David Attenborough was born on 8 May 1926 in Isleworth, Middlesex, England. His father, Frederick Attenborough, was an academic and principal of University College Leicester, while his mother was Mary Attenborough. He grew up alongside his brothers, actor and director Richard Attenborough and businessman John Attenborough.

He attended Wyggeston Grammar School in Leicester and later studied Natural Sciences at University of Cambridge, graduating from Clare College. After serving in the Royal Navy during National Service, he joined the BBC in 1952.

Attenborough gained recognition through Zoo Quest before becoming Controller of BBC Two and later Director of Programmes at the BBC. Rather than remain an executive, he returned to programme-making and developed some of television’s most influential natural history series.

His major works include Life on Earth, The Living Planet, The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, and Our Planet. He also narrated Wild Cameramen at Work, broadcast on BBC channels as part of the corporation’s natural history output.

Following the death of his wife in 1997, Attenborough has continued his broadcasting and conservation work while remaining close to his family. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest documentary presenters in television history.