Contents
David Attenborough
Bringing the natural world to television through Life on Earth and Planet Earth.
The Blue Planet · Zoo Quest
- Born
- 8 May 1926
- Birthplace
- Isleworth, England
More people
David Attenborough
An English broadcaster and naturalist whose documentaries follow wildlife across the planet. He also helped shape television as a BBC executive before returning to programme-making.
Early life
Leicester childhood
Grew up on a university campus, collecting fossils and natural specimens.
Natural sciences
Studied at Cambridge before national service in the Royal Navy.
Career
- 1952
Joining the BBC
Began working in television production.
- 1954
On expedition
Zoo Quest took him overseas to film wildlife and appear on camera.
- 1965–1973
BBC management
Led BBC Two, then became director of programmes for BBC Television.
- 1973 onward
Independent programme-making
Left management and returned to presenting and making natural-history programmes.
Selected work
Zoo Quest
Wildlife expeditions combining field filming and studio segments.
Life on Earth
A series tracing the development and diversity of life.
The Blue Planet
Narrated a documentary series exploring the oceans.
Planet Earth
Narrated a series spanning the world's habitats.
Beyond work
Family
Married Jane Oriel in 1950; they had two children. She died in 1997.
Conservation
Advocates protecting biodiversity and addressing human pressures on the natural world.
Sources & photo credit
Biographical reference ↗BBC: broadcasting career ↗BBC: Zoo Quest recollections ↗BFI: Attenborough’s landmark series ↗Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street — Crown copyright. OGL 3 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
