Attenborough takes centre stage at TV festival

● Broadcaster will look over his career with natural history colleague

The veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough is to discuss his illustrious career at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.

More than 60 years working with the BBC will be recalled by the 91-year-old during an appearance at the event next month. He joins the likes of Jon Snow, Russell Brand, Rory Bremner, Evan Davis and Sue Perkins in the line-up for the festival.

The world-renowned naturalist will speaking at the EICC nearly 20 years after being honoured at the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Sir David, who began his career as a producer in 1950 after completing National Service in the navy, has been making nature programmes with the BBC since 1979.

Described by the BBC as “the godfather of natural history,”

0 Sir David Attenborough began his career with the BBC in 1950 and has made nature programmes since 1979 he has fronted acclaimed documentary programme series including Life on Earth, The Living Planet, Blue Planet and Planet Earth, as well as more than 250 episodes of Wildlife on One.

His career also includes a spell as controller of BBC2 in the 1960s, during which time he commissioned programmes including Call My Bluff, The Money Programme and Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and introducing televised snooker.

Sir David will be joined on stage at the TV festival by Julian Hector, head of the BBC’S natural history unit, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Sir David said: “I’m delighted to be at the TV festival to recall the history of what was the first natural history unit to be set up in the world and to celebrate some of its milestones.”

His “in conversation” event will explore the evolution of the natural history genre, the impact this has had on public understanding and perception of the natural world, and the latest technology being used in documentary-making.

Festival director Lisa Campbell said: “Sir David Attenborough is a broadcasting legend, synonymous with the incredible programming made by the BBC’S natural history unit, and someone whose wisdom and knowledge is enjoyed across generations.

“It’s long been an ambition of mine to welcome Sir David to the festival and I have no doubt that it will be a remarkable and historic session.”

The festival has previously announced that Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow will be delivering the keynote Mactaggart Lecture at the event, following in the footsteps of Dennis Potter, Rupert Murdoch, Kevin Spacey, Janet Street-porter and Armando Iannucci.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is also lined up for an appearance at the event.