10 fascinating facts about Sir David Attenborough

Despite having been eligible for retirement for more than 30 years, Sir David Attenborough is showing no signs of slowing down as he turns 99.

Last month, it was announced he is heading up a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum, while his latest documentary Ocean, will be released in cinemas on May 8th, his 99th birthday.

Having been the voice of natural history programmes for the past 70 years, Sir David’s desire to explore, innovate and enlighten, has inspired millions of people worldwide.

10 fascinating facts about Sir David Attenborough

As he’s set to enter his 100th year, here are 10 facts about everyone’s favourite naturalist.

1. He was rejected for his first ever job at the BBC

He may have been the jewel the BBC’s crown for many years, but a young David was initially rejected by the Beeb. Back in 1952, he applied for the job as radio producer but he was turned down with his handwritten application, stamped ‘rejected’.

Thankfully, the corporation soon saw the error of its ways and later that year, he was made a full-time member if staff before becoming controller of BBC Two in 1965. 

2. He doesn’t own a car as he hasn’t passed his driving test 

When you’re TV royalty, you’re normally used to being chauffeured about which is a good thing for Sir David as he has never passed his driving test. He says he has never felt the need to learn to drive so therefore has never owned a car.

He also always used to fly economy so he could be with his crew. However, when he turned 75, the BBC told him he could fly business class – “not first, mind you” – in future.

3. His parents adopted two Jewish refugee girls during World War Two 

Both David’s parents – Mary and Frederick – were humanitarians and during the Second World War they housed Jewish sisters, Helga and Irene. The youngsters had arrived in Britain on the ‘Kindertransport’ programme as a means of escaping Nazi Germany and stayed with them for seven years.

They were adopted by the Attenborough family after their own parents died. 

4. He had a pacemaker fitted in 2013

While he never seems to age, Sir David underwent heart surgery in June 2013 and had a pacemaker fitted. The operation meant he had to cancel a sell-out speaking tour of Australia. He then had a double knee replacement two years later and has said he feels grateful that he can still do his job. 

“If I was earning my money by hewing coal I would be very glad indeed to stop. But I’m not. I’m swanning round the world looking at the most fabulously interesting things. Such good fortune.”

5. He has 32 university degrees 

Not content with being Knighted twice – once in 1985 and again in 2022 – Sir David also holds an incredible 32 honorary degrees from universities all over the UK.

Beating Nobel Prize winners, Olympians and world leaders, his array of degrees from institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge and Durham, acknowledge his contribution to science and education. 

6. Crowds are not for him 

Despite his popularity, the TV icon says he hates being surrounded by lots of people as he finds it quite intimidating.

“I hate crowds, lowest common denominator stuff,” he admitted. “People being hysterical about anything, whether it’s a football match or a national celebration. Because they aren’t rational. A football crowd can be very frightening.”

7. He’s the only person to have BAFTAs for shows in black and white, colour, HD and 3D

He has won many awards during his illustrious career but his eight BAFTAs are among some of his favourites. And because his work has spanned eight decades he is the only person to have picked up the prestigious BAFTA for programmes in black and white, colour, HD and 3D.

His first came in 1961 while his most recent was for Blue Planet II in 2018. 

8. He’s been to the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef

Sixty years on from his very first scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, Sir David returned there in 2016 to experience the depths of the world’s biggest living structure. At 90 years old and submerged into a state-of-the-art submarine, he went 1,000ft below the surface.

But it wasn’t all fun and games as he spoke about the “grave danger” the reef is in.

“The twin perils brought by climate change – an increase in the temperature of the ocean and in its acidity – threaten its very existence,” he warned. 

9. His biggest fear is being a burden to his children 

Sir David and his late wife Jane Ebsworth Oriel had two children together – Robert and Susan – and both have followed in their famous father’s footsteps.

Robert is a senior lecturer in biological anthropology at an Australian university while former primary school head Susan works alongside her dad. Their mum Jane sadly passed away in 1997 - she had worked alongside Sir David during their 47 years of marriage, and they were a very strong team.

Although he is quite guarded about his personal life, Sir David – who has two grandchildren – has previously admitted that he worries he will become a burden, saying, “I’m scared of becoming an appalling encumbrance on my children.”

10. Rats are the only animals he doesn’t like 

He may be at home with nature and animals but after staying in a thatched hut in a village in the Solomon Islands, Sir David has been left with a phobia of rats.

He said: “I really, really hate rats. I’ve handled deadly spiders, snakes and scorpions without batting an eyelid, but if I see a rat I’ll be the first to run.

"I don’t mean that I mildly dislike them as I dislike, let us say, maggots. I mean that if a rat appears in a room, I have to work hard to prevent myself from jumping on the nearest table!"