National treasure David Attenborough celebrates his 100th birthday
The renowned TV presenter and naturalist turns 100 today
Sir David Attenborough, the beloved broadcaster, natural historian nd national treasure celebrates his 100th birthday today.
Attenborough has devoted his life to sharing the beauty and intricacies of the natural world, leaving his mark on both television and environmental awareness.
His presenting and narration have brought countless nature series to life, including iconic titles like Life On Earth and Planet Earth.
Sir David’s birthday will be celebrated with a live event at the Royal Albert Hall today featuring music from his programmes, as well as stories and reflections from public figures and leading advocates for the natural world.
"Completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings"
In a recorded audio message shared the night before his birthday, Sir David said: “I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas.
“I’ve been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings from pre-school groups to care home residents and countless individuals and families of all ages.
“I simply can’t reply to each of you all separately, but I would like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages.
Prime Minister pays tribute to “true national treasure”
The Prime Minister has called Sir David Attenborough a “true national treasure” as the naturalist turned 100.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “I would like to send my warmest wishes to Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday.
“Like millions of people across the country and around the world, I grew up watching Sir David’s programmes.
“For decades, the nation has been captivated by his passion for nature and his remarkable contribution to public broadcasting.
“He is a true national treasure and a pioneer in his field – may his work continue to inspire people of all ages for years to come.”
Fossils start Attenborough's nature interest
Born on May 8 1926, his interest in nature started as a child when he collected fossils. He went on to gain a Natural Sciences degree from Clare College, Cambridge, after attending Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester.
He served in the Royal Navy from 1947 to 1949 before joining the BBC but was initially discouraged from appearing on screen because his bosses thought his teeth were too big.
Despite their dental misgivings, he launched his Zoo Quest series in 1954.
An advocate for nature
Beyond his contributions to broadcasting, Attenborough has been a staunch advocate for environmental issues, tackling climate change and conservation long before they became mainstream concerns.
His 2000 series State Of The Planet and Are We Changing Planet Earth? in 2006 dealt heavily with environmental issues such as global warming.
His most recent work, Wild London, explores the wildlife of his city, demonstrating his enduring passion for nature and education.
A huge influence on TV
As well as his work on screen he had a glittering career off screen.
At the BBC he was appointed director of programmes with editorial responsibility for both of the BBC’s TV networks. He introduced popular sports like snooker to TV as well as the hit series The Forsyte Saga.
He was even responsible for introducing colour television to the UK.
But he could not spend too long behind a desk and even though he was tipped for the post of Director General, he quit management in 1973 to resume programme-making, declaring: “I haven’t even seen the Galapagos Islands.”
David Attenborough turning 100
As he reaches this milestone birthday, Sir David continues to be an active and respected presence in broadcasting, showcasing the wonders of the natural world to viewers everywhere.
In April, 2005, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the Queen, in recognition of exceptional distinction in the arts, sciences and other areas.
He was knighted in 1985 and made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael And St George in 2022. Over the years he has received numerous honorary degrees and a number of prestigious awards, including Fellowship of the Royal Society.
Sir David is a trustee of the British Museum, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and president of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.
In 1950 he married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel, who died in 1997, and the couple had a son and a daughter.
Sir David Attenborough's legacy is historic, as he inspires future generations to appreciate and protect our planet.
David Attenborough through the years
Marriage
David Attenborough married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel on 11 February 1950. Having graduated from Cambridge three years earlier, David was working in an educational publishing house at the time of the marriage. The couple were married for 47 years, until Jane's death in 1997 from a brain haemorrhage.
Family life
The couple had two children called Robert and Susan. Sir Attenborough has talked of his absence during their childhood due to work commitments. In an interview with Louis Theroux published in the Radio Times, he said: "If I do have regrets, it is that when my children were the same age as your children, I was away for three months at a time. If you have a child of six or eight and you miss three months of his or her life, it's irreplaceable; you miss something."
