David Attenborough
- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Born 8 May 1926, the younger brother of actor Lord
Richard Attenborough. He never
expressed a wish to act and, instead, studied Natural Sciences at
Cambridge University, graduating in 1947, the year he began his two
years National Service in the Royal Navy. In 1952, he joined BBC
Television at Alexandra Palace and, in 1954, began his famous "Zoo
Quest" series. When not "Zoo Questing", he presented political
broadcasts, archaeological quizzes, short stories, gardening and
religious programmes.
1964 saw the start of BBC2, Britain's third TV
channel, with Michael Peacock
as its Controller. A year later, Peacock was promoted to BBC1 and
Attenborough became Controller of BBC2. As such, he was responsible for
the introduction of colour television into Britain, and also for
bringing
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
to the world.
In 1969, he was appointed Director of Programmes with
editorial responsibility for both the BBC's television networks. Eight
years behind a desk was too much for him, and he resigned in 1973 to
return to programme making. First came "Eastwards with Attenborough", a
natural history series set in South East Asia, then The Tribal Eye (1975) ,
examining tribal art. In 1979, he wrote and presented all 13 parts of
Life on Earth (1979) (then the
most ambitious series ever produced by the BBC Natural History Unit).
This became a trilogy, with
The Living Planet (1984)
and
The Trials of Life (1990).
His services to television were recognised in 1985, and he was knighted
to become Sir David Attenborough. The two shorter series, "The First
Eden" and "Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives" were fitted around 1993's
spectacular
Life in the Freezer (1993),
a celebration of Antarctica and 1995's epic
The Private Life of Plants (1995),
which he wrote and presented. Filming the beautiful birds of paradise
for Attenborough in Paradise (1996) in 1996 fulfilled a lifelong ambition,
putting him near his favourite bird. Entering his seventies, he
narrated the award-winning
Wildlife Specials (1995),
marking 40 years of the BBC Natural History Unit. But, he was not
slowing down, as he completed the epic 10-part series for the BBC,
The Life of Birds (1998)
along with writing and presenting the three-part series
State of the Planet (2000)
as well as
The Life of Mammals (2002).
Once broadcast, he began planning his next projects.
He has received honorary degrees from many universities across the
world, and is patron or supporter of many charitable organisations,
including acting as Patron of the World Land Trust, which buys rain
forest and other lands to preserve them and the animals that live
there.
Richard Attenborough. He never
expressed a wish to act and, instead, studied Natural Sciences at
Cambridge University, graduating in 1947, the year he began his two
years National Service in the Royal Navy. In 1952, he joined BBC
Television at Alexandra Palace and, in 1954, began his famous "Zoo
Quest" series. When not "Zoo Questing", he presented political
broadcasts, archaeological quizzes, short stories, gardening and
religious programmes.
1964 saw the start of BBC2, Britain's third TV
channel, with Michael Peacock
as its Controller. A year later, Peacock was promoted to BBC1 and
Attenborough became Controller of BBC2. As such, he was responsible for
the introduction of colour television into Britain, and also for
bringing
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
to the world.
In 1969, he was appointed Director of Programmes with
editorial responsibility for both the BBC's television networks. Eight
years behind a desk was too much for him, and he resigned in 1973 to
return to programme making. First came "Eastwards with Attenborough", a
natural history series set in South East Asia, then The Tribal Eye (1975) ,
examining tribal art. In 1979, he wrote and presented all 13 parts of
Life on Earth (1979) (then the
most ambitious series ever produced by the BBC Natural History Unit).
This became a trilogy, with
The Living Planet (1984)
and
The Trials of Life (1990).
His services to television were recognised in 1985, and he was knighted
to become Sir David Attenborough. The two shorter series, "The First
Eden" and "Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives" were fitted around 1993's
spectacular
Life in the Freezer (1993),
a celebration of Antarctica and 1995's epic
The Private Life of Plants (1995),
which he wrote and presented. Filming the beautiful birds of paradise
for Attenborough in Paradise (1996) in 1996 fulfilled a lifelong ambition,
putting him near his favourite bird. Entering his seventies, he
narrated the award-winning
Wildlife Specials (1995),
marking 40 years of the BBC Natural History Unit. But, he was not
slowing down, as he completed the epic 10-part series for the BBC,
The Life of Birds (1998)
along with writing and presenting the three-part series
State of the Planet (2000)
as well as
The Life of Mammals (2002).
Once broadcast, he began planning his next projects.
He has received honorary degrees from many universities across the
world, and is patron or supporter of many charitable organisations,
including acting as Patron of the World Land Trust, which buys rain
forest and other lands to preserve them and the animals that live
there.