Having spent a substantial time behind the camera, I fully appreciate the team ethic behind making TV and radio programmes and am always well prepared, willing to work incredibly hard and happy to muck in.

Having spent long periods abroad in remote locations, I am pretty resilient, exceptionally experienced and happy to work, in the words of the Martini advert, "anytime, anyplace anywhere!"

On the rare occasions where gaps permit in my presenting schedule I also work as a director and camera assistant. In 2007, for example, I spent over two months working as a Director in Arctic Canada for the BBC Natural History Unit on the Natural World film White Falcon, White Wolf.

I’m a passionate naturalist who has birded, botanized and entomologised in a huge range of countries, accumulating along the way an unparalleled expertise of British and South American wildlife. I also have a working knowledge of the nature of Vietnam, Tanzania and Arctic Canada.

I have recently trained to the level of PADI Rescue Diver & will be undertaking my HSE part 4 Qualification in 2012 to open up the potential of carrying out more underwater work in front of the cameras.

I am a hugely accomplished and entertaining public speaker with experience of giving talks and lectures to both specialist groups and general audiences and am happy addressing anything from a small intimate audience to a packed theatre. In addition to a number of established talks I have recently acted as Master of Ceremonies at a number of events.

Any of these talks (listed below) can be booked by interested groups or parties through my agent.

• My Diseases and Other Animals is a hilarious and illuminating lecture inspired by my extensive travels in the Tropics. Having spent five year in the back-of-beyond I have picked up a weird and wonderful collection of diseases such as malaria, bilharzia and leishmaniasis; leading to my nick-name of 'Britain’s most diseased man'.
• The Trials & Tribulations of a Natural History Presenter is an informative and entertaining lecture detailing everything you wanted to know about working as a wildlife presenter... but were afraid to ask.
• The Gyr Falcons of Ellesmere is a whirlwind tour around the Canadian Arctic through the eyes of one the world’s most charismatic birds of prey.
• Birds on the Beeb is a trip down memory lane of some of my favourite birding moments over the last 10 years.
• Mike Dilger Shows You How to Fly is a lesson in defying gravity!

I briefly held the Guinness World Record for "The Most Snails on the Face in One Minute". At 37, the record was claimed in Covent Garden on the set of The One Show in 2009, before being beaten later that year.

At the Rutland Birdfair I beat all other wildlife presenters to become Wild Brain of Britain 2010 and held onto the trophy at the Birdfair in 2011 – can I make it three years in a row!?

Whilst confining my activity to weight-lifting, jogging and golf, I adore watching all sport. My support for Manchester United tends to be from the comfort of an armchair, I am however a sucker for punishment in the form of a Bristol City season ticket!

I have just been delighted to accept patronage of the charity Froglife

I am Vice President of Butterfly Conservation.
Butterfly Conservation website

I am a Patron of the Essex Badger Protection Group.
Badger Protection website

I am a Patron of the Disabled Birders Association.
Disabled Birders Association website

I am a Patron of the Forest of Avon Trust.
Forest of Avon Trust website

I’m also a big supporters of The RSPB, Flora & Fauna international, The British Dragonfly Society, The Wildfowl & Wetland Trust and Rainforest Concern.