Sir David Attenborough has said he was “completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings” as he celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday. The naturalist, who had hoped to mark the milestone quietly, instead saw the occasion honoured with a live event at the Royal Albert Hall, broadcast on BBC One, featuring music from his programmes and reflections from public figures.
In a recorded audio message, Attenborough thanked wellwishers “most sincerely”, noting that messages had come from preschool groups to care home residents. “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,” he said.
Tributes poured in from science, politics and popular culture. Naturalist Chris Packham called him “the greatest living broadcaster and the greatest ambassador for life on Earth”. Actor Ian McKellen said Attenborough summed up “the best about the BBC”, making serious programmes for a popular audience.
To mark his birthday, the Natural History Museum named a newly discovered parasitic wasp Attenboroughnculus tau after him and is running an immersive exhibition until August. Kew Gardens recorded a birthday message urging people to take greater care of plants and fungi, while the Australian Museum offered free entry to a new exhibition in his honour.
Attenborough was born in Isleworth, west London, in 1926. After stints in the navy and publishing, he joined the BBC in 1950, rising to become controller of BBC2 in 1965, where he commissioned early episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test and developed Civilisation. His landmark 1979 series Life on Earth cemented his reputation as a consummate storyteller and passionate advocate for the natural world.
