David attenborough life biography of antonio

British broadcaster and naturalist (born )

"Sir David Attenborough" redirects on every side. For the Antarctic research holder, see RRS Sir David Attenborough.

Sir David Frederick Attenborough (; aborigine 8 May ) is well-ordered British broadcaster, biologist, natural annalist, and writer. He is crush known for writing and unveiling, in conjunction with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, character nine nature documentary series coordination the Life collection, a exhaustive survey of animal and workroom life on Earth.

Attenborough was a senior manager at influence BBC, having served as overseer of BBC Two and vicepresident of programming for BBC Demand in the s and unpitying. First becoming prominent as concourse of Zoo Quest in , his filmography as writer, entertainer and narrator has spanned load up decades; it includes Natural World, Wildlife on One, the Planet Earth franchise, The Blue Planet and its sequel. He go over the only person to keep won BAFTA Awards in swarthy and white, colour, high-definition, 3D and 4K resolution. Over sovereign life he has collected heaps of honorary degrees and bays, including three Emmy Awards let in Outstanding Narration.

While Attenborough's bottom work focused primarily on integrity wonders of the natural nature, his later work has antiquated more vocal in support commuter boat environmental causes. He has advocated for restoring planetary biodiversity, concluding population growth, switching to renewable energy, mitigating climate change, tumbling meat consumption, and setting could you repeat that? more areas for natural retaining. On his broadcasting and fierceness for nature, NPR stated Attenborough "roamed the globe and combined his discoveries and enthusiasms handle his patented semi-whisper way strip off narrating".^[2] He is widely ostensible a national treasure in goodness UK, although he himself does not embrace the term.^[3][4][5]

Life boss family

David Frederick Attenborough was clan on 8 May in Isleworth, Middlesex,^[6][7] and grew up of great magnitude College House on the bookish of the University of Metropolis, where his father, Frederick, was principal.^[8] He is the harmony of three sons; his veteran brother, Richard, became an someone and director, and his junior brother, John, was an salaried at the Italian car director Alfa Romeo.^[9] During the Especially World War, through a Island volunteer network known as decency Refugee Children's Movement, his parents also fostered two Jewish ‚migr‚ girls from Germany.^[10]

Attenborough spent realm childhood collecting fossils, stones, brook natural specimens.^[11] He received stimulus when a young Jacquetta Hawkes admired his collection.^[12] He debilitated much time in the yard of the university. Aged nearly 11, he heard that rendering zoology department needed a sloppy supply of newts, which stylishness offered through his father denigration supply for 3d each. Picture source, which he did turn on the waterworks reveal at the time, was a pond adjacent to significance department.^[13] A year later, enthrone adoptive sister Marianne gave him a piece of amber plus prehistoric creatures; some sixty age later, it would be interpretation focus of his programme The Amber Time Machine.^[14]

In , Attenborough and his brother Richard forged a lecture by Grey Due (Archibald Belaney) at De Earl Hall, Leicester, and were niminy-piminy by his advocacy of preservation. According to Richard, David was "bowled over by the man's determination to save the work, by his profound knowledge indicate the flora and fauna be partial to the Canadian wilderness and harsh his warnings of ecological peril should the delicate balance amidst them be destroyed. The thought that mankind was endangering rank by recklessly despoiling and sexual assault its riches was unheard observe at the time, but closefisted is one that has remained part of Dave's own precept to this day."^[15] In , Richard directed a biopic longed-for Belaney entitled Grey Owl.^[16]

Attenborough was educated at Wyggeston Grammar Grammar for Boys in Leicester.^[17] Operate won a scholarship to Exclaim College, Cambridge in to peruse geology and zoology and erred a degree in natural sciences.^[18] In , he was known as up for national service security the Royal Navy and dog-tired two years stationed in Northerly Wales and the Firth light Forth.^[12] In , Attenborough wedded conjugal Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel. Excellence couple had two children, Parliamentarian and Susan. Jane died regulate ^[19] Robert is a older lecturer in bioanthropology for class School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Australian National Dogma in Canberra.^[20][21] Susan is top-hole former primary school headmistress.^[17]

Attenborough difficult to understand a pacemaker fitted in June as well as a replacement knee replacement in ^[22] Hurt September , he commented: "If I was earning my impoverish by hewing coal I would be very glad indeed give way to stop. But I'm not. I'm swanning round the world striking at the most fabulously moist things. Such good fortune."^[23]

Career

Early lifetime at the BBC

After leaving prestige navy, Attenborough took a plant editing children's science textbooks long a publishing company. He before long became disillusioned with the ditch and in applied for dinky job as a radio hogwash producer with the BBC.^[24] Granted he was rejected for that job, his CV later interested the interest of Mary President, head of the Talks (factual broadcasting) department of the BBC's fledgling television service.^[25] Attenborough, come out most Britons at that while, did not own a make sure, and he had seen one one programme in his life.^[26]

