Search
Showing results for “David Attenborough”
Jump to a topic
David AttenboroughDavid Frederick Attenborough is a broadcaster and writer, best known for presenting documentary series and films on the natural world. With his narrative storytelling style and use of cutting-edge technology, Attenborough has engaged audiences across a career spanning over seven decades. Alongside being knighted twice, winning four Emmy Awards, and having over 50 species named after him, Attenborough remains the only person to have won BAFTAs for programming in black-and-white, color, HD, 3D, and 4K.
Born in 1926, Attenborough developed a passion for nature through his collection of fossils and geological specimens as a child, which grew as he pursued studies of geology and zoology at Cambridge. Despite being turned down for a role at BBC Radio, he was offered a job in its new television service and, in 1954, became the producer and host of "Zoo Quest," an animal-collecting expedition series. By 1965, he was responsible for programming on BBC Two, including commissioning "Monty Python's Flying Circus," but left his executive role to return to making shows.
The 1979 release of "Life on Earth," which documented over 600 species using pioneering microphotography, time-lapse photography, and high-speed cameras, was watched by an estimated 500 million people and established Attenborough as the premier natural historian. Through subsequent series—most notably "Planet Earth"—Attenborough continues to feature wildlife and ecosystems, while advocating for and highlighting threats to their preservation.Explore David Attenborough
What we've found
Read 10 of the best quotes about nature from David AttenboroughFrom reflecting on the interconnectedness of life and humanity's shared responsibility to protect biodiversity to the power of young people in driving change and understanding nature's beauty and importance, this list highlights some of the most noteworthy things said by the famed natural historian. WWF AustraliaWatch a digital archive of David Attenborough's 'Planet Earth' miniseriesCreated over five years, the production was the first documentary series to be filmed in high definition and, when released in 2006, the BBC's most expensive nature documentary series. The Emmy Award-winning series featured 11 episodes, each focused on a different Earth biome. Internet ArchiveWatch every episode of David Attenborough's 'Life on Earth' seriesA three-year global expedition by Attenborough and his team produced the television series, which debuted in the UK in 1979 and documented over 600 species in 40 countries. The series is estimated to have been seen by over 500 million people in more than 100 territories, including within the US, where is debuted on PBS in 1982. Internet ArchiveTake a virtual tour of the Royal Research Ship named after David AttenboroughOperated by the British Antarctic Survey, the RRS Sir David Attenborough and its onboard tools and laboratories have investigated the biogeochemical cycles of the Southern Ocean, the stability of Greenland's ice shelves, and the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. One of the ship's autonomous underwater vehicles was named Boaty McBoatface based on the results of a naming poll from the Natural Environment Research Council. British Antarctic SurveyThe BAFTAs won by David Attenborough, the only person to win across five visual display formatsThe British Academy of Film and Television Arts awarded the naturalist for programming in black and white, color, high definition, 3D, and 4K resolution, starting with his first BAFTA in 1961. The VR film "David Attenborough's Great Barrier Reef" also won a BAFTA for London-based Alchemy VR in the Digital Creativity category. MetroA conversation with David Attenborough about his work, from his narrative style to technologyAlthough he began working in television before owning a television set, gaining experience as a producer in the editing room helped Attenborough develop an insight into creating engaging content with less dialogue. Among the technologies pioneered during his career were stabilized cameras for aerial shots, infrared and microphotography, and waterproof electronics for underwater cameras. BAFTA GuruSee ceremonial photographs from David Attenborough's second knighthoodAfter being granted the title of Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985, he was appointed the upgraded rank of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 2022 by then-Prince Charles on behalf of the Queen. BBCDavid Attenborough discusses creationism and his position as an agnosticAttenborough argues that accounts of humanity's origins from different cultures cannot all be correct because they often differ, whereas geological records are consistent worldwide, meaning science provides the best understanding of the natural world. However, he acknowledges that, just as insects lack awareness of human goings-on, humans may be unaware of the existence of a deity. Gerry Watts PoLThe history of David Attenborough's adopted sisters, taken in during World War IIAmong the thousands of children who were brought to Great Britain from Nazi-controlled Europe during the Kindertransport rescue operation were Irene and Helga Bejach, who spent seven years living with the Attenboroughs. Irene contributed to David's interest in the natural world by giving him a piece of amber containing prehistoric creatures. Jewish NewsA list of some of the best episodes from David Attenborough's works and where to watch themFrom the first steps of the long-eared jerboa—an animal not captured on film before "Life Story"—and bears catching salmon on their upstream pilgrimages to the bioluminescent sea creatures in the trenches of the ocean and Weddell seals giving birth, learn where to see some of the most remarkable moments in Attenborough's catalog. Entertainment WeeklyDavid Attenborough received the 2022 Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement AwardThe UN's highest environmental honor celebrated Attenborough as "one of the leading voices of the global environmental movement." For at least four decades, he collaborated with the UN Environment Programme by advocating for "efforts to counter the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution" and "addressing world leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference" in 2021. UN Environment ProgrammeWhy David Attenborough