Now approaching his centenary, the career of Sir David Attenborough is remarkable. He started his career at the BBC in 1952 and since then has dedicated his life to bringing the wonders of the natural world to a global audience.
The combination of his passion for wildlife and conservation, his distinctive voice and genial demeanour has made him the go-to authority for natural history broadcasting.
His passion for exploration and talent for storytelling have given his documentaries worldwide reach. Planet Earth, Frozen Planet II and most recently Mammals and Asia have brought the majesty of nature and wildlife to our TV screens in an unforgettable way.
His passion for his home country was evident in 2023 documentary Wild Isles, which celebrated the wonders of British wildlife.
Sir David Attenborough has received two knighthoods for highlighting the natural world and campaigning to protect it. He has over 40 animals and plant species named after him, plus a constellation.
In 2024 he was voted one of the greatest cultural icons in the UK, alongside Queen Elizabeth II and James Bond, by the British Council.
Here’s all you need to know about our most favourite nature broadcaster and the wide-reaching impact he’s had.
How old is Sir David Attenborough?
David Frederick Attenborough was born on 8th May 1926 in Isleworth, West London. In 2024, in his 98th year, he presented the series Asia, which explores the amazing wildlife and natural wonders of Earth's largest continent.
The timeline of his career is incredible and he has often said during his life that work was what made him get up in the mornings, and that as long as people wanted to watch and listen to him, he would carry on.
He does not often publicly speculate about the key to his long life, but in an interview with inews, he said that doing something with purpose “is so joyful and so important to living longer meaningfully".
What was Sir David Attenborough's early life like?
Sir David Attenborough was born to parents Frederick and Mary Attenborough. From the age of five he lived in College House at the University College, Leicester (now the University of Leicester) where his father was principal.
He was the middle child of three boys. Richard Attenborough (1923–2014) was the eldest sibling and went on to become an acclaimed actor, director and producer. John Attenborough (1928–2012) was the youngest and worked as an executive in the car industry.
Frederick and Mary Attenborough also housed two Jewish girls, Helga and Irene Bejach, at College House, and later adopted them. They were Jewish refugees and had been orphaned.
The University College, Leicester has it recorded that when the zoology department was in need of newts, David went pond-dipping and sold what he caught to the college for three pence each.
Frederick's letters also document David's early love of collecting and labelling rock specimens and his interest in becoming a geologist.
Where did he study?
He attended Wyggeston Grammar School then Clare College, Cambridge and graduated with a master's degree in natural sciences in 1947.
What was his first job?
David completed a BBC training programme in 1952 and became a television producer. In 1954 he helped originate the programme Zoo Quest, in which he and a team from London Zoo travelled in search of exotic animals. Their aim was to capture them and bring them back to the UK for exhibit in the zoo.
In 1965 he became controller of BBC Two, then four years later was made director of programmes of both BBC One and BBC Two. He eventually quit in 1973, to return to his role as natural-history presenter.
What are his most recent documentaries?
Who did Sir David Attenborough marry?
In 1950 David married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. They had two children, Robert and Susan. The couple were married for 47 years until Jane sadly passed away in 1997 following a brain hemorrhage.
Robert works as a senior lecturer in bioanthropology for the School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Susan was a primary school head. Today she is sometimes pictured at public events alongside her father.
Did Sir David Attenborough go to WWII?
As war broke out between Great Britain and Germany in 1939 David Attenborough was just 13 years old. However, he did serve in the Home Guard for a short period.
In 1947 he was called to serve in the Royal Navy and did so for two years, which he spent on a ship in North Wales.
Why does he think natural history broadcasting is important?
In an interview with the BBC in 2024 David Attenborough said: "The world would be in a far, far worse situation now had there been no broadcasting of natural history. People have found it a source of fascination and beauty and interest, and this has become key to looking after the world."
What is Sir David Attenborough's connection to Bristol?
Sir David's above comments were given to the BBC as it celebrated 90 years of broadcasting from Bristol.
In 1979, Sir David presented Life on Earth, a landmark television programme made in Bristol, which attracted around 15 million viewers. "Bristol led the world to be truthful," he said in the interview.
"The other big mega power in broadcasting was the United States, and in the 1970s, viewers there thought natural history was just lions attacking antelopes.
"Bristol's programmes taught them that termites could be just as interesting."
In 2013 Sir David was awarded Freedom of the City of Bristol.
Where does he live now?
