Beloved wildlife expert David Attenborough has covered every animal imaginable during his decades on screens – but he has refused to ever bring the camera closer to home
David Attenborough once scrapped plans for a documentary on humans, as it would involve filming them have sex without them knowing.
The beloved wildlife expert and host of nature docs such as the BBC’s Planet Earth turned 99 on Thursday (May 8). He is back with a brand new documentary film – Ocean – which stresses the need to save the world’s waters and takes viewers through 100 years of discoveries about Earth’s seas.
Sir David has had an incredible career which has spanned more than 70 years. During that time, his documentaries have delved into the rainforests, oceans, deserts, the arctic and beyond.
But he has refused to release a documentary about humans, admitting he “didn’t dare” to do so. He previously said: “Having done a lot of programmes on animals, obviously at first you think, ‘Why don’t we do one on human beings?’
“But I didn’t dare. The series would have to go into sexuality.”
The broadcaster explained: “The premise was people didn’t know they were being observed on camera as, if they did, that wouldn’t be genuine behaviour. So in the end I abandoned it.”
Viewers probably wouldn’t be shocked by the doc, given the likes of shows like Naked Attraction and Open House: The Great Sex Experiment broadcasting naked bodies and sexuality into our front rooms.
Over the years, David has been the narrator for a number of major documentaries produced by the BBC, including The Blue Planet and Planet Earth. In recent years, he has also worked with Netflix on the show Our Planet.
Despite his hugely impressive career and status as National Treasure, David has shunned celebrity life. He explained that he didn’t engage with the public in a way some celebrities might.
“I wouldn’t go around expressing my love to the general public in a big way,” he previously said. “The love you express is between one person and another person. Whether it’s sexual love or family love, you don’t go around spreading it.”
Sir David recently opened up about being near the end of his life ahead of the premiere of Ocean. He said: “When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity.
“Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true. After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea,”
Revealing his deep concerns over the ocean’s deteriorating condition, he continued: “Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all.”
However, Sir David has stayed optimistic about humankind saving the sea. He maintained: “If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.”
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
