Career Timeline of David Attenborough: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of David Attenborough, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Sir David Attenborough is a highly influential British broadcaster, biologist, and natural historian renowned for his extensive work in nature documentaries. Beginning with Zoo Quest in 1954, he has written, presented, and narrated numerous acclaimed series, including The Life Collection and the Planet Earth franchise. A pioneer in wildlife filmmaking, Attenborough has won BAFTA Awards across various formats and received numerous honorary degrees and Emmy Awards. He is also an environmental advocate, raising awareness about conservation and the impact of climate change.
1950: Job application at the BBC
In 1950, Attenborough applied for a job as a radio talk producer with the BBC but was rejected. However, his CV later attracted the interest of Mary Adams, head of the Talks (factual broadcasting) department of the BBC's television service.
1952: Attenborough joins the BBC full-time
In 1952, David Attenborough joined the BBC full-time as a producer for the Talks department, which handled all non-fiction broadcasts. His early projects included the quiz show Animal, Vegetable, Mineral? and Song Hunter.
1954: Host of Zoo Quest
In 1954, David Attenborough first became prominent as the host of Zoo Quest.
1954: Zoo Quest first broadcast
In 1954, Zoo Quest was first broadcasted. David Attenborough became the presenter at short notice due to Jack Lester being taken ill.
1957: First filming at Great Barrier Reef location
In 1957, David Attenborough first filmed at the Great Barrier Reef location, which he returned to in 2015 for the "Great Barrier Reef" series.
1957: BBC Natural History Unit Established
In 1957, the BBC Natural History Unit was formally established in Bristol. Attenborough was asked to join it, but declined, not wishing to move from London where he and his young family were settled. Instead, he formed his own department, the Travel and Exploration Unit.
1964: BBC Two Launched
In 1964, BBC Two was launched. When Attenborough arrived as controller, he quickly abolished the channel's quirky kangaroo mascot and shook up the schedule.
March 1965: Controller of BBC Two
In March 1965, Attenborough became Controller of BBC Two, succeeding Michael Peacock.
1969: Filming in Bali
In 1969 David Attenborough made a three-part series on the cultural history of the Indonesian island of Bali.
1969: Promotion to Director of Programmes
In 1969, Attenborough was promoted to director of programmes, making him responsible for the output of both BBC channels.
1969: Civilisation Broadcast to Universal Acclaim
In 1969, Civilisation, presented by Sir Kenneth Clark, was broadcast to universal acclaim. The show became the blueprint for landmark authored documentaries.
1969: Creation of "The World About Us"
In 1969, David Attenborough created "The World About Us" as a vehicle for colour television.
1971: Filming A Blank on the Map
In 1971, David Attenborough filmed A Blank on the Map, where he joined the first Western expedition to a remote highland valley in New Guinea to seek out a lost tribe.
1972: No Appetite for Director-General Position
In 1972, David Attenborough confessed to his brother Richard that he had no appetite for the position of Director-General of the BBC.
1975: Television projects
In 1975, Attenborough presented a series on tribal art (The Tribal Eye), another on voyages of discovery (The Explorers), and a BBC children's series about cryptozoology entitled Fabulous Animals.
1977: Narration of "Wildlife on One" begins
In 1977, David Attenborough began narrating every episode of "Wildlife on One", a BBC One wildlife series.
1979: Life on Earth released
Beginning with Life on Earth in 1979, Attenborough set about creating a body of work which became a benchmark of quality in wildlife film-making and influenced a generation of documentary film-makers.
1979: Attenborough visits the People's Republic of China
In 1979, Attenborough visited the People's Republic of China and reported to the West for the first time about the Chinese one-child policy.
1987: Release of "The First Eden"
In 1987, David Attenborough wrote and presented "The First Eden", a series about man's influence on the natural history of the Mediterranean Basin.
1987: "Meerkats United" episode of Wildlife on One
In 1987, the "Meerkats United" episode of "Wildlife on One" was voted the best wildlife documentary of all time by BBC viewers.
1990: Involvement in "Prisoners of Conscience"
In 1990, David Attenborough worked on the BBC's "Prisoners of Conscience" series, highlighting the case of Sudanese poet Mahjoub Sharif.
1990: Trials of Life Completed
In 1990, The Trials of Life completed the original Life trilogy, looking at animal behaviour through the different stages of life.
1993: Life in the Freezer
In 1993, David Attenborough presented Life in the Freezer, the first television series to survey the natural history of Antarctica.
1995: The Private Life of Plants
In 1995, David Attenborough released The Private Life of Plants, which used time-lapse photography to show plants as dynamic organisms. The show went on to earn a Peabody Award.
1997: Narration of "BBC Wildlife Specials"
In 1997, David Attenborough narrated the "BBC Wildlife Specials", focusing on charismatic species to mark the Natural History Unit's 40th anniversary.
