DESPITE being an old man for as long as most of us can remember, Sir David Attenborough hasn’t spent much time dwelling on his mortality – until now.
The national treasure turns 99 next week, and as he prepares to celebrate the milestone birthday, he’s finally stated that he is: “nearing the end of his life.”
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Sir David, whose career spans eight decades, makes the admission in his new show, Ocean, in which he looks at how important aquatic life is to our planet.
The feature length film sees him on a shoreline looking out to sea in what is widely expected to be his last location shoot for a TV show.
A TV insider said: “They’re two major moments but despite being associated with the BBC for most of his working life, they both feature in the documentary which is set to drop on Disney+.”
In the documentary, which airs on the streaming giant later this year, he is seen saying: “When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity.
“Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true.
“After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
The film shows Attenborough looking back at footage from 1957 of his first attempt at scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
Although he says we are “almost out of time”, Attenborough remains optimistic.
He tells how creating protected marine reserves where fishing is banned allows the ocean’s eco-system to recover.
Sir David is expected to make a rare public appearance at a London premiere of the film next week.
ALISON HAMMOND will be interviewing celebs in some wacky locations on her new BBC One show, Big Weekend.
She takes a rollercoaster ride with Mel B and chats to Jimmy Carr in an ice bath.
She said: “This is all about me getting celebs to have the juiciest, funniest and emotional chats.”
JOSH IS BEYOND REACH
A FIRST-LOOK at the upcoming finale of Beyond Paradise will delight fans – as it shows Chris Jenks’ much-loved character Josh is back, and already causing trouble.
The last episode of series three, which airs on Friday night at 8pm on BBC One, sees Josh back in town and running from the police.
Hot on his tail is Dylan Llewellyn’s PC Kelby Hartford in a tense on-foot pursuit.
Josh, the stepson of Sirine Saba’s Sally Woods, was last seen in the 2023 Christmas special where he was questioned by Kris Marshall and Zahra Ahmadi’s Humphrey and Esther, for stealing cars.
It comes as sister show Death In Paradise has been confirmed for a 15th series, with filming starting this week.
U.S. wish granted
THE tenth series of Grantchester will be shown in the US before the UK.
Vicar Alphy – actor Rishi Nair – is looking for love, while ex-curate Leonard Finch, played by Al Weaver, turns to booze to cope with the split from his boyfriend.
But UK fans may not see the action until next year.
The ITV drama, starring Robson Green, airs in the US in June.