Crime & Safety
David Attenborough’s memorable quotes as TV star turns 100
Over the years, his voice has become an iconic backing to some of the BBC’s most loved documentaries, from the Planet Earth series to Frozen Planet.
Both on and off screen, he has also shared his wisdom on how we can help the planet.
As the country celebrates the milestone day for the broadcaster and naturalist, here are some of his most memorable quotes.
David Attenborough’s career as TV star turns 100
Sir David was born on May 8 1926, in London, the son of an academic and principal of University College, Leicester.
Before joining the BBC in 1952, he studied geology at the University of Cambridge and served two years in the Royal Navy, before earning his reputation with the groundbreaking Zoo Quest series, which he hosted for 10 years on the BBC.
In 1965, he became controller of BBC Two, overseeing the advent of colour TV, and he later became BBC director of programming, but life as a broadcast executive did not appeal, and he returned to his passion for filming wildlife.
His recognisable whispering voice became a household sound in 1979 when he was seen mingling and bonding with a family of gorillas in Life On Earth and its sequel, The Living Planet, in 1984.
The following year, he was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II before being awarded a Knight Grand Cross honour in 2022.
The TV presenter has two children, Susan and Robert, with his late wife Jane, whom he married in 1950, while his late brother Richard was a well-known actor and film director, who starred in movies such as The Great Escape, Doctor Dolittle and Jurassic Park.
In recent years, Sir David, who resides in Richmond, has presented shows including Dynasties, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.
David Attenborough’s most memorable quotes
Sir David Attenborough’s hushed but excited tones have been heard in living rooms around the world for many years.
Here are just some of his most memorable quotes:
- “It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
- “The future of the natural world, on which we all depend, is in our hands”
- “I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.
- “The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?”
- “It is vital that there is a narrator figure whom people believe. That’s why I never do commercials. If I started saying that margarine was the same as motherhood, people would think I was a liar.”
- “You know, it’s a terrible thing to appear on television, because people think you actually know what you’re talking about.”
- “I don’t run a car, have never run a car. I could say that this is because I have this extremely tender environmentalist conscience, but the fact is I hate driving.”
- “If I can make programmes when I’m 95, that would be fine. But I would think I’ll have had enough by then.”
- “You have to steer a course between not appalling people, but at the same time not misleading them.”
You’re cordially invited to Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall
Kirsty Young presents David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth on Friday 8 May on #iPlayer and BBC One
Full details ➡️ https://t.co/nbnf2ZtcDK pic.twitter.com/o7KEr0r3wt
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) April 28, 2026
- “I don’t think we are going to become extinct. We’re very clever and extremely resourceful – and we will find ways of preserving ourselves, of that I’m sure. But whether our lives will be as rich as they are now is another question.”
- “An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfilment.”
- “Our planet may be home to 30 million different kinds of animals and plants. Each individual locked in its own life-long fight for survival. Everywhere you look, on land or in the ocean, there are extraordinary examples of the lengths living things go to to stay alive.”
- “Ever since we arrived on this planet as a species, we’ve cut them down, dug them up, burnt them and poisoned them. Today we’re doing so on a greater scale than ever.”
- “There are some four million different kinds of animals and plants in the world. Four million different solutions to the problems of staying alive.”
- “Reptiles and amphibians are sometimes seen as simple, primitive creatures. That’s a long way from the truth. The fact that they are solar-powered means that their bodies require only 10% of the energy that mammals of a similar size require. At a time when we ourselves are becoming increasingly concerned about the way in which we get our energy from the environment and the wasteful way in which we use it, maybe there are things that we can learn from Life In Cold Blood”.
Recommended reading:
- “A hundred years ago, there were one-and-a-half billion people on Earth. Now, over six billion crowd our fragile planet. But even so, there are still places barely touched by humanity.”
What is your favourite David Attenborough documentary series? Let us know in the comments (or in the poll above).
Developer The Hill Group has been given the go-ahead for a new residential development in Kidlington, north Oxfordshire, which will see 96 homes built on former green belt land.
The site, on land at Bicester Road and Water Eaton Lane in Gosford, Kidlington, was allocated for a wider housebuilding development in the Cherwell District Council local plan, for a total of 430 new homes to be delivered.
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A total of 50 per cent of the 96 new homes will be affordable, with a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two-, three- and four-bedroom houses.
