The Staggers

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Preview: NS Profile with David Attenborough

David Attenborough talks about life, God and the BBC.

By Sophie Elmhirst Published 05 January 2011 19:28

"If you appear on the box, people think you know what you are talking about, and it's patently not so," says David Attenborough, in an interview published in this week's New Statesman. He is being typically modest – as Richard Dawkins puts it, Attenborough is probably the most respected person in Britain. His body of work has shaped the way we see the natural world, and contributed significantly to scientific research.

But while underplaying his achievements (he describes himself as a "chap from the television") Attenborough is also tough-minded, taking on the critics who say he fails to credit a divine creator in his films.

"You're never going to silence them because the fundamental problem is accepting what evidence exists. They say, 'It's written down on this page and what is there is beyond argument and it was put there by God.' If you believe that, well, I'm awfully sorry, but there's no point in us discussing it."

On the BBC too, he is frank: "I think the BBC has strayed from the straight and narrow on a number of courses at the moment," he says. "The sails need to be trimmed and [it] needs to be refocused . . . but it is crucially important in our society and [represents] the highest aspirations of our society. I'm appalled anybody thinks otherwise." His warning to the government is clear. "If you remove the licence fee, it would be gone in a decade, finished."

His passion is infectious, just as it is when he talks about wildlife. And this, of course, is all that matters to him. "That's what being alive is about," he says. "I mean, it's the fun of it all, making sense of it, understanding it. There's a great pleasure in knowing why trees shed their leaves in winter. Everybody knows they do, but why? If you lose that, then you've lost pleasure."

To read the full article buy a copy of this week's New Statesman, out Thursday.

Tags: David Attenborough BBC

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48 comments

Fri, 2011-01-07 21:56 — Will (not verified)

Thank god for David Attenborough. I grew up with him on my telly in the 70s and 80s. Thanks to him I've always had a balanced view of what life and nature is, which helps when you have a primary school teacher who tells you religious nonsense. Thankfully the existence of Life on Earth on the telly in the 70s and since provided us with sensible explanation of life. The importance of that can't be stressed strongly enough.
Thank you David! :)

Sat, 2011-01-08 09:55 — Drakula

I have to say that I really enjoyed David Attenboroughs' programs.
He is very knowledgeable about the evolutionary process of natural selection that was first thought of by Charles Darwin.

I have just finished reading 'The God Delusion' by Dawkins and Attenboroughs' work was cited often to lay the foundation of understanding of the natural world; this I might add seriously challanges religious superstition that has plagued civilisation since the year AD 325.

Wed, 2011-01-05 19:54 — ang (not verified)

God doesn't exist, it was a story made up long, long ago to stop us all going mad and also a powerful way to control groups of people. Now, most of us are able to make our own decisions about how humans came into existence and there is overwhelming scientific evidence, wheras the god thing is a baffling and rather silly notion.

Wed, 2011-01-05 20:35 — Mike S (not verified)

He's absolutely right about the BBC - although he is understating the case. He must be hurting quite a lot about the state of an organisation he cares passionately about and to which he has contributed so much. The current DG is the worst in the history of the BBC - he severly damaged Channel 4 and is doing his best to ruin the BBC.

Wed, 2011-01-05 21:08 — Mike45Au (not verified)

What a beautiful, intelligent and gracious man. I wish there were more of him.

Wed, 2011-01-05 22:08 — swatantra nandanwar

Governing any organisation these days is a hellava more difficult than it was in the past. Lord Reith had it easy.
Thats why 'smaller govt' is simply nonsense.

Sun, 2011-01-09 12:28 — Badoola (not verified)

@Drakula - You are talking about Christianity in particular, not religion in general. Religious superstition has plagued 'civilisation' since its inception, and it probably always will. Some people will always find it difficult to cope with uncertainty and so will invent realities for themselves with narratives of who they are, where they are from, and where they are going. I don't think knowledge of the probable truth of evolution will change that, although I wish it would. The scientific mindset has to maintain some element of doubt and this isn't enough for some people. We certainly are a peculiar species. Dawkins merely repeats what others have said for millennia, that religion is made-up nonsense, the only difference is that he has the relatively modern theory of evolution to add weight to his argument.

