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Topics: TV And Film, UK News, Animals, Sir David Attenborough
Jen Thomas
Topics: TV And Film, UK News, Animals, Sir David Attenborough
Sir David Attenborough turns 100 this year, and to celebrate there's a major birthday bash being thrown for him.
The broadcaster and all-round national treasure will be celebrating his centenary next month, on 8 May.
The Royal Albert Hall will be playing host to a birthday party to remember for the icon.
With a career spanning an impressive eight decades, Attenborough has won the hearts of the nation through his work with the natural world, voicing countless documentaries and using his position to raise awareness for endangered species and environments.
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According to Euronews, it is set to be a star-studded affair to celebrate the iconic presenter.
Some of the names confirmed to be attending are Sir Michael Palin and Steve Backshall, as well as musicians who featured in the Planet Earth series.
One such musician is Bastille frontman Dan Smith, who will be performing a classical version of the band’s hit ‘Pompeii’ with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
The song was used in Planet Earth III to great critical acclaim.
Icelandic band Sigur Rós will also be performing their beautiful song, ‘Hoppípolla’, which was the soundtrack to the now-famous trailer of the first ever season of Planet Earth in 2006.
The BBC Concert Orchestra will perform the scores we know and love from Sir Attenborough's programmes, as well as singer Sienna Spiro and Paraguayan harpist Francisco Yglesia.
The event, called David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth will air on his birthday on BBC One and iPlayer.
In addition, there will be two other shows to celebrate the occasion.
These are called Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure and Secret Garden.
The latter is a five-episodes focusing on Britain’s gardens, and how we can all help to save struggling species.
Elsewhere, according to the BBC a butterfly farm will release 100 butterflies into their attraction to celebrate.
Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm will invite two schools to join them as the blue morpho butterflies are released into their enclosure.
A producer who has worked with Sir Attenborough has said that as he turns 100, everyone has stopped wondering whether the iconic broadcaster will finally start 'slowing down' on his workload.
According to The Express, film producer and director Joe Loncraine appeared on BBC Breakfast ahead of his colleague's birthday.
He recalled: "I first worked with him just before his 90th birthday, and I thought, I'm so glad I got to work with him because surely he won't be making films for much longer now that he's nearly 90.
"Since then, I've worked with him on five projects, five different films over that time in the last ten years, and I've stopped thinking he'll be slowing down. You'll lose that bet if you have it any time.
"He always surprises us, he's always wanting to do more. He remains very curious about the world and wants to learn more and show people what he's learnt and show people what he's excited about.
"I imagine he'll probably rest a bit more, he's earnt it. But I wouldn't be surprised if he keeps doing stuff for as long as we want him, which will be as long as we can have him."