He lives in Richmond upon Thames, a borough in the southwest of London. It is renowned for being London's most affluent borough that throughout history has acted as a retreat for British sovereigns. It is home to the longest stretch of the River Thames and Richmond Park, the largest Royal park in London.
When was Sir David Attenborough knighted?
Sir David Attenborough was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael And St George in 2022 for his work on highlighting the natural world in TV shows and his campaigning to protect it.
He was first knighted by the Queen in 1985. He also received other awards in the Queen's New Year Honours List.
- 1974: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to nature conservation
- 1983: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
- 1985: Knight Bachelor for services to broadcasting
- 1991: Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for producing Queen Elizabeth II's Christmas broadcast
- 1996: Companion of Honour (CH) for services to nature broadcasting
- 2005: Order of Merit (OM)
How many honorary degrees does he have?
It is reported that Sir David has 32 honorary degrees, which are awarded by universities to recognise the work people have done.
Among them are:
- Queen’s University Belfast for services to science and broadcasting
- Durham University Doctor of Science
- University of Cambridge Doctor of Science
- University of Oxford Doctor of Philosophy
Is there a species named after Sir David Attenborough?
His impact on the animal and plant world has been so huge, David Attenborough has more than 50 newly discovered and extinct organisms named after him.
They include: a rubber frog (Pristimantis attenboroughi) found at altitudes of up to nearly 4,000m in central Peru; the black-eyed satyr butterfly (Euptchia attenboroughi) found in a remote region of South America; Auroralumina attenboroughii, the earliest known animal predator, related to today's jellyfish; Attenborough's hawkweed (Hieracium attenboroughianum), a yellow flower in the dandelion family and the only living British species so far to be named after Sir David.
What else is named after Sir David Attenborough?
RRS Sir David Attenborough
The RRS Sir David Attenborough, which was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for operation by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), is one of the worlds most advanced polar research vessels.
It is a multidisciplinary research vessel and will allow scientist to study the oceans, seabed, ice and atmosphere in the polar regions.
It was named RRS Sir David Attenborough, despite public voting for it to be named 'Boaty McBoatface'.
Attenborough Nature Reserve and Centre
In 1966 Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire became the The Wildlife Trusts' first nature reserve. The opening was performed by the then controller of BBC2, David Attenborough who was awarded honorary life membership. In March of 2005 the trust opened the Attenborough Nature Centre.
Sir David Attenborough constellation
The Big Bang Fair worked with astronomers at the University of Birmingham to create the name a constellation in the shape of a whale the Sir David Attenborough constellation. The project was aimed at getting younger people interested in astronomy.
Is David Attenborough vegan?
While David Attenborough does eat fish, dairy products and eggs he has adopted more of a vegetarian way of life in his later years. He no longer eats red meat.
Has Sir David Attenborough written books?
Alongside his televised documentaries, the broadcasting legend has also made significant contributions to the world of books and literature.
His most recent title is A Life on our Planet: My Witness Statement and Vision for the Future (2020).
About it he says: "The tragedy of our time has been happening all around us, barely noticeable from day to day – the loss of our planet's wild places, its biodiversity.
"I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet contains my witness statement, and my vision for the future – the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake, and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right."
Sir David Attenborough on people and their relationship with nature:
Sir David Attenborough describes nature as a very profound thing, "because it is about ourselves, we are part of it.”
In an interview with BBC Wildlife, he explained: "The appeal of the natural world is more than just a passing interest. If you lose it, you’re losing a huge treasure."
Which charities does Sir David Attenborough support?
WWF says about Sir David: "Sir David has been at the heart of WWF’s own story – he was present at our founding in 1961. He has always been generous with the time he gives in support of WWF – whether strengthening our voice on environmental matters at high-profile events such as the World Economic Forum, speaking at the opening of our UK headquarters, or sharing his wisdom in the first episode of our podcast."
In 2024, Sir David was awarded the Rothschild medal in recognition of the extraordinary inspiration, leadership and support he has given to The Wildlife Trusts federation of charities over the past 60 years.
Sir David has supported World Land Trust since it was founded in 1989. The founders' creative and innovative approach to raising funds to save rainforests and other important wildlife habitats was one of the main reasons that Sir David became WLT’s official Patron in 2003.
He is patron and founding board member of Learning through Landscapes.
He is also patron of Population Matters, Grierson Trust, Friends of Richmond Park and The Society for the History of Natural History.
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