Attenborough Turns 100: A Life Adventure Reviewed!

Making Life On Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure, iPlayer 

Rating: Five out of five stars 

Rating:

Win a clutch of Olympic golds or The Celebrity Traitors and you’re on the waiting list for National Treasure status.

Then there’s ‘International Treasure’  – 100 years old today and occupying the similarly rarefied air of the late Queen Elizabeth, with whom he famously shares a birth year. 

Making Life On Earth (BBC1) reminded us of the young, dapper BBC executive who, if he’d continued down the same path, was in line to be director-general (‘You’d be a bloody fool if you accepted that!’ advised his similarly over-achieving brother ‘Dick’ Attenborough, actor and Academy Award-winning director of Gandhi), but instead went off to write and present the landmark 1979 natural history series.

Alongside inevitably fascinating stories behind some of the iconic footage, there were warm reminiscences from Sir David and the team who produced, directed and filmed over three years, in 100 locations. 

Even if he hadn’t been sat on by a baby gorilla in one of the world’s most loved/watched TV moments, Sir David’s legacy was assured; for my generation the game-changer series was up there with the Moon Landings, ensuring we saw our world from an entirely different (and far more colourful) perspective.

Sir David said he has been 'completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings' as he thanked well-wishers “most sincerely” ahead of his centenary on Friday.

The beloved naturalist said he had hoped to celebrate his 100th birthday 'quietly'.

Instead the milestone will be marked with a live event at the Royal Albert Hall featuring music from his programmes, as well as stories and reflections from public figures and leading advocates for the natural world.

In a recorded audio message shared the night before his birthday, he said: 'I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas. 

'I’ve been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings from pre-school groups to care home residents and countless individuals and families of all ages. 

'I simply can’t reply to each of you all separately, but I would like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages.

'I wish those of you who have planned your own local events tomorrow a very happy day.'

The Royal Albert Hall celebration, which will be broadcast on BBC One, is just one of many events to mark his birthday.

The Natural History Museum’s immersive exhibition presented by Sir David will be transformed into a free five-minute show in central London to celebrate the landmark.

Our Story With David Attenborough will be adapted to be shown at Outernet London in Tottenham Court Road from Sir David’s birthday on May 8, and will see the veteran BBC nature presenter take viewers through the history of people and the Earth, before presenting a vision of London’s future.

The broadcaster has been inundated with messages and well-wishes from environmental and animal charities and has also had a “wise” bull named after him by animal charity Peta to celebrate his birthday.

The bull, named Sir Attenbullock, was among the first rescued through Peta India’s Delhi mechanisation project.