david attenborough facts

On 8 May 2024, Britain’s favourite naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, turned 98! 

David Attenborough facts

david attenborough facts

Sir David pictured with a young Prince Charles and Princess Anne.

1. Sir David Attenborough was born on 8 May, 1926, in Isleworth, West London

The same year as Queen Elizabeth II!

2. He was raised on the campus of University College, Leicester

Now the University of Leicester, where his dad was principal.

david attenborough facts

3. Sir David doesn’t count himself as an animal ‘lover’

But instead says he has always been fascinated by them.

4. He’s thrifty! 

At 11 years old he struck a deal selling newts to University College, Leicester for 3d (3 pence) each. The newts only came from a pond 5m away from the university’s zoology department!

david attenborough facts

5. He is the only person to have won BAFTAs for programmes in black and white, colour, HD, and 3D.

6. He doesn’t own a car as he never passed his driving test

He’s also not keen on sending emails, and prefers receiving letters by fax or post.

7. During World War II his parents adopted two Jewish refugee girls from Europe. 

david attenborough facts

8. There’s only one animal Sir David doesn’t like…

Rats!

9. Sir David was rejected from the first job he ever applied for at the BBC

The position of radio talk producer.

10. In 1947 he spent two years serving in the Royal Navy

Based in North Wales and the Firth of Forth.

david attenborough facts

11. When Sir David got his first job in television, he didn’t even own a TV

Like most British people at the time!

12. His first programme, called Coelacanth, looked at the rediscovery of the coelacanth

– a prehistoric fish.

david attenborough facts

13. Sir David has more than ten plants and animals named after him

Such as the Nepenthes attenboroughii – a giant carnivorous plant that devours animals as large as rats – and the UK’s new polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough.

14. In 1985 he received a knighthood

Granting him the title of Sir David Attenborough.

david attenborough facts

15. He’s thought to be one of the most well-travelled people on the planet

For The Life of Birds documentary, he travelled a whopping 256,000 miles – that’s the same as travelling around the world ten times!

What do you think of our David Attenborough facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: David Attenborough and two young children (2192547) , holding frog (2588653) , holding flying insect (74046800) , with the Queen (53049821) standing surrounded by objects (108874291) , portrait (526492398) , looking into the distance (526513484) , holding camera (502260275).
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COMMENTS

  • Sue Woods

    Amazing facts about Sir David. Lots of things I didn't know. I adore him. He's an amazing man.

  • munkipops

    I'm doing a homework project about him and he's so fascinating

  • Jeanne

    David Attenborough is one of my most respected and admired persons for his many contributions to the planet through plants and animals - a humble thank you.

  • OMG I did not know this

  • lol

    Soooooo fascinating

  • mira

    love it !

  • Ve Catterall

    An amazing human being. He has given so much pleasure that so many. My favourite ‘personality’.

  • chicen

    i personally think david attenborough is very cool.

  • josh

    AMAZNG FACTS SO INTERESTING

  • Strawberry

    Don’t like rats either

  • Mark brancheau

    Have loved his shows for all my life

  • Linda

    He is the most recognised narrator without even seeing his face. I can't imagine anybody in the future will reach the same brilliant heights or be as wonderfully redeared by millions of people.

  • Ursula Norbury

    Great facts about David Attenborouogj and his life. I'd love to learn even .ore about him. An amazing man!

  • Bob

    I don’t like rats ever errrr they are disgusting

  • I love rats

  • Irem

    I don’t like rats to and it is so fun to read this amazing thing

  • Really good

  • Dena Mcdonal

    Is there anywhere that Sir David hasn’t been? Where is his favourite place?

  • Emma Minen

    Wow that is fascinating!

  • Emma

    I like David Attenborough because he loves animals like me!

  • Lily

    He is my role model and i hope he inspires more people

  • Isabel

    I had no idea he was born in the same year as Queen Elizabeth! That's pretty cool!

  • Ron Shann

    A truely special individual!

  • jef

    That's surprising that he served in the navy, he doesn't seem the type to do that.

