**Early Life and Family:**
– David Attenborough was born on 8 May 1926 in Isleworth, Middlesex.
– He grew up in College House on the University of Leicester campus.
– Attenborough is the middle of three sons; his elder brother Richard is an actor and director.
– During WWII, his parents fostered two Jewish refugee girls from Germany.
– He was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester.
**Career at the BBC:**
– Attenborough started at the BBC editing children’s science textbooks.
– He joined the BBC full-time in 1952 and produced early programs like ‘Animal Patterns’ and ‘Song Hunter.’
– Attenborough became the presenter of ‘Zoo Quest’ in 1954.
– Despite declining an offer to join the BBC Natural History Unit in 1957, he made significant contributions to the BBC’s programming.
**Documentary Series and Innovations:**
– Attenborough’s ‘Life on Earth’ in 1979 set a benchmark in wildlife filmmaking.
– He introduced new filming techniques and highlighted the importance of biodiversity and ecology in series like ‘The Living Planet’ and ‘The Trials of Life.’
– Noteworthy documentaries include ‘The Private Life of Plants,’ ‘The Life of Birds,’ ‘The Life of Mammals,’ ‘Life in the Undergrowth,’ and ‘Life in Cold Blood.’
– Attenborough’s work showcased various aspects of the natural world, from plants to cold-blooded animals.
**Environmental Advocacy and Conservation:**
– Attenborough is known for advocating for biodiversity restoration, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation.
– He supports limiting population growth, reducing meat consumption, and preserving natural habitats.
– Through documentaries like ‘State of the Planet’ and ‘The Truth about Climate Change,’ Attenborough raises awareness about environmental issues.
– His work on ‘Our Planet’ for Netflix and ‘Climate Change – The Facts’ emphasizes the human impact on the environment.
**Public Service and Advocacy:**
– Attenborough serves on various environmental organization boards and is a member of the Earthshot Prize Council.
– He advocates for emission reduction, renewable energy projects, and public service broadcasting.
– Attenborough supports initiatives to protect wildlife habitats, stop albatross killings, and combat deforestation.
– His influence extends to promoting vegetarianism, advocating for sustainable population growth, and emphasizing the importance of international cooperation on climate change.
Sir David Frederick Attenborough (/ˈætənbərə/; born 8 May 1926) is a British broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, and writer. He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, the nine natural history documentary series forming the Life collection, a comprehensive survey of animal and plant life on Earth.
David Attenborough | |
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 Attenborough in 2015 | |
| Born | David Frederick Attenborough 8 May 1926 Isleworth, Middlesex, England |
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| Years active | 1951–present |
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Jane Ebsworth Oriel
(m. 1950; died 1997) |
| Children | 2 |
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Attenborough was a senior manager at the BBC, having served as controller of BBC Two and director of programming for BBC Television in the 1960s and 1970s. First becoming prominent as host of Zoo Quest in 1954, his filmography as writer, presenter and narrator has spanned eight decades; it includes Natural World, Wildlife on One, the Planet Earth franchise, The Blue Planet and its sequel. He is the only person to have won BAFTA Awards in black and white, colour, high-definition, 3D and 4K resolution. Over his life he has collected dozens of honorary degrees and awards, including three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Narration.
While Attenborough's earlier work focused primarily on the wonders of the natural world, his later work has been more vocal in support of environmental causes. He has advocated for restoring planetary biodiversity, limiting population growth, switching to renewable energy, mitigating climate change, reducing meat consumption, and setting aside more areas for natural preservation. On his broadcasting and passion for nature, NPR stated Attenborough "roamed the globe and shared his discoveries and enthusiasms with his patented semi-whisper way of narrating". He is widely considered a national treasure in the UK, although he himself does not embrace the term.