Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering his work for the first time, David Attenborough’s documentaries offer a front-row seat to the wonders of our natural world. With his soothing voice, unmatched storytelling, and a deep reverence for the planet, David’s documentaries are both an awe-inspiring and urgent call to protect Earth’s fragile ecosystems.
Read on for more about the man and the documentaries.
Who is Sir David Attenborough?
David Attenborough, full name Sir David Frederick Attenborough, was born on 8 May 1926 in London, England. Meaning he turned 99 in 2025.
He joined the BBC in the 1950s and quickly became a pioneer in natural history television. He’s one of the most trusted voices on environmental and conservation issues.
Despite being in his late 90s, he remains active and continues to front major nature series and campaigns such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution.
His brother was Richard Attenborough, the Oscar-winning director of Gandhi and actor who also starred in Jurassic Park alongside Sam Neill. While Richard made his mark in film, David became the voice of the planet.
When did Sir David Attenborough become a knight?
Fun fact, David Attenborough has been knighted twice!
He was first knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming Sir David Attenborough, in 1985, for his services to television broadcasting and natural history. In 2022, he then received an even higher honour: a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Famous David Attenborough namesakes
Scientists around the world have named over 50 species after David Attenborough. Some of them include:
- Attenborough’s pitcher plant (Nepenthes attenboroughii) – A rare carnivorous plant from the Philippines.
- Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi) – A critically endangered mammal from Papua New Guinea.
- Attenborough’s goblin spider – A tiny spider that is only found on Horn Island in northern Queensland. It’s not the only spider from Australia which is named for the documentarian. There’s also the cavisternum attenboroughi
- Attenborougharion rubicundus – A super rare Tasmanian semi-slug (a snail with a shell that is so small that it can’t retract into it).
- Microleo attenboroughi – A now-extinct marsupial lion which once roamed Australia.
It isn’t just animals which are named for the documentarian. David Attenborough has also been honoured with buildings and institutions. However, one of the most (in)famous namesakes is the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The Boaty McBoatface controversy
You may remember that in 2016, the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) launched a public competition to name its new £200 million polar research vessel. The internet, naturally, had ideas. One submission — Boaty McBoatface — proposed as a joke by BBC radio presenter James Hand, went viral and quickly became the runaway winner with over 124,000 votes.
However, despite the public support for the joke name, the vessel was officially named RRS Sir David Attenborough, in honour of the beloved broadcaster and natural historian.
However, the public’s favourite name wasn’t discarded entirely. A remotely operated submersible aboard the ship was named Boaty McBoatface to honour the public’s decision!
01
Wild Isles
2023
Expect gorgeous footage of puffins, otters, and wildflowers, all filmed in David Attenborough’s own backyard: the Celtic Isles, aka Ireland, the Isle of Man, Great Britain and the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
02
Planet Earth
2006-2023
The groundbreaking series that redefined nature documentaries. Planet Earth takes viewers across every biome — from soaring mountains to deep jungles — using state-of-the-art camera technology.
A decade later, Planet Earth II returned with even more breathtaking footage and cinematic storytelling. It was followed by Planet Earth III in 2023.
Iconic moments include snow leopards hunting in the Himalayas and a heart-racing chase between snakes and iguanas. The scene with the snakes and iguana also went viral thanks to Snoop Dogg doing a new narration of the footage.
03
The Blue Planet I & II
2001-2017
Dive into the deep with this mesmerising look at the world’s oceans. Blue Planet explores rarely seen marine creatures and highlights the devastating impact of plastic pollution. It was followed by Blue Planet II in 2017.
It is a powerful blend of beauty and environmental urgency, with unforgettable sequences like dolphins playing with pufferfish and whales singing beneath the waves. The series also won a number of Emmy and BAFTA TV awards for its music and cinematography.
04
Our Planet
2019
Produced by the same team behind Planet Earth, Our Planet blends sweeping visuals with a sharp focus on climate change.
Narrated by David Attenborough, it’s a wake-up call that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of habitat loss and human impact. Plus, it’s won two Emmy Awards to boot.
05
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
2020
Part memoir, part environmental warning, this intimate documentary charts David Attenborough’s 90+ years observing a planet in peril. It’s emotional, raw, and ultimately hopeful.
06
David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef
2015
In 1957, Sir David Attenborough first visited the Great Barrier Reef. In this three-part documentary series, he returns after 60 years to see what has changed in the six decades since. From the creatures who call it home to the coral in depths never seen before.
07
Dinosaurs: The Final Day with David Attenborough
2022
This revolutionary documentary brings to life the catastrophic events leading to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the film focuses on groundbreaking fossil discoveries at the Tanis site in North Dakota, providing unprecedented insights into the final moments of the Cretaceous period.
08
Ocean with David Attenborough
2025
The most recently released documentary from the naturalist is Ocean with David Attenborough. This documentary, released in May 2025, explores the beauty and importance of the world’s oceans while highlighting the urgent threats they face, like overfishing and deep-sea destruction.
The film marries breathtaking footage with a hopeful message, as David shows how protecting marine ecosystems can lead to powerful recovery — if we act now.
