Video Production Sydney: Naturalist and television personality David Attenborough is the grandfather of the modern nature documentary.
David Attenborough was born in London in 1926. After studying the natural sciences at the University of Cambridge, he began his career as a producer at the BBC, where he launched the successful Zoo Quest series. Attenborough was made controller of BBC Two in 1965 and later its director of programming. During his tenure the station crossed over to color television, and Attenborough was instrumental in expanding its natural history content. Attenborough left the BBC to begin writing and producing various series, including the smash hit Life on Earth, which set the standards for the modern nature documentary. Since then Attenborough has written, produced, hosted and narrated countless award-winning nature-focused programs and his devoted his life to celebrating and preserving wildlife.
Video Production Sydney: Early Life
Famed naturalist and television personality David Frederick Attenborough was born on May 8, 1926, in a suburb of London, England. The second of three boys born to a university principal and a writer, he and his brothers would all find great success in their chosen careers, which would take them far from the city of Leicester, where they were raised. David’s older brother Richard Attenborough would become an Academy Award–winning actor and director, and his younger brother, John would become a top executive at the Italian car company Alfa Romeo. But despite their notable achievements, neither brother would lead a life as full of adventure and travel nor become as internationally beloved as David.
Video Production Sydney: Passion for Natural Science
Despite the relative urban surroundings in which he lived, David Attenborough’s fascination with the natural world developed early and by the age of 7 he had assembled a sizable collection of bird eggs and fossils. A lecture by famous naturalist Grey Owl that he attended in 1936 only served to deepen his interest, and after graduating from high school he was awarded a scholarship to study the natural sciences at the University of Cambridge. Upon completing his studies in 1947, Attenborough was called to serve for two years in the Royal Navy. However, any hopes he had that this would be his chance to see the world were dashed when he was posted to a ship in Wales.
