Advertisement

Exclusive interview with Sir David Attenborough


Sir David Attenborough is a national treasure with an unforgettable voice and a long history of bringing the world to our living rooms. Over the years he has shown generations of people all over the world the full breadth of nature and the wonder of all living things.

After the hugely successful ‘Frozen Planet’ series for the BBC, Sir David is ready to show off a new film, made for Sky and filmed in 3D. It’s called ‘The Bachelor King’ and will air on New Year’s Eve exclusively on Sky 3D.

[See also: Christmas TV Highlights]


We sat down and talked to the great man about the show and his legendary career...

[Read the interview in his voice for the right effect]


What sets 'The Bachelor King' apart from programmes you’ve made in the past?

It’s in 3D! I’ve certainly made programmes about penguins before but never one in 3D.

To many people 3D is a gimmick, what would you say about that?

It can be a gimmick, of course it can, if it’s used as a gimmick but you can also use 3D to give great power to a picture and to give a sense of reality which you can’t get in any other way. 

How does ‘The Bachelor King’ utilise 3D?

The temptation when you’re filming in 3D for the first time is to have things whizzing out of the screen, or going over your head and that sort of stuff. There is a thrill in doing that once or twice but three times?

After about five minutes the audience becomes bored and you realise that if you’re going to make a film in 3D the important bit isn’t the 3D, it’s making a good film. 3D can make a good film great but it can’t make a bad film better.

Why penguins?

Because 3D equipment is very big, it takes four people to carry a camera and three quarters of an hour to change the lens. If you’re going to make a natural history film in 3D you don’t want to pick a subject that involves creeping up on shy little creatures.

The thing about penguins is that they don’t mind sitting alongside us on a beach. So that’s why.

[See also: Who could be the next Doctor Who assistant?]

What three words would you use to describe ‘The Bachelor King?

Penguins, albatross and elephant seals.

Do you think there’s room to tell similar stories to the one you’re telling in ‘The Bachelor King’, but with other species?


Oh yes, in fact you’re always telling the same story. Things are born, they grow up, they find a mate and they die. That’s the eternal story and it applies to humans as it applies to penguins, and squids and lions and anything.

You’ve had a very long and illustrious career, what are your most treasured memories?

Very difficult to pick one, if I had to pick one it would be watching the birds of paradise display and filming it for the very first time.

What series that you’ve worked on are you most proud of?

A series called ‘Life on Earth’ which was made in 1979. It was in 13 one hour parts which traced the history of life on Earth from the very beginning to today. It was the first of its kind, I mean there have been many natural history programmes since but that was the first and it had a huge impact and was shown around the world.


There are some extraordinary figures about how many people have seen it, 500 million or something, how they calculate it who knows but I know an awful lot of people saw it. People still say to me... in fact professors have said to me ‘The reason I’m a professor of zoology is because I saw ‘Life on Earth’ when I was nine’ and that’s very touching.

Nature documentaries are quite commonplace now, do you think that programmes such as yours still carry the weight that they once did?

Obviously if there are only six programmes on natural history a year, and that situation did apply, then obviously each one is important. Now we probably have six if not ten a week so how do you make them special? It’s very difficult to make a show that people remember and turn to rather than something else.

Which series of yours was most difficult to make?

I don’t know, it depends what you mean by difficult. I made one about the micro-world called ‘Life in the Undergrowth’ which was all about slugs and earthworms and centipedes and cockroaches. Many people said ‘oh you’ll never make a show about that’. I have to say, it wasn’t all that difficult technically but it required a lot of thought to provide the kind of story we’re talking about, but it can be done.

[See also: Christmas DVD guide for TV fans]

Is there a series you’re most proud of?

Well I have no right to be proud of any of them really, personally. I mean the cameramen; they’re the people who can say ‘Look at that shot, I’m proud of that’. I suppose I am proud to have made ‘Life on Earth’ and I’m proud to have been involved in those programmes. The credit almost always goes to the cameraman.

Do you still enjoy writing for these programmes now that you’ve written about almost everything on the planet?

I don’t enjoy writing books, I’ve written enough I suppose. Its fun writing a script to say how the picture should go, that’s the best bit.

What’s next for you?

Next we’re off to the Galapagos. 

The Bachelor King will air on Sky 3D at 8pm on New Year’s Eve