Sir David Attenborough’s ardour for animals is well-known, however it appears the “Renaissance man”, who’s marking his a hundredth birthday, has expertise in different areas, too

Sir David Attenborough was described as a “actual Renaissance man” (Picture: Getty)
A producer who has collaborated with David Attenborough reveals there’s a “complete aspect” to him that the general public is unaware of. David, who celebrates his a hundredth birthday right this moment (Friday, Could 8), has been a cherished presence on our screens for greater than 70 years – from Zoo Quest and The Folks of Paradise within the Fifties and 60s, to 2026’s A Gorilla Story.
A tireless champion of the pure world, David’s ardour and dedication to wildlife is each bit as famend as his soothingly distinctive voice. And it seems that “Renaissance man” David’s data stretches additional than most may anticipate. TV producer Alastair Fothergill is arguably well-placed to talk about the broadcaster, having collaborated on such acclaimed documentaries as The Blue Planet and Planet Earth.
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David’s ardour and advocacy for animals is well-known (Picture: Getty Pictures)
In response to him, David does not put on his “feelings on his sleeve”, in line with what he described because the “custom of most males” from the naturalist’s technology, after spending time chatting to the TV legend across the campfire.
Alastair wrote in The Sunday Telegraph: “We might play a little bit of chess, and David has a tremendous data of music. Within the previous days, he used to convey Tupperware containers stuffed with CDs.
“He’s an actual Renaissance man. He has an enormous assortment of Africana, and he was a trustee within the British Museum. There’s a complete aspect of David that folks do not know. That makes him amazingly good firm – he is an excellent storyteller.
“On location, he all the time used to say: ‘Have you ever heard this one earlier than?’ And generally a few of us had, as a result of we might labored with him so much; however usually individuals we had been filming with by no means had, and we might let him inform us once more anyway, as a result of he is so good at it.”
This follows David opening up a few dietary shift he has made, as he spoke about “well being and longevity”.

David reportedly does not put on his “feelings on his sleeve” (Picture: AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
He has mentioned his consuming habits way back to 2017, remarking: “I’ve definitely modified my eating regimen. Not in an ideal form of dramatic approach. However I do not suppose I’ve eaten purple meat for months.”
David revealed he nonetheless consumed cheese and fish, however had “turn into far more vegetarian” than he anticipated. He additional commented: “There’s clear science behind the advantages of adopting a extra plant-based eating regimen in terms of general well being and longevity.”
A movie producer who additionally labored with David has described how influential the naturalist has been on his profession. Joe Loncraine instructed BBC Breakfast: “It is immeasurable actually.
“I keep in mind watching Trials of Life, which was one of many first collection I used to look at with my mum, after which every thing that got here after that, that was within the early 90s.
“Personally, after which from the diploma I selected to do, to the profession I went into, after which really in my profession, working with him has been actually good enjoyable in addition to a tremendous expertise as a result of he is sensible to work with.”


















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