These will be provided for a combination of Shared Ownership and affordable rent accommodation, in partnership with housing association Sovereign Network Group (SNG).
In addition to the mixed-tenure homes, the development will include formal and informal sports and plays areas for use by the new community.
All the private sale homes will be houses ranging from two to five bedrooms.
The Hill Group said the site has now been acquired by the housebuilder, after years of work to bring the site forward.
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Andy Hill OBE, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “This planning consent is the result of nearly seven years of commitment, collaboration and determination from our planning team.
“Bringing forward complex sites like this takes time, patience and a willingness to work closely with all stakeholders.
“We’re proud to have now reached this crucial stage, and of the strong relationships we’ve built with Cherwell Council, which have been fundamental in making this development possible.
“North Oxford has a clear need for private and affordable homes, and this development will deliver exactly that, alongside meaningful benefits for the wider community.”
It comes after Kidlington was awarded town status in February this year, following a unanimous vote from the parish council and a public consultation, granting the green belt around the town greater protection under new Government planning regulations.
Councillors said the town status would make Kidlington more defensible from “land grabs” and prevent it from being absorbed into Oxford.
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As part of the planning agreement, half a hectare of land from the housebuilder will be donated to the parish council for an extension of the town’s cemetery, to help support Kidlington’s ‘long-term needs’ with a key piece of infrastructure, according to the developer.
Jenny Grote, the land a business new business director south for SNG, the housebuilder’s partner provider, said: “We have an extremely positive and long-standing relationship with Hill and are delighted to be working together once again to bring forward a range of high-quality, much-needed, affordable homes in Kidlington that will make a real difference to local people.”
Construction is set to begin later this spring with the first homes being completed in the spring of next year.
Cotswold Country Park and Beach near Cirencester is listed by The Sun as one of the country’s top beach-style destinations.
The site is part of the wider Cotswold Water Park, a series of former gravel pits that have been redeveloped over several decades into lakes used for leisure, wildlife and conservation.
It is often described as the UK’s largest inland beach, with a freshwater lake bordered by sandy bays and shallow paddling areas.
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The park offers a range of watersports, including designated open-water swimming areas, kayak hire and stand-up paddleboarding.
AquaVenture, a large inflatable obstacle course on the lake, features climbing walls, slides and balance challenges aimed at older children, teenagers and adults.
Sessions on AquaVenture are typically run in timed slots and are supervised.
For visitors seeking a quieter visit, the park has sunbathing areas and clearly marked picnic spots.
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Food and drink are available from on-site outlets, including a Beach Shack and an Ice Cream Hut.
Families can book BBQ grill areas, allowing groups to cook and eat on site.
The park also includes a pirate-themed nine-hole mini golf course as an additional activity away from the water.
Cotswold Country Park and Beach is located a short distance from the market town of Cirencester, often referred to as the “Capital of the Cotswolds”.
In The Sun’s round-up, it was listed alongside other inland waterside locations such as Rutland Water and Loch Morlich.
Originally started by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc back in 1984, the now Belmond-owned spot has been one of the UK’s most cherished restaurants.
In the four decades of its existence, Le Manoir has retained its two Michelin stars, including for 2025, making it 41 years in a row.
It is currently closed temporarily, having shut its doors on New Year’s Day (Thursday, January 1, 2026) for a year and a half of refurbishments and renovations.
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Because of this, Le Manoir has lost both of its Michelin stars for the first time in its 42-year history.
This makes The Nut Tree Inn in Murcott near Kidlington the only establishment in Oxfordshire with a Michelin star, having held one since 2008.
The Le Manoir team will be looking to recoup their two star when the hotel and restaurant reopen in the summer of 2027.
In the meantime, old kitchen equipment from the cherished establishment is now up for sale via auction.
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Multiple items, including baking trays, wooden boards, moulds, crockery, serving plates, cloches, a food processor and more, are all available to buy.
The kit is listed with MST Auctioneers, a 35-year-old firm based in East Devon’s Honiton, for £100s collectively.
Le Manoir will now be aiming to retain its two Michelin stars and add a third next year, with both the renovations and the acquisition of a new Culinary Director both being central to this pursuit.
Arnaud Donckele, appointed to the role, said: “To bring my cuisine to the UK for the first time, at a place as magical and meaningful as Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, is a profound honour.
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