Oct. 5, 2023

David Attenborough: Global Icon Still Thriving at 97

The audience at Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage erupted with applause upon seeing David Attenborough on stage in 2019. Attenborough has surpassed the status of being a national treasure and has become a true global icon. By: Wee Yan Ling

It was stated that so many Chinese viewers downloaded Blue Planet 2 that the country’s internet temporarily slowed down as a result. The recent premier of his series enthralled school children from all over the world expressed their gratitude such as “Thank you for being you - Sir David A” and “Sir David, please come to India, please.”

The English broadcaster, writer, naturalist, presenter and executive director is beloved by millions around the world, a YouGov poll revealed Attenborough to be the most popular person in Britain.

Instead of enjoying the standard retired life of basking in freedom and relishing in unlimited time, David Attenborough, 97, still buries himself in work, more specifically, presenting for the third series of Planet Earth.

Attenborough is in his eighth-decade of career, not calling it quits as the 97-year-old-presenter is to present the third instalment of the BBC’s award-winning natural history programme Planet Earth.

“Planet Earth wouldn’t be Planet Earth without David, so I’m delighted he is presenting the third series,” says Mike Gunton, Planet Earth III’s executive producer. “As ever, he has brought his huge enthusiasm and wisdom, has been encouraging about our new perspective and has, I know, really enjoyed seeing the extraordinary new wonders brought to the screen.”

Despite prior reports expecting that his previous series Wild Isles would mark the end of his on-site shoots, Attenborough’s participation in the new series ensues. Safety precautions were implemented due to the presenter’s age, including having a doctor with a defibrillator accompany him as he ascended the 87 steep concrete steps from the landing jetty to the top of Skomer Island.

The producers also asserted that they had to revise their filming strategies as they were concerned with positioning Attenborough near the seabirds as it could inadvertently endanger the soon-to-be-centenarian caused by the flu outbreak on the neighbouring island of Grassholm.

The natural history presenter and narrator has an array of renowned documentaries under his belt, with Wild Isles considered one of his best. The show showcases Britain and Ireland’s “most diverse wildlife and beautiful landscapes on earth”. Another iconic project, Planet Earth was the most expensive documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC and also the first to be filmed in high definition. The show took four years and 64 countries to film, with each episode showing a different habitat on earth. Our Planet is another that has amassed a cult following and also the recipient of the Emmy award all thanks to the attributes of incredible cinematography and fascinating narration, this show is a serious eye opener.

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