  • Penny aged 12

    Wow a knighthood

  • Foxy

    He's such a nice person , his whole live dedicated to nature

  • Seb aged 10

    I really think he is awesome

  • Sandra

    What a marvelous man and what a legacy he leaves for us all.

  • mia

    it is so crazy that he did not have a tv when he was growing up an he is so smart

  • cairo

    he changed the world

  • Ava

    he is so cool i want to be like him one day

  • Isobella age 8

    When I grow up I want to be like David Attenborough I love nature

  • Lola Hyndman

    So interesting and all off these are brilliant I don’t like rats either

  • Donald L Howard

    He is a fantastic documentary film maker. It's great that he met Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist. Their difference in age: Over 75 years!

  • Christine Haynes

    I live in new zealand and ex pat from uk. Have followed his programms forever. And his skill is humongous teaching people how to appreciate the best of our natural environment

  • not saying my name

    He probably owns many Nepenthes attenboroughiis if he hates rats.

  • Great work on your facts!!!

  • David Attenborough is amazing! I had no idea about all the things he has done!!

  • charlotte

    this was very educational

  • Anna

    Nice article

  • Grace

    I liked this website because it is very good and gave me lots of information that I didn't know

  • Brenda Cheers

    David Attenborough is the most amazing person on this planet

  • Blueberry

    Soooo cool

  • Lily aged 6

    I can't believe that he travelled so far away. I don't like rats either. I am pleased that he got a knighthood.

  • Nice

  • ARCHIE

  • JBarron

    so cool

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  • sarosh shahid

    coool

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    cool

  • savir

    95 amazing

  • march20

  • can't wait

  • liv

    great website

  • wow

  • TrippieRedd

  • 5cluvo

    in teresting facts right there

  • Ethan and Amelie

    we must take more care in it . it is getting out of control love Ethan and Amelie

  • estelle and w

    I love the facs and we lirnt alot

  • estelle

    wow thats good omg

  • nico

    well done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Ellie

  • Np

  • WOW

    Such good information make more like this!

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    WOW WOW WOW WOW

  • Cutie pie 123

  • michell

    that is cool

  • Kaboo

    Cool

  • unknown

    Helpful

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    Cool

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  • Jj

  • Aaron Oliver Thézé

  • Aaron Oliver Thézé

  • Aaaaa

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  • Cool

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    EPIC!!!!!!!!!

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    Awesome

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    Awsom

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  • Luke Coleman

    He is now in 2021, 95 years old! That's a lot of candles!

  • jack

    amazing facts

  • TurtleGirl

    this was really helpful! next time do you think you can add some more facts as I find david very interesting

  • ChimpGirl

    I agree with 78merryway as I felt as if there could have been some more interesting facts about him.

  • Hi

  • 78merryway

    I would suggest that you add more facts and features

  • Kk

    Wow

  • #happyturtle

  • Luke

    I love david attenborough

  • zapppy

    cool

  • : )

  • Simon

    you are epic

  • The boy

    Lesss goooooooo

  • Bob

    Very helpful!

  • swimmingsloth

    very interesting i learnt alot

  • Raph

    I like cats

  • flamingo lover

    very clear and nice facts simple

  • flamingo lover

    it was very helpful and clear

  • secret

    how do know this?? it amazing!!!

  • William

    It is helping my school assignment thanks

  • ANNABETH

    HE IS SO COOL!!!

  • griffin

    amazing

  • Wow

  • Mayar

    he is amazing person

  • Never knew!

  • gemma

    cool

  • Oli

    Awesome this is cool.

  • Nice you are awesome

  • JACKSON

    COOL O GOD

  • Wow!

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  • Aneeka

    Omg I really want to be like him

  • Charlotte

    This was very cool

  • Emily

    he is amazing i want to be like him when i am older

  • Midnight

    It always gives me so much information, but sometimes there is just not enough.