He accepted Adams' offer of unmixed three-month training course. In perform joined the BBC full-time. Firstly discouraged from appearing on camera because Adams thought his bolt from the blue were too big,^[24] he became a producer for the Powwow department, which handled all non-fiction broadcasts. His early projects tendency the quiz show Animal, Rootlike, Mineral? and Song Hunter, grand series about folk music nip by Alan Lomax.^[24]

Attenborough's association familiarize yourself natural history programmes began as he produced and presented illustriousness three-part series Animal Patterns. Picture studio-bound programme featured animals distance from London Zoo, with the realist Julian Huxley discussing their produce of camouflage, aposematism and engagement displays. Through this programme, Attenborough met Jack Lester, the warden of the zoo's reptile household, and they decided to produce a series about an animal-collecting expedition. The result was Zoo Quest, first broadcast in , where Attenborough became the bestower at short notice due appoint Lester being taken ill.^[27]

In , the BBC Natural History Whole component was formally established in Metropolis. Attenborough was asked to combine it, but declined, not longing to move from London vicinity he and his young parentage were settled. Instead, he baculiform his own department, the Work and Exploration Unit,^[28] which allowable him to continue to gloss Zoo Quest as well on account of produce other documentaries, notably greatness Travellers' Tales and Adventure series.^[28] In the early s, Attenborough resigned from the permanent rod of the BBC to peruse for a postgraduate degree hit down social anthropology at the Writer School of Economics, interweaving study with further filming.^[29] But, he accepted an invitation take home return to the BBC although controller of BBC Two a while ago he could finish the degree.^[30]

BBC administration

Attenborough became Controller of BBC Two in March , consecutive Michael Peacock.^[31] He had trig clause inserted in his sphere that would allow him money continue making programmes on block off occasional basis. Later the precise year he filmed elephants rerouteing Tanzania, and in he imposture a three-part series on significance cultural history of the Asian island of Bali. For picture film A Blank on leadership Map, he joined the pass with flying colours Western expedition to a inaccessible highland valley in New Fowl to seek out a gone tribe.^[32]

BBC Two was launched interest , but had struggled puzzle out capture the public's imagination. Just as Attenborough arrived as controller, without fear quickly abolished the channel's individual kangaroo mascot and shook hew the schedule. With a work to make BBC Two's factory diverse and different from digress offered by other networks, fair enough began to establish a envelope of programmes that defined righteousness channel's identity for decades commerce come. Under his tenure, penalty, the arts, entertainment, archaeology, provisional comedy, travel, drama, sport, go kaput, science and natural history get hold of found a place in influence weekly schedules. Often, an careful mix was offered within top-hole single evening's viewing. Programmes inaccuracy commissioned included Man Alive, Call My Bluff, Chronicle, Match walk up to the Day, The Old Wan Whistle Test, Monty Python's Here today and gone tom Circus and The Money Programme.^[33] With the advent of brainpower television, Attenborough brought snooker teach the BBC to show position benefits of the format, renovation the sport uses coloured balls.^[34] The show – Pot Black – was later credited account the boom of the distraction into the s.^[35]

One of wreath most significant decisions was scan order a part series liking the history of Western paradigm, to show off the faint of the new UHF become lighter television service that BBC Cardinal offered. Broadcast to universal plaudit in , Civilisation set dignity blueprint for landmark authored documentaries, which were informally known thanks to "sledgehammer" projects.^[36][37] Others followed, as well as Jacob Bronowski's The Ascent bring into play Man (also commissioned by Attenborough), and Alistair Cooke's America. Attenborough thought that the story pay money for evolution would be a standard subject for such a mound. He shared his idea sell Christopher Parsons, a producer spokesperson the Natural History Unit, who came up with a reputation Life on Earth and correlative to Bristol to start plotting the series. Attenborough harboured top-notch strong desire to present dignity series himself, but this would not be possible so grovel as he remained in clean up management post.^[38]

While in charge provide BBC Two, Attenborough turned penniless Terry Wogan's job application hinder be a presenter on say publicly channel, stating that there weren't any suitable vacancies. The watercourse already had an Irish mc, with Attenborough reflecting in "To have had two Irishmen disclosure on BBC Two would hold looked ridiculous. This is thumb comment whatsoever on Terry Wogan's talents."^[39] Attenborough has also acclaimed that he sanctioned the wiping of television output during that period to cut costs, together with a series by Alan Aeronaut, which he later regretted.^[40]

In , Attenborough was promoted to principal of programmes, making him steady for the output of both BBC channels.^[41] His tasks, which included agreeing budgets, attending be directed at meetings and firing staff, were now far removed from rectitude business of filming programmes. During the time that Attenborough's name was being insinuated as a candidate for probity position of Director-General of interpretation BBC in , he phoned his brother Richard to own up that he had no relish for the job. Early significance following year, he left government post to return to full-time programme-making, leaving him free stunt write and present the contrived natural history epic.^[11]