His first on screen appearence
Sir Attenborough joined the BBC in 1952 as a producer for non-fiction programmes. Prior to starting his traineeship, he did not own a television and had only ever seen one TV programme. However he quickly made his way on screen, becoming the presenter of Zoo Quest in 1954 by accident after filling in last minute as sick cover. The show filmed trips abroad to collect animals for London Zoo.
Controller of BBC Two
David Attenborough was appointed controller of BBC Two in March 1965. In the role, he oversaw the first ever colour broadcast in Europe. He also rejected Terry Wogan's job application to work on the channel, due to the fact they already had one Irish presenter.
Head of Programming at the BBC
In 1968 Sir Attenborough was appointed Head of Programming at the BBC. He was responsible for commissioning Monty Python's Flying Circus which went on to become a global phenomenon, credited with inspiring comedians around the world.
A return to programme making
During a press conference in November 1972, Sir Attenborough announced that he was stepping down as the Head of Programming in order to return to creating programmes himself. He became a freelance broadcaster, travelling to every continent in the world in order to create wildlife and nature series spanning many years.
The Life series collection
After standing down from his role, Sir Attenborough went back to creating programmes. Life on Earth was first released in 1979, which marked the beginning of the Life collection. The series was the first of its kind and saw Sir Attenborough travel the world offering insight into the wonders of the natural world. An estimated 500 million watched the programme worldwide. The collection of life series spans over 20 years.
The author of multiple books
He has written 29 books spanning from 1956 to 2020, focussing on wildlife and the environment.
A personal award from the Queen
In 2005, Sir Attenborough, who had received a knighthood in 1985 for services to broadcasting, was awarded the Insignia of the Order of Merit. This is a personal award from the Queen herself, recognising outstanding contribution to advancement of arts, learning, literature and science. Sir Attenborough received a second knighthood in 2020 at the age of 94.
32 honorary degrees
Sir Attenborough has received 32 honorary degrees from Universities across the UK.
RRS Sir David Attenborough
In 2016, a research vessel owned by the Natural Environment Research Council was named the RRS Sir David Attenborough after a public vote. The ship is not the only thing Sir Attenborough is namesake to- over 20 species and plants have been named after him, including a dragonfly called the Acisoma attenboroughi.
Multiple BAFTA wins
He is the only person to have won a BAFTA in black and white, colour, HD, 3D and 4K. He was also recognised with the fellowship award at the 1980 award ceremony.
World class narrator
Sir David Attenborough is a world class narrator, having voiced various wildlife and nature series, including Our Planet, which premiered in 2019.
Broadcaster turned activist
Nowadays Sir Attenborough is best known as both broadcaster and climate activist, and regularly speaks out on the issue of climate change. He has collaborated with fellow activists such as Greta Thunberg, and has presented at a range of high profile climate conferences, including the launch of the UN Campaign to Promote Climate Action by the People.
The Earthshot Prize
In 2020 Sir Attenborough joined forces with Prince William to launch the £50 million Earthshot Prize, which aims to encourage people to find solutions to solve some of the world's biggest environmental issues.
Speaking at a session of the UN Security Council
Sir Attenborough speaks at many events on the matter of climate change, including a session of the UN Security Council on climate and security in February 2021, which was watched virtually by leaders including Boris Johnson.
Environmental activism
Recently, Attenborough has been a key figure in highlighting the climate crisis. His 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' showed how humans and animals across all continents are affected by global warming. At the COP 26 Climate Conference, Attenborough offered cautious hope to the audience - 'In my lifetime, I have seen a terrible decline. In yours, you could, and should, see a wonderful rebirth'.
David Attenborough receives another knighthood
The broadcaster was first knighted back in 1985 by the Queen, but in 2022 he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael And St George. This higher knighthood has been given to him for services to television broadcasting and to conservation.
David Attenborough announced for Wild Isles
David Attenborough has been announced as the narrator on a new five-part series on the BBC, provisionally named Wild Isles.