1998: The Life of Birds
In 1998, David Attenborough released The Life of Birds, on the theme of behaviour. The documentary series won a second Peabody Award the following year.
2000: Release of "State of the Planet"
In 2000, David Attenborough released "State of the Planet", a documentary assessing human activities' impact on the natural world.
2001: Narration of "The Blue Planet"
In 2001, David Attenborough narrated "The Blue Planet", BBC's first comprehensive series on marine life.
2002: Attenborough opposes creationism in UK schools
In 2002, Attenborough joined clerics and scientists in opposing the inclusion of creationism in the curriculum of UK state-funded independent schools.
2002: The Life of Mammals
In 2002, David Attenborough released The Life of Mammals, which used low-light and infrared cameras were deployed to reveal the behaviour of nocturnal mammals.
2002: Life on Air Publication
In 2002, David Attenborough's autobiography, Life on Air, was published.
2002: Life on Air and Attenborough the Controller are broadcast
In 2002, Life on Air examined the legacy of Attenborough's work, and Attenborough the Controller focused on his time in charge of BBC Two.
2003: Launch of Rainforest Reserve Appeal and ARKive Project
In 2003, David Attenborough launched an appeal for the World Land Trust to create a rainforest reserve in memory of Christopher Parsons and helped launch ARKive, a global digital library of natural history media.
2004: Attenborough featured in The Way We Went Wild
In 2004, Attenborough was featured prominently in The Way We Went Wild, a series about natural history television presenters.
2005: Support for BirdLife International Project
In 2005, David Attenborough backed a BirdLife International project to stop the killing of albatross by longline fishing boats.
2005: End of "Wildlife on One" narration
In 2005, David Attenborough finished narrating "Wildlife on One", a BBC One wildlife series that ran for 253 episodes.
2005: Life in the Undergrowth
In 2005, David Attenborough released Life in the Undergrowth, which introduced audiences to the world of invertebrates.
2006: Viewers vote for Favourite Attenborough Moments
In 2006, British television viewers voted for their Favourite Attenborough Moments for a UKTV poll to coincide with the broadcaster's 80th birthday. The winning clip showed Attenborough observing the mimicry skills of the superb lyrebird.
2006: Release of "The Truth about Climate Change"
In 2006, David Attenborough released "The Truth about Climate Change", addressing issues of global warming.
2006: Support for WWF's Borneo Rainforest Campaign
In 2006, David Attenborough supported WWF's campaign to have 220,000 square kilometres of Borneo's rainforest designated a protected area.
2007: Attenborough featured in 100 Years of Wildlife Films
In 2007, Attenborough was featured in 100 Years of Wildlife Films, a programme marking the centenary of the nature documentary.
2008: Attenborough criticises BBC television schedules
In 2008, Attenborough criticised the BBC's television schedules, stating that BBC One and BBC Two were scheduling similar programmes simultaneously.
2008: Completion of "Life on Land"
In 2008, David Attenborough completed his collection of programs on major groups of terrestrial animals and plants with "Life in Cold Blood", compiled in a DVD encyclopaedia called "Life on Land".
January 2009: Commission of "David Attenborough's Life Stories"
In January 2009, the BBC commissioned David Attenborough to provide a series of 20 ten-minute monologues about the history of nature, entitled "David Attenborough's Life Stories", broadcast on Radio 4.
2009: Attenborough criticizes the Book of Genesis for promoting environmental devastation
In 2009, Attenborough stated that the Book of Genesis taught generations to "dominate" the environment, leading to devastation. He emphasized the importance of Darwinism and evolution in understanding our current environmental situation.
2009: Release of "How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth?"
In 2009, David Attenborough released "How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth?", focusing on human population growth.
2009: Life on Air Revised Edition
In 2009, David Attenborough's autobiography, Life on Air, was revised.
2009: Attenborough special Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life is broadcast
In 2009, the BBC broadcast Attenborough's one-hour special, Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life. In reference to the program, Attenborough affirmed that evolution is a solid historical fact and criticized the belief that creationism should be taught alongside evolution in science lessons.
2010: Flying Monsters is released
In 2010, Attenborough became a pioneer in the 3D documentary format with Flying Monsters.
2010: Assertion on the "Life" Series
In 2010, David Attenborough stated that his documentary, "First Life", should be included within the "Life" series as it completed the set.
2010: Debut of "Flying Monsters 3D"
In 2010, David Attenborough's collaboration with Sky resulted in "Flying Monsters 3D", a film about pterosaurs, which debuted on Christmas Day.
2011: Role in "Frozen Planet"
In 2011, David Attenborough appeared on screen in "Frozen Planet", authoring the final episode and providing voiceover duties.
