Sir David Attenborough: Seven times the nation fell in love with the naturalist all over again

The 92-year-old is our favourite
Investitures at Windsor Castle
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Natasha Sporn|Emma Powell11 November 2018
The Weekender

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Sir David Attenborough is a national treasure. We won’t take any arguments.

And Britain’s favourite star is back on the small screen with a new series, Dynasties, all about five “celebrated yet endangered” species.

But it isn’t only his nature documentaries that have helped us to love Sir David, but his soothing voice and adorable personality.

Here are seven moments we couldn’t help but love Sir David…

Adored: Sir David Attenborough
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

When he just wanted to talk about butterflies

Earlier this year, Sir David encouraged us all to get involved with the Big Butterfly Count. He went on BBC Breakfast to talk about the project but host Naga Munchetty wanted to talk about other things.

When Munchetty asked him about his conversations with the royal family, a saddened looking Sir David replied “I wanted to talk about the Big Butterfly Count, that's why you invited me here”.

When he formed a golden couple with The Queen

In April, Attenborough joined Queen Elizabeth II in the royal gardens discussing the landscape. They spoke about everything from the trees on display to their responsibility to the environment.

Viewers were loving the warmth, wit and rapport between the two and quickly hailed them as a “golden couple”, calling for them to team up for more shows.

When he narrated Adele’s music video

Attenborough delighted fans when he took time out from narrating nature to provide a commentary on music videos – in specific, Adele’s Hello. Inspired by his BBC One documentary, The Hunt, Attenborough described the singer as a “delicate and finely tuned animal” before poking fun at her retro flip phone. “The weather is poor and she hasn’t upgraded her handset since 1999," he said. "Hashtag flip phone."

When a giant bird took him down

Gorillas have welcomed him, and blue whales have showed off for him – but the capercaillie bird was not so impressed to meet the famous naturalist after mistaking him for a love rival. Attenborough attempted to explain how “being the breeding season the capercaillie will display at almost anything – including me” before finding himself pushed to the ground. After calmly telling the bird “now now”, Attenborough admitted defeat.

When he tried to scare a sloth

Viewers may get enthusiastic at the prospect of seeing Attenborough – but one sloth certainly wasn’t. The broadcaster snuck up on the plant predator and shouted “Boo”. But, being the world’s slowest mammal, it failed to react and was left nonplussed by the naturalist’s attempts at humour.

When he proved he could narrate anything

It’s not quite the subject matter he’s accustomed to narrating, but Attenborough tried his hand at commenting on a shoe-mounting tortoise. With atmospheric music and his “elevating” voice, Attenborough told how the reptile “emits the mighty mating call” on “the lush grasslands of... Croydon”.

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