it. We became grateful for green spaces; we focused on what’s important. That’s what being in nature is all about: just step outside and find a new wonder!

Hamza’s latest book, Homeward Bound: The Joy of Nature and My Life Outdoors (published by Gaia) is out now.