  • Alex

    Yay

  • Alex

    Brilliant

  • Jeff Jefferson

    Sir David Attenborough is amazing

  • John Jeuring

    What an amazing person

  • Dana

    Amazing I pray his kingdom will be protected for future generation to be educated and aware of what’s going on in our planet... animals are our teachers Nothing is created for no good reason

  • emily

    I think Sir David is amazing.

  • Ayaan

    Good work on finding this information

  • You are the best at making videos

  • Charisse Lim

    That's so cool.i never knew these things about Sir David Attenbrough.

  • Torchy

    Great facts I admire Sir David Attenborough and I am doing him as my passion project. when I grow up I am going to spend my life caring for animal and thanks loads for the information!!!

  • tom norris aged 9

    I'am doing a science project on him.

  • Sonic

    I ❤️ David Attenborough!

  • demi duncan

    I have been entertained by David Attenborough's work and videos. I love his video's and all the animals he has seen and gone near.

  • Senpai

    hes so cute and pure i love himmmm

  • Arie

    I'm a big fan of Sir David Attenborough. When I grow up I'm going to make a difference to the world just like him.

  • Ebony

    SO HELPFUL WE HAVE TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHY ABOUT HIM!!!

  • max

    AWESOME!

  • Narayan Pillai

    David Attenborough lived for a very long time and he's still alive

  • bbb

    cool

  • cool

  • uni - kitten

    brilliant in everything he does. he's amazing

  • JimmyBob

    Have loved David forever!!

  • Ivy

    Wow I love this you have been my fav person who studies animals plus I did my project on you it was really fun and interesting

  • meinck

    good facts

  • isabella greer

    i love David Attenborough! i always watch hisshows and i hope to be a zoologist when im older

  • Amber mcclunie

    I really enjoyed learning about sir David Attenborough. I am interested in animals as well and hope to become a zoologist. I hate a few animals but rats are one of them.

  • Thomas Sanders

    David Attenborough is amazing! I is going to make a vine for him!

  • kiddo

    I never knew any of these awesome facts about Sir David

  • Alice

    Wow i never knew David Attenborough didn't like rats and that he actually met prince Charles and princess Anne

  • Gail

    I come from Leicester

  • SIMON

    I found out things I didn't know, and I come from Leicester.

  • Joe and ellie

    This was great

  • Really good info on David attenborough

  • Knighty

    Wow!

  • Tom

    David Attenborough is my hero!!!

  • megab

    Hes such an inspiration and an incredible man, he will always be a legend and the world will grieve to his death because hes someone who has show and changed our views in nature :)

  • Maya_c

    I really love you David because you are so inspiring to me!

  • Boris

    Amazing

  • Im cool

    All I want to say is this was a big help on homework! LoL

  • heis

    david attenborogh is the best

  • JohnAplleseed

    Cant believe he won all those baftas

  • rochelledavies2000

    Im doing a speech on rats- Im awed to know david Attenborough doesnt like them either!! :-) xxxxxxx

  • JCB

    Very informative. Im fascinated that he was born in the same year as the Queen!!!

  • LanaB

    I cant believe he doesnt like rats! They can be such friendly animals.

  • Ryan lion

    I found the facts fascinating. We try to watch all the things he dose

  • Puppy123

    Amazing. Just amazing! I love animals. Sir David Attenborough is the best!!!!!

  • James_Gallagher

    Really interesting

  • Mairead

    Hes super!

  • Emilyboo

    Happy birthday Sir David Attenborough! Hope you enjoy! Thank you for doing all your TV shows. My favourite is the Life of Birds documentary.

  • Dolphin1

    Nice facts Sir I salute to you

  • TedTurner

    Sir David is the most inspirational animal lover and Ive learnt so much from his programmes.

  • Glitzyfish

    David has help educate myself and my 3 children. He has brought nature into our house in a way no one ever else has. I know he is respected by my kids when I see their usual kids sitcom/cartoons switched over to catch up on Human Planet. Well done David

  • SarahBattams

    Good to find out more about one of my favourite people. Everything hes produced has been brilliant and ground-breaking, but such a humble man. A legend of our time!

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