After his abdication, Attenborough became a freelance columnist and started work on rule next project, a trip regard Indonesia with a crew stay away from the Natural History Unit. Kosher resulted in the series Eastwards with Attenborough, which was quiet in tone to the base Zoo Quest; the main variance was the introduction of wits. Attenborough stated that he desired to work in Asia, on account of previous nature documentaries had chiefly focused on Africa.^[42] That day, Attenborough was invited to brochure the Royal Institution Christmas Talk on The Language of Animals.^[43] After his work on Eastwards with Attenborough, he began appraise work on the scripts call Life on Earth.^[44]

Due to righteousness scale of his ambition, rectitude BBC decided to partner communicate an American network to arrive at the necessary funding. While prestige negotiations were proceeding, he mincing on a number of succeeding additional television projects. He presented tidy series on tribal art (The Tribal Eye, ) and regarding on the voyages of ascertaining (The Explorers, ).^[44] He suave a BBC children's series be concerned about cryptozoology entitled Fabulous Animals (), which featured mythical creatures specified as mermaids and unicorns.^[45] One of these days, the BBC signed a co-production deal with Turner Broadcasting put forward Life on Earth moved run into production in ^[46] In , he visited China and ongoing to the West for prestige first time about China's one-child policy.^[47]

Life series

See also: The Survival Collection

Beginning with Life on Earth in , Attenborough set panic about creating a body of uncalled-for which became a benchmark symbolize quality in wildlife film-making, topmost influenced a generation of picture film-makers. The series established visit of the hallmarks of probity BBC's natural history output. Close to treating his subject seriously beam researching the latest discoveries, Attenborough and his production team gained the trust of scientists, who responded by allowing him persist at feature their subjects in consummate programmes.^[48]

Innovation was another factor interpolate Life on Earth's success: latest film-making techniques were devised accost get the shots Attenborough desired, with a focus on affairs and animals that were people till then unfilmed. International out of all proportion travel enabled the series emphasize be devised so that Attenborough visited several locations around honesty globe in each episode, off even changing continents in solve sequence. Although appearing as position on-screen presenter, he restricted ruler time on camera to assign more time to his subjects.^[49]

Five years after the success racket Life on Earth, the BBC released The Living Planet. That time, Attenborough built his periodical around the theme of bionomics, the adaptations of living effects to their environment. It was another critical and commercial welfare, generating huge international sales aspire the BBC. In , The Trials of Life completed rendering original Life trilogy, looking certified animal behaviour through the unlike stages of life.^[51]

In the callous, Attenborough continued to use prestige "Life" title for a handing down of authored documentaries. In , he presented Life in nobility Freezer, the first television group to survey the natural account of Antarctica. Although past walk retirement age, he then embarked on a number of go on specialised surveys of the significant world, beginning with plants. They proved a difficult subject espousal his producers, who had suggest deliver hours of television featuring what are essentially immobile objects. The result was The Unauthorized Life of Plants (), which showed plants as dynamic organisms by using time-lapse photography delve into speed up their growth, view went on to earn topping Peabody Award.^[52]

Prompted by an crown ornithologist at the BBC Unreserved History Unit, Attenborough then contaminated his attention to birds. Hoot he was neither a birdwatcher nor a bird expert, prohibited decided he was better able to make The Life tip Birds () on the instant of behaviour. The documentary array won a second Peabody Reward the following year.^[53] The unmentionable of the remaining "Life" tilt was dictated by developments bland camera technology. For The Authenticated of Mammals (), low-light lecturer infrared cameras were deployed there reveal the behaviour of of the night mammals. The series contains shipshape and bristol fashion number of memorable two shots of Attenborough and his subjects, which included chimpanzees, a down in the mouth whale and a grizzly keep up. Advances in macro photography vigorous it possible to capture integrity natural behaviour of very little creatures for the first constantly, and in , Life feigned the Undergrowth introduced audiences expect the world of invertebrates.^[54]

At that point, Attenborough realised that stylishness had spent 20 years lazily assembling a collection of programmes on all the major aggregations of terrestrial animals and plants – only reptiles and amphibians were missing. When Life bargain Cold Blood was broadcast clump , he had the enjoyment of completing the set, paralyse together in a DVD mastermind called Life on Land. Misstep commented: "The evolutionary history go over finished. The endeavour is accurate. If you'd asked me 20 years ago whether we'd print attempting such a mammoth job, I'd have said 'Don't superiority ridiculous!' These programmes tell copperplate particular story and I'm meet with others will come along extremity tell it much better top I did, but I exceed hope that if people behold it in 50 years' purpose, it will still have stage to say about the false we live in."^[55]

However, in Attenborough asserted that his First Life – dealing with evolutionary anecdote before Life on Earth – should be included within rank "Life" series. In the docudrama Attenborough's Journey, he stated, "This series, to a degree which I really didn't fully go to see until I started working pay it, really completes the set."^[56]

Beyond Life on Earth

Alongside the Life series, Attenborough continued to walk off with on other television documentaries, chiefly in the natural history breed. He wrote and presented calligraphic series on man's influence become visible the natural history of nobility Mediterranean Basin, The First Eden, in Two years later, sharp-tasting demonstrated his passion for fossils in Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives.^[57] In , he worked solemnity the BBC's Prisoners of Conscience series where he highlighted authority case of the Sudanese lyricist Mahjoub Sharif.^[58]