was skeptical about global warming before bringing attention to itBelieving he was "experiencing the untouched natural world" in his early documentary series, Attenborough has admitted that many of his assumptions about human action were incorrect. It was not until attending a 2004 lecture on greenhouse gases and global temperatures that he became convinced of the science. Discover WildlifeWatch David Attenborough's unexpected interaction with a family of gorillas on 'Life on Earth'On the border between Rwanda and the modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, Attenborough uses specific vocalizations and behaviors to approach a female gorilla peacefully, only to have two of her children lie down on him. Through a comical exchange, the incident helps show the creatures to be the opposite of the aggressive, violent stereotypes about them. BBC EarthListen to the music David Attenborough recorded during his expeditions around the worldDuring this audio documentary feature, Attenborough plays musical performances by communities he encountered while producing natural history series, including Gamelan orchestras in Bali, palace music in Tonga, and Aboriginal didgeridoo players. With each recording, he provides anecdotes about when it was made, decades ago. The Radio 3 DocumentaryMemos detailing the shows David Attenborough commissioned, including Monty PythonFrom 1965 to 1973, Attenborough was on a trajectory to become the BBC's next director-general while serving as Controller and Director of Programs, overseeing what would air on television. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and "Pot Black," which popularized the cue sport in the UK, were among the eclectic mix of shows he commissioned. The TimesHow David Attenborough's work in color television gave tennis balls their colorAs controller of BBC Two, Attenborough wanted the BBC to achieve the first full-color broadcast in Europe and saw Wimbledon as the perfect event to make it happen. Noticing that the white tennis balls used then would stain green and become less visible on color broadcasts as matches progressed, he suggested fluorescent balls, which were eventually adopted. WimbledonFor 'Secret Lives of Orangutans,' David Attenborough became the oldest Emmy Award winnerIn 2025, won the Outstanding Daytime Personality, Non-Daily category at 99 for his work documenting a group of apes in the jungles of Sumatra, Indonesia. The previous record had been held by Dick Van Dyke, who won at 98 for his guest appearance on "Days of Our Lives" in 2024. (Some readers may experience a paywall.) BBCView some of the species named after David AttenboroughAcisoma attenboroughi is a dragonfly from Madagascar named in honor of Attenborough's 90th birthday. Stating they liked watching Attenborough's documentaries with their family, the discoverer of a flightless weevil from Indonesia named it Trigonopterus attenboroughi in 2014. A Peruvian frog was named Prisimantis attenboroughi in 2014 to honor Attenborough for raising awareness of wildlife conservation. Discover WildlifeWatch David Attenborough catching a python on 'Zoo Quest'The first series, hosted by the famed natural historian, was meant to be presented by Jack Lester, a curator at the London Zoo, who would be documented while they captured wildlife to bring to the institution. Because Lester became ill, Attenborough became the presenter and often participated in the capture of animals, such as snakes. BBCDiscussing his early life, David Attenborough describes how his TV career began by chanceGrowing up on the University College, Leicester campus, where his father was principal, Attenborough uncovered specimens such as coiled shells in the rocks and limestone of the surrounding Midlands, which sparked his interest in nature. A week after not landing an interview for a radio job he had applied for, Attenborough was offered a position on "a new thing called television." Nature on PBSDavid Attenborough's career, from managing television programming to natural historianThroughout his career, Attenborough's storytelling style framed nature as the stage where plants and animals were characters that audiences could connect with and become emotionally attached to. Before the breakout success of "Life on Earth" and working full-time on making programs about the natural world, Attenborough spent a decade in executive roles responsible for overseeing content on BBC channels. Against the Rules: The Big Short CompanionExplore David Attenborough's interactive adventure through the Great Barrier ReefIn this online journey, users can explore the structure and history of Australia's coral reef, learn how scientists gather data and research the environment, view and listen to the organisms that make the reef their home, and simulate the evolution of the ecosystem, which spans the size of Italy, in various simulations. David Attenborough's Great Barrier ReefWatch David Attenborough’s documentary on bioluminescent creaturesSea creatures can make their bodies glow to camouflage themselves by mimicking the appearance of the night sky as seen from underwater. Species without this ability can form a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria or eat other organisms with relevant biochemicals. SymmetrySir David Attenborough suggested tennis balls be yellowWhen you think of tennis, it's the iconic yellow ball, but tennis balls didn't always look like that. This Merchant of Tennis article explores the early tennis balls made from wood in the 1300s, to leather balls, to vulcanized rubber used in the late 1800s. Crucially, Sir David Attenborough worked to broadcast the 1967 Wimbledon Championships in color, leading to tennis balls changing from white to yellow. Merchant of TennisDavid Attenborough reflects on some of his most moving natural encountersThe legendary natural historian has had more direct encounters with wildlife than most people in history. As he turned 99, the Englishman recounts his favorite encounters with marine life, from whales to capuchin monkeys in mangroves. Despite the obstacles the environment faces, Attenborough believes in nature's resilience. The TimesSee a list of six famous people with animals named in their honorThe bird Polioptila attenboroughi, the spider Spintharus barackobamai, and the water beetle Grouvellinus leonardodicaprioi are just a few of the creatures named after celebrities. Popular Science
Try another search?