I like David Attenborough from what I've seen of him, a very pleasant chap.

Tue, 2011-01-11 02:46 — Moderate It (not verified)

Ehtch, comment is free but this is not a forum to post irrelevant links to youtube videos and reminiscing about old Welsh rugby. Stay on topic and do not drown out the comments with your ramblings.

I notice on another thread you commented on a Robin Williams show you were watching - I can only conclude you are lonely. I am sorry about that but there are more appropriate forums for finding net friends.

Thu, 2011-01-06 02:36 — Nixon is Lord (not verified)

Does the fee cost more to collect and enforce than the money it brings in?
If so, why have a fee at all?

Tue, 2011-01-11 02:50 — Moderate It (not verified)

Plus Ehtch, your comments so far have made no sense. What did Attenborough do in the 80s that so offended you?? Why is he not a scientist?

And when I ask a question I appreciate an answer not a link to a video of a Russian soldier or a Kubrick film.

Thu, 2011-01-06 08:28 — ellieban (not verified)

@EhtchTee Bugger off, there's a nice chap.

@MikeS I couldn't agree more. I'm about as staunch a defender of the BBC as anyone can be and even I am considering junking it. Not because I want it to go, or because I think we'd be better off without it - that couldn't be further from the truth and the BBC as originally conceived is a VERY important institution that we desperately need. It's just it isn't performing that function and, as it stands, I really can't see the point continuing to fund it. David Attenborough and 6music are the only good things left :/

Thu, 2011-01-06 09:23 — Dave C (not verified)

How the hell does Ehtch Tee's incessant posting of completely irrelevant YouTube videos get through the new moderation system?

Get your act together NS.

Tue, 2011-01-11 10:14 — Simon Burrows (not verified)

The funniest thing about this comment trail is some attention-seeking bloke trying to get noticed, but largely getting ignored by people wanting to show their appreciation for probably the best television maker our country has ever seen.

No human is without his faults, but David Attenborough is a national treasure. I had a bit of a tear in my eye when First Life came to a close and I thought it might be the last time I saw new DA programming.

My generation looks at the world differently thanks to your programming.

Thu, 2011-01-06 11:18 — David Attenborough (not verified)

Ehtch Tee, will you please stop.

Thu, 2011-01-06 11:50 — Johanna Baxter (not verified)

Hear hear!

Have always been an admirer of your work David! Your programmes are a pleasure to watch - completely fascinating, exposing the true splendor of our natural world. Also enjoyed your Hope $ Apes event in December. Keep up the brilliant work - I look forward to every new installment! :)

Thu, 2011-01-06 12:29 — swatantra nandanwar

The great thing about David was that he wasn't really a trained 'scientist'; he didn't have any qualifications, and so was ablle to bringan ordinary persons perspective on natuaral science. The programmes he made were beautiful in every sense, because as a BBC administrator he understood how TV works and can reach audiences.
BBC as moved awy from the boring old OUpen Univrsity type programmes that were made by scientists in the 70's.
We'got an excellent crop of scientists on the BBC these days, like Coast, or Springwatch etc and Soar System etc. And great expert scientists oing the presenting like Neil Oliver Liz Bonner Kate Humble and Chris Packham and Brian Cox. And its thanks to David for leading the way. Worth every penny of the license fee. Thats why the fee should stay and BBC not be commercialised with ads.

Thu, 2011-01-06 12:42 — swatantra nandanwar

It is science, and its also popular science, that engages the public so conditioned these days to the pap of soaps sport and endless Kerry Katona and Katie Price.

Mon, 2011-01-10 01:34 — Moderate It (not verified)

NS please ban Ehtch Tee - his posting ruins every thread he appears on. Why allow such irrelevant babble? (I hesitate to call it trolling since even a troll tends to stay on topic to some extent and not post stupid youtube clips)