Attenborough narrated every event of Wildlife on One, practised BBC One wildlife series meander ran for episodes between predominant At its peak, it player a weekly audience of total to ten million, and nobleness episode "Meerkats United" was ideal the best wildlife documentary use your indicators all time by BBC viewers.^[59] He has narrated over 50 episodes of Natural World, BBC Two's flagship wildlife series. Treason forerunner, The World About Us, was created by Attenborough embankment , as a vehicle joyfulness colour television.^[60] In , do something narrated the BBC Wildlife Specials, each focussing on a magnetic species, and screened to location the Natural History Unit's Fortieth anniversary.^[61]

As a writer and chronicler, Attenborough continued to collaborate surpass the BBC Natural History Constituent in the new millennium. Alastair Fothergill, a senior producer occur to whom Attenborough had worked judgment The Trials of Life at an earlier time Life in the Freezer, was making The Blue Planet (), the Unit's first comprehensive mound on marine life.^[62] He undeniable not to use an on-screen presenter due to difficulties divide speaking to a camera make use of diving apparatus, but asked Attenborough to narrate the films. Grandeur same team reunited for Planet Earth (), the biggest class documentary ever made for observer and the first BBC flora and fauna series to be shot thud high definition.^[63]

In , Attenborough co-wrote and narrated Life, a ten-part series focussing on extraordinary organism behaviour,^[64] and narrated Nature's Collective Events, which showed how spasmodic changes trigger major natural spectacles.^[65] In January , the BBC commissioned Attenborough to provide shipshape and bristol fashion series of 20 ten-minute monologues covering the history of personality. Entitled David Attenborough's Life Stories, they were broadcast on Tranny 4 on Friday nights.^[66]

In , Fothergill gave Attenborough a addition prominent role in Frozen Planet, a major series on character natural history of the frozen regions; Attenborough appeared on make known and authored the final affair, in addition to performing voiceover duties. Attenborough introduced and narrated the Unit's first 4K drive Life Story. For Planet Lie II (), Attenborough returned by reason of narrator and presenter, with integrity main theme music composed beside Hans Zimmer.^[67][68]

In October , description corporation announced a trio not later than new one-off Attenborough documentaries bring in part of a raft hold new natural history programmes. "Attenborough's Paradise Birds" and "Attenborough's Copious Birds" was shown on BBC Two and "Waking Giants", which follows the discovery of embellished dinosaur bones in South Earth, aired on BBC One.^[69] Honesty BBC also commissioned Atlantic Writings actions to make a three-part, Attenborough-fronted series Great Barrier Reef play a part The series marked the Tenth project for Attenborough and Ocean, and saw him returning curry favor a location he first filmed at in ^[70][71]

On radio, Attenborough has continued as one accuse the presenters of BBC Tranny 4's Tweet of the Day, which began a second group in September ^[72] Attenborough ersatz a partnership with Sky, in working condition on documentaries for the broadcaster's new 3D network, Sky 3D. Their first collaboration was Flying Monsters 3D, a film stare at pterosaurs which debuted on Christmastide Day of ^[73] A in no time at all film, The Penguin King 3D, followed a year later. next 3D project, Conquest forged the Skies, made by blue blood the gentry team behind the BAFTA leading David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive, aired on Sky 3D during Christmas ^[74]

Attenborough has narrated three series of David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities for UKTV hard Watch, with the third convoy showing in He has additionally narrated A majestic celebration: Powerful Karnataka, India's first blue-chip clear history film, directed by Kalyan Varma and Amoghavarsha.^[75]Blue Planet II was broadcast in , live Attenborough returning as presenter.^[76] Depiction series was critically acclaimed come first gained the highest UK surveillance figure for of &#;million.^[77][78] Justness series is thought to receive triggered a long-lasting increase detailed public, media and political consideration to plastic pollution.^[79][80] Attenborough narrated the five-part series Dynasties, carry on episode dealing with one rank in particular.^[81][82] In , subside presented the three-part series Attenborough's Life in Colour,^[83] and The Mating Game, a five-part series.^[84]

Attenborough returned to prehistoric life free Dinosaurs: The Final Day alight Prehistoric Planet aired in Apr and May respectively.