2013: Attenborough describes humans as a "plague on the Earth"
In 2013, Attenborough described humans as a "plague on the Earth" in an interview with the Radio Times, criticizing the act of sending food to famine-stricken countries as "barmy" due to population concerns. He also called for more debate about human population growth, noting its tripling since he began making programs 60 years prior.
September 2014: Return to "Tweet of the Day"
In September 2014, David Attenborough continued as one of the presenters of BBC Radio 4's "Tweet of the Day", which began its second series.
October 2014: Announcement of New Documentaries
In October 2014, the BBC announced new one-off David Attenborough documentaries, including "Attenborough's Paradise Birds", "Attenborough's Big Birds", and "Waking Giants".
2014: Attenborough is the only person to have won BAFTA Awards in black and white, colour, high-definition and 3D
As of 2014, Attenborough was the only person to have won BAFTA Awards for programmes in black and white, colour, high-definition and 3D.
2015: Release of "Great Barrier Reef" series
In 2015, Atlantic Productions released the three-part series "Great Barrier Reef" fronted by David Attenborough, marking his 10th project with Atlantic and a return to a location first filmed in 1957.
2015: Narration of "David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities" Series 3
In 2015, David Attenborough narrated the third series of "David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities" for the UKTV channel Watch.
2016: Attenborough reflects on Terry Wogan's job application
In 2016, Attenborough reflected on Terry Wogan's job application to be a presenter on BBC Two. He stated that there were not any suitable vacancies at the time.
2016: Return to "Planet Earth II"
In 2016, David Attenborough returned as narrator and presenter for "Planet Earth II", with music by Hans Zimmer.
2017: Broadcast of "Blue Planet II"
In 2017, "Blue Planet II" was broadcast, with David Attenborough returning as presenter. It gained high UK viewing figures and increased attention to plastic pollution.
2018: Narration of "Dynasties"
In 2018, David Attenborough narrated the five-part series "Dynasties", each episode focused on a particular species.
2018: Comments on Environmental Messaging in Programming
In 2018, while promoting "Dynasties", David Attenborough mentioned that repeated messages on threats to wildlife in programming could deter viewers.
2019: Narration of "Our Planet" and Release of "Climate Change – The Facts"
In 2019, David Attenborough narrated "Our Planet" for Netflix, emphasizing the destructive role of human activities, and released "Climate Change – The Facts" for BBC One with a graver tone.
2019: Release of "Extinction: The Facts"
In 2019, David Attenborough released "Extinction: The Facts", depicting the continuing sixth mass extinction.
October 2020: Release of "David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet" and Filming for "The Green Planet"
In October 2020, David Attenborough's film "David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet" was released on Netflix, and he began filming for "The Green Planet" in Cambridge.
2020: Attenborough criticises excess capitalism
In 2020, Attenborough criticised excess capitalism as a driver of ecological imbalance and lamented the lack of international cooperation on climate change.
2020: Support for Global Moratorium on Deep Sea Mining
In 2020, David Attenborough backed a Fauna and Flora International campaign calling for a global moratorium on deep sea mining.
2020: Release of "A Life on Our Planet"
In 2020, David Attenborough released the documentary "A Life on Our Planet" which received praise.
2020: Advocacy for ZSL and Appointment to Earthshot Prize Council
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, David Attenborough advocated for the Zoological Society of London and was named a member of the Earthshot Prize Council.
2020: Advocacy for Reduced Meat Consumption
In his 2020 documentary film David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, David Attenborough advocated for people to adopt a vegetarian diet or to reduce meat consumption to save wildlife.
June 2021: Release of "Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet"
In June 2021, the documentary titled "Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet" was released on Netflix, with David Attenborough's involvement.
2021: Attenborough addresses G7 leaders on climate change
In 2021, Attenborough told the leaders of the 47th G7 summit that tackling climate change was as much a political challenge as a scientific one and urged for more action, stating that we are on the verge of destabilising the entire planet.
2021: Speech at COP26 Opening Ceremony
In 2021, David Attenborough gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), emphasizing humans' problem-solving abilities and expressing optimism for environmental recovery.
2021: Presentation of "Attenborough's Life in Colour" and "The Mating Game"
In 2021, David Attenborough presented the three-part series "Attenborough's Life in Colour" and the five-part series "The Mating Game".
May 2022: Airing of "Prehistoric Planet"
In May 2022, David Attenborough's "Prehistoric Planet" aired, focusing on prehistoric life.
2023: Attenborough is described as invaluable to green diplomacy
In 2023, Attenborough was described by the New Statesman as a figure "invaluable to green diplomacy" in the UK.
2025: Ocean With David Attenborough cinema release
In 2025, Attenborough is slated to appear in the cinema release of "Ocean With David Attenborough".
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