New Knees, New Vigour Sir David's Change Of Pace

The Naturalist Declares, ‘I Have So Many Stories Still To Tell’

- Des Sampson

At the age of 92, you might think that Sir David Attenborough would be looking forward to slowing down, putting his feet up, having a cuppa and watching some telly, rather than making another landmark show.

But of course, the naturalist and nonagenarian has nothing of the sort in mind. Instead, far from resting on his laurels, he’s busier than ever, with two new series out this year, including his most ambitious yet, Dynasties, with each episode taking up to two and a half years to film.

“It was a huge undertaking and a huge investment,” he acknowledges. “I can’t think of any programme that I’ve done in which it’s just one particular family of animals that have been observed, continuously, for two and a half years.

“Quite frankly, I can’t imagine how the idea was ever sold to the BBC, because you might film for all that time and have nothing to show for it! If you tried to pitch it to me, I’d think you were crazy,” he laughs.

“We filmed families of lions, chimpanzees and tigers, but my favourite has to be the Emperor penguins of Antarctica,” he reveals, with boyish enthusiasm. “It’s a beautiful part of the world − perhaps the one part of the world which is still largely untouched by humans.

“I would have loved to have been there and experienced it first-hand, like our film crews did, but I’m afraid nine months in freezing temperatures is just a bit too extreme for me now.”

Part of the reason for Sir David’s continued and unbridled passion and indomitable drive is, he reveals, the fact that a few years back he had both his knees operated on as they were beginning to make walking and moving painfully difficult.