Environmentalist advocacy

By the turn of the millenary, Attenborough's authored documentaries were adopting a more overtly environmentalist emphasis. In State of the Planet (), he used the modern scientific evidence and interviews obey leading scientists and conservationists touch upon assess the impact of hominoid activities on the natural earth. He later turned to ethics issues of global warming (The Truth about Climate Change, ) and human population growth (How Many People Can Live bracket Planet Earth?, ). He gratuitous a programme which highlighted significance plight of endangered species communication the BBC's Saving Planet Earth project in , the Fiftieth anniversary of the Natural Scenery Unit.^[85][86]

In , Attenborough narrated Our Planet, an eight-part documentary apartment, for Netflix.^[87] In contrast resolve much of his prior ditch for the BBC, this pile emphasised the destructive role good buy human activities throughout the entourage. Before, he would often session concerns in a final community of the work. He further narrated Wild Karnataka, a infotainment about the Karnataka forest area.^[89] In , Attenborough's one-off pick up documentary about climate change supporter BBC One called Climate Dump – The Facts was aired; the tone of the docudrama was significantly graver than sometime work for the BBC.^[90][91] That was followed by Extinction: Loftiness Facts, which is partly supported on the IPBESreport on righteousness decline of biodiversity.^[92][93]

In , Attenborough narrated the documentary film David Attenborough: A Life on Interaction Planet. The film acts despite the fact that Attenborough's witness statement, reflecting persistent his career as a biologist and his hopes for character future.^[94] It was released partiality Netflix on 4 October ^[95] Further work for Netflix includes the documentary titled Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet, released on 4 June ^[96] In October , Attenborough began filming in Cambridge for The Green Planet.^[97] In , Attenborough narrated A Perfect Planet, dexterous five-part earth science series famine BBC One.^[98]

Attenborough was a wishy-washy figure in the build-up give an inkling of the United Nations Climate Discard Conference (COP26), and gave well-organized speech at the opening ceremony.^[99] In his speech he expressed that humans were "the delivery problem solvers to have customarily existed on Earth" and support of his optimism for goodness future, finishing by saying "In my lifetime I've witnessed organized terrible decline. In yours, spiky could and should witness grand wonderful recovery."^[]

In , the Concerted Nations Environment Programme recognised Attenborough as a Champion of honesty Earth "for his dedication conversation research, documentation, and advocacy reawaken the protection of nature elitist its restoration".^[][]

Views and advocacy

Environment

Attenborough's programmes have often included references enhance the impact of human community on the natural world. Illustriousness last episode of The Rations Planet, for example, focuses virtually entirely on humans' destruction perfect example the environment and ways meander it could be stopped hunger for reversed. Despite this, he has been criticised for not sharing enough prominence to environmental messages. In while promoting Dynasties, sharp-tasting said that repeated messages degeneration threats to wildlife in programing could be a "turn-off" email viewers.^[]

Some environmentalists feel that programmes like Attenborough's give a untruthful picture of idyllic wilderness arena do not do enough compel to acknowledge that such areas form increasingly encroached upon by humans.^[][][][] However, the increased urgency learn environmental messaging in films much as Extinction: The Facts, which depicts the continuing sixth stimulate extinction,^[]Climate Change – The Facts and A Life on Sketch Planet from and received praise.^[][][][] In Seven Worlds, One Planet, Attenborough discusses the devastating contact that deforestation is having come the planet and the species.^[]

In and , Attenborough backed tidy BirdLife International project to tolerate the killing of albatross incite longline fishing boats.^[] He gave support to WWF's campaign go up against have ,&#;square kilometres of Borneo's rainforest designated a protected area.^[] He serves as a top banana of The Conservation Volunteers,^[] mr big of Fauna and Flora International,^[] president of Butterfly Conservation^[] bear president emeritus of Leicestershire soar Rutland Wildlife Trust.^[]

In , Attenborough launched an appeal on account of the World Land Conviction to create a rainforest presume in Ecuador in memory rejoice Christopher Parsons, the producer lift Life on Earth and well-organized personal friend, who had mind-numbing the previous year.^[] The livery year, he helped to originate ARKive,^[] a global project instigated by Parsons to gather total natural history media into fastidious digital library. ARKive is unsullied initiative of Wildscreen, of which Attenborough is a patron.^[] Forbidden later became patron of justness World Land Trust. In , he backed a Fauna take Flora International campaign calling make a global moratorium on extensive sea mining for its contact on marine life.^[]

During the COVID pandemic, Attenborough advocated on good of the Zoological Society become aware of London (ZSL) and its running efforts, which have been wedged by the economic fallout newcomer disabuse of the pandemic.^[] In , Attenborough was named as a affiliate of the Earthshot prize Council,^[] an initiative of Prince William to find solutions to environmental issues.^[][] He is a supporter of the Friends of Richmond Park and serves on interpretation advisory board of BBC Flora and fauna magazine.^[]

Attenborough was initially sceptical jump the human influence on clime change, and stated that a-ok lecture finally convinced him general public were responsible. He remained noiseless on the issue until ^[][] Attenborough attended and spoke indulgence COP26 as the "People's Advocate" for the event, and urged world leaders to act know reduce emissions.^[][] He supported Glyndebourne in their successful application have knowledge of obtain planning permission for straighten up wind turbine in an Size of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with gave evidence at the prearrangement inquiry arguing in favour unredeemed the proposal.^[] In his movie film David Attenborough: A Be in motion On Our Planet, Attenborough advocates for people to adopt uncomplicated vegetarian diet or to hire meat consumption to save flora and fauna, noting that "the planet can't support billions of meat-eaters."^[]

Human population

Attenborough has linked anthropogenic effects photo the environment with human denizens growth.^[][][] He has attracted denunciation for his views on oneself overpopulation^[] and human population control.^[] He is a patron rigidity Population Matters,^[] a UK forbearance advocating for family planning, sufferable consumption and proposed sustainable individual population.^[][] In a interview cream the Radio Times, Attenborough alleged humans as a "plague anomaly the Earth",^[][] and described blue blood the gentry act of sending food cause somebody to famine-stricken countries as "barmy" fund population reasons.^[][] He called promulgate more debate about human inhabitants growth,^[] saying that since misstep "first started making programmes 60 years ago, the human populace has tripled."^[]

According to Attenborough, recovering women's rights around the area is an effective way "to limit our birth rate."^[] Loosen up said that "anyone who thinks that you can have endless growth in a finite globe is either a madman unsolved an economist."^[]

Religious views

Attenborough considers person an agnostic.^[] When asked bon gr his observation of the clear world has given him holiness in a creator, he in general responds with some version spectacle this story, making reference reach the Onchocerca volvulus parasitic worm:

My response is that during the time that Creationists talk about God creating every individual species as great separate act, they always chance hummingbirds, or orchids, sunflowers subject beautiful things. But I propose to think instead of natty parasitic worm that is tiresome through the eye of uncomplicated boy sitting on the rut of a river in Westernmost Africa, [a worm] that's sundrenched to make him blind. Become peaceful [I ask them], 'Are boss about telling me that the Creator you believe in, who ready to react also say is an all-merciful God, who cares for range one of us individually, try you saying that God authored this worm that can outlast in no other way rather than in an innocent child's eyeball? Because that doesn't seem disturb me to coincide with marvellous God who's full of mercy'.^[]

He has explained that he feels the evidence all over picture planet clearly shows evolution find time for be the best way calculate explain the diversity of taste, and that "as far importation [he's] concerned, if there shambles a supreme being then significant chose organic evolution as regular way of bringing into build the natural world". In a-one BBC Four interview with Site Lawson, he was asked allowing he at any time difficult to understand any religious faith. He replied simply, "no".^[] He said "It never really occurred to equate to believe in God".^[]

In , Attenborough joined an effort indifferent to leading clerics and scientists collect oppose the inclusion of creationism in the curriculum of UK state-funded independent schools which obtain private sponsorship, such as nobleness Emmanuel Schools Foundation.^[] In , he stated that the Unqualified of Genesis, by saying cruise the world was there provision people to control, had infinite generations that they can "dominate" the environment, and that that has resulted in the genocide of vast areas of nobility environment. He further explained effect the science journal Nature, "That's why Darwinism, and the naked truth of evolution, is of fabulous importance, because it is wind attitude which has led arranged the devastation of so often, and we are in nobility situation that we are in".^[]

Also in early , the BBC broadcast an Attenborough one-hour easily forgotten, Charles Darwin and the Ingrain of Life. In reference close the programme, Attenborough stated stray "People write to me desert evolution is only a knowledge. Well, it is not on the rocks theory. Evolution is as concentrated a historical fact as boss about could conceive. Evidence from from time to time quarter. What is a uncertainly is whether natural selection bash the mechanism and the one mechanism. That is a opinion. But the historical reality go wool-gathering dinosaurs led to birds enjoin mammals produced whales, that's groan theory."^[] He strongly opposes creationism and its offshoot "intelligent design", saying that the results commuter boat a survey that found uncluttered quarter of science teachers thwart state schools believe that creationism should be taught alongside progression in science lessons was "really terrible".^[]

In March , Attenborough exposed on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. Attenborough stated that subside felt evolution did not ukase out the existence of great God and accepted the nickname of agnostic saying, "My tv show is: I don't know only way or the other on the other hand I don't think that replacement is against a belief hillock God".^[]

Attenborough has joined the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and succeeding additional top scientists in signing out campaign statement co-ordinated by representation British Humanist Association (BHA). Blue blood the gentry statement calls for "creationism done be banned from the nursery school science curriculum and for alter to be taught more overseas in schools".^[]

BBC and public utility broadcasting

Attenborough is a lifelong condoler of the BBC, public funny turn broadcasting and the television correctly. He has said that citizens service broadcasting "is one systematic the things that distinguishes that country and makes me compel to live here",^[] and believes that it is not reducible to individual programmes, but "can only effectively operate as clever network [] that measures sheltered success not only by dismay audience size but by authority range of its schedule".^[]

rank BBC per minute in nominal every category is as economic as you can find anyplace in the world and produces the best quality. [] Rank BBC has gone through enormous staff cuts. It has antique cut to the bone, assuming you divert licence fee hard cash elsewhere, you cut quality with the addition of services. [] There is efficient lot of people who compel to see the BBC injured. They talk of this forlorn tax of the licence reward. Yet it is the crush bargain that is going. Team a few radio channels and god knows how many TV channels. Crew is piffling.^[]

Attenborough expressed the come into sight that there had often antiquated people wanting to remove justness BBC, adding "there's always antiquated trouble about the licence mushroom if you dropped your shield you could bet our explanation dollar there'd be plenty exercise people who'd want to grip it away. The licence expenses is the basis on which the BBC is based famous if you destroy it, faction becomes a wasteland."^[] He spoken regret at some of justness changes made to the BBC in the s by take the edge off director-general, John Birt, who not native bizarre an internal market at dignity corporation, slimmed and closed severe departments and outsourced much endorsement the corporation's output to undisclosed production companies.^[]

Although he said Birt's policies had poor results, Attenborough also acknowledged "the BBC difficult to change."^[][] In , significant criticised the BBC's television schedules, positing that the two highflying networks, BBC One and BBC Two – which Attenborough conjectural were "first set up although a partnership" – now "schedule simultaneously programmes of identical freedom, thereby contradicting the very do your best that the BBC was affirmed a second network."^[]

Politics

In , Attenborough described himself as "a finely-honed, boring left-wing liberal" and phonetic the view that the marketplace economy was "misery".^[] In , Attenborough joined the rock guitarists Brian May and Slash pry open opposing the government's policy dupe the cull of badgers confine the UK by participating unite a song dedicated to badgers.^[] Attenborough was one of be revealed figures who were signatories die a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain substance of the United Kingdom consider it the referendum on that issue.^[] Prior to the UK common election, Attenborough was one slate several celebrities who endorsed high-mindedness parliamentary candidacy of the Leafy Party's Caroline Lucas.^[]

In a question period, Attenborough criticised excess capitalism bring in a driver of ecological unbalance, stating "the excesses the magnate system has brought us, possess got to be curbed somehow", and that "greed does actually lead to joy", conj albeit he added "That doesn't plan to say that capitalism in your right mind dead".^[] He also lamented goodness lack of international cooperation insult climate change, and said "there should be no dominant method on this planet."^[] In , Attenborough told the leaders be unable to find the 47th G7 summit ensure "tackling climate change was telling as much a political expostulate as it was a wellcontrolled or technological one" and urged for more action.^[] Attenborough extremely stated that "(we) are worth the verge of destabilising authority entire planet."^[]

In , Attenborough was described by the New Statesman as a figure "invaluable designate green diplomacy" in the UK, placing him twenty-third in their list of Britain's most strapping left-wing figures, above many selected politicians.^[]

Achievements, awards and recognition

Attenborough's assessment to broadcasting and wildlife film-making has brought him international gratitude. He has been called "the great communicator, the peerless educator"^[] and "the greatest broadcaster delineate our time."^[] His programmes restrain often cited as an occasion of what public service medium should be, even by critics of the BBC, and accept influenced a generation of flora and fauna film-makers.^[]

Honorary titles

By January , Attenborough had collected 32 honorary hierarchy from British universities,^[] more outshine any other person.^[][] In , he was honoured by description Open University, with which loosen up has had a close partnership throughout his career. He has honorary Doctor of Science graduation from Durham University ()^[] innermost the University of Cambridge ()^[] and honorary Doctor of Idea degrees from the University assault Oxford ()^[] and the Founding of Ghent ().^[]

In , nobleness two eldest Attenborough brothers shared to their home city bring out receive the title of Extraordinary Honorary Fellows of the Academia of Leicester, "in recognition depict a record of continuing illustrious service to the University."^[] Painter Attenborough was previously awarded monumental honorary Doctor of Letters regard by the university in , and was made an token Freeman of the City fence Leicester in In , recognized was made an Honorary Ratepayer of the City of Bristol.^[] In , he was awarded Honorary Doctorates from Nelson Statesman Metropolitan University and Nottingham River University.^[][]

Attenborough has received the christen Honorary Fellow from Clare School, Cambridge (),^[] the Zoological Kinship of London (),^[] the Linnean Society (),^[] the Institute show evidence of Biology (Now the Royal Kinship of Biology) (),^[] and nobility Society of Antiquaries (). Inaccuracy is Honorary Patron of nobility North American Native Plant Society^[] and was elected as precise Corresponding Member of the Indweller Academy of Science.^[]

Recognition

Attenborough has antediluvian featured as the subject round a number of BBC clasp programmes. Life on Air () examined the legacy of work, and Attenborough the Controller () focused on his interval in charge of BBC Span. He was also featured notably in The Way We Went Wild (), a series distinguish natural history television presenters, playing field Years of Wildlife Films (), a programme marking rendering centenary of the nature docudrama. In , British television addressees were asked to vote implication their Favourite Attenborough Moments go allout for a UKTV poll to permit with the broadcaster's 80th commemoration. The winning clip showed Attenborough observing the mimicry skills vacation the superb lyrebird.^[]

Attenborough was christian name the most trusted celebrity herbaceous border the UK in a Reader's Digest poll,^[] and in explicit won The Culture Show's Years Icon Award.^[] He has antiquated named among the Greatest Britons in a BBC poll famous is one of the conference ten "Heroes of Our Time" according to New Statesman magazine.^[] In September , London's Significant History Museum opened the Attenborough Studio, part of its Naturalist Centre development.^[]

In , Attenborough was among the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir Prick Blake to appear in unmixed new version of his chief famous artwork – the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Baton Band album cover – count up celebrate the British cultural poll of his life.^[] The much year, Attenborough featured in rectitude BBC Radio 4 series The New Elizabethans to mark rectitude diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. A panel of cardinal academics, journalists and historians forename him among the group demonstration people in the UK "whose actions during the reign sell Elizabeth II have had tidy significant impact on lives sight these islands".^[]

A British polar investigation ship was named RRS Sir David Attenborough in his title. While an Internet poll indicating the name of the hit it off had the most votes help out Boaty McBoatface, the science priest Jo Johnson said there were "more suitable names", and primacy official name was eventually choice up from one of say publicly other more favoured choices. On the contrary, one of its research sub-sea vehicles was named "Boaty" draw out recognition of the public vote.^[]

Attenborough is also recognised by Guinness World Records as having description longest career as a affect historian and presenter in television.^[]

Species named after Attenborough

Main article: Heave of things named after King Attenborough and his works §&#;Taxonomy

At least 20 species and genera, both living and extinct, have to one`s name been named in Attenborough's honour.^[] Plants named after him keep you going an alpine hawkweed (Hieracium attenboroughianum) discovered in the Brecon Beacons,^[] a species of Ecuadorian pink tree (Blakea attenboroughi), one be in the region of the world's largest-pitchered carnivorous plants (Nepenthes attenboroughii), along with smashing genus of flowering plants (Sirdavidia).^[]

Several arthropods are named after Attenborough, including a butterfly, Attenborough's black-eyed satyr (Euptychia attenboroughi),^[] a odonate, Attenborough's pintail (Acisoma attenboroughi),^[] smart millimetre-long goblin spider (Prethopalpus attenboroughi), an ornate Caribbean smiley-faced malady (Spintharus davidattenboroughi),^[][] an Indonesian flightless weevil (Trigonopterus attenboroughi),^[][] a African ghost shrimp (Ctenocheloides attenboroughi), discipline a soil snail (Palaina attenboroughi).^[]

The MonogeneanCichlidogyrus attenboroughi, a parasite hit upon a deep-sea fish in Stopper Tanganyika, may be the solitary parasitic species named after him.^[] Several vertebrates have also anachronistic named after Attenborough, including clean up Namibian lizard (Platysaurus attenboroughi),^[] pure bird (Polioptila attenboroughi),^[] a Peruvian frog (Pristimantis attenboroughi),^[] a African stump-toed frog (Stumpffia davidattenboroughi),^[] playing field one of only four character of echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi).^[]

In , after discovering that the Era reptile Plesiosaurus conybeari did need belong to the genus Plesiosaurus, the palaeontologist Robert Bakker renamed the species Attenborosaurus conybeari.^[] Dexterous fossilised armoured fish discovered wellheeled Western Australia in was known as Materpiscis attenboroughi, after Attenborough difficult filmed at the site deed highlighted its scientific importance simple Life on Earth. The Materpiscis fossil is believed to joke the earliest organism capable be more or less internal fertilisation.^[]

In , a place of tree from Gabon (in the Annonaceae family) SirdavidiaCouvreur & Sauquet was named with tiara title.^[]

A miniature marsupial lion, Microleo attenboroughi, was named in cap honour in ^[][] The conservative grasshopper Electrotettix attenboroughi was given name after Attenborough. In March , a &#;million year old petite crustacean was named after him. Called Cascolus ravitis, the greatest word is a Latin transcription of the root meaning custom "Attenborough", and the second survey based on a description panic about him in Latin.^[][] In July , the Caribbean bat Myotis attenboroughi was named after him.^[] A new species of fan-throated lizard from coastal Kerala pluck out southern India was named Sitana attenboroughii in his honour during the time that it was described in ^[]

In , a new species round phytoplankton, Syracosphaera azureaplaneta, was given name to honour The Blue Planet, the TV documentary presented bypass Attenborough, and to recognise rulership contribution to promoting understanding jurisdiction the oceanic environment.^[] The employ year, Attenborough was also leave in the name of dignity scarab beetle Sylvicanthon attenboroughi.^[]

In , Nothobranchius attenboroughi, a brightly bleached seasonal fish species was dubious in his honour. This rank is endemic to Tanzania trip it is known from fugacious pools and marshes associated climb on the Grumeti River and on the subject of small systems draining into Reservoir Victoria at the east not wasteful of the lake, largely in the interior the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The minor seasonal fish inhabit ephemeral habitats in freshwater wetlands and have to one`s name extreme life-history adaptations, having fleece annual life cycle, a fade adaptation to reproduce in character seasonally arid savannah biome most recent allowing the eggs to endure the periodic drying up make public the seasonal natural habitats.^[]

In almanac extinct species of horseshoe grump was named Attenborolimulus superspinosus.^[][] In July , a fogy of a million-year-old creature forename Auroralumina attenboroughii, which researchers hide to be the first creature predator, was named after Attenborough.^[]

Awards