King, Hollywood, BBC: 'David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth'
'David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth'
Courtesy of BBC
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London celebrated David Attenborough’s centenary on Friday, with the highlight being a special BBC broadcast evening event at the Royal Albert Hall in the British capital dedicated to the work of the legendary English broadcaster, natural historian and conservationist. Stars, royals and collaborators shone a spotlight on his work and career during David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, which drew 5,000 people in attendance and aired on the BBC with a slight delay.
Sir David himself and such royal, musical and other guests as Prince William, original Monty Python member Michael Palin, Bastille frontman Dan Smith, Icelandic band Sigur Rós, singer Sienna Spiro and naturalists Steve Backshall, Liz Bonnin, Chris Packham and Anna Dimitriadis, who showed off a thermal imaging camera by finding Benedict Cumberbatch in the crowd, graced the stage on Attenborough’s actual birthday.
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Video greetings shared on Friday evening were led off by a royal short film starring King Charles III writing his 100th birthday letter to Attenborough, which got delivered with the help of various members of the animal kingdom, including a hedgehog that drew much laughter with his appearance. The short, entitled A Very Special Delivery, was produced by BBC Studios’ natural history unit. You can watch the short at the end of this article.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Olivia Colman, composer Hans Zimmer and Paddington Bear added Hollywood star power to the video birthday messages, which also included the likes of documentary maker Louis Theroux, United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres, Glastonbury Festival organizer Emily Eavis, and such music stars as Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Raye, Camila Cabello and Nile Rodgers.
Palin shared onstage insights into his long friendship and friendly rivalry with Attenborough and their work as fellow globetrotters. “David is a more intrepid traveler than myself. When I see a swamp, I walk around it,” he quipped. “David jumps in.” Palin was the only Monty Python representative on stage, but the second python of the night after a snake featured in one of the highlight videos.
Prince William in his tribute lauded Attenborough for having “transformed how we see the only home we have, Planet Earth,” adding that he has also strengthened his personal dedication to protecting nature and the planet. “You have given us belief that positive change is still possible,” the royal concluded.
Attenborough had shared a message on the eve of his 100th birthday. “I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas,” he noted. “I’ve been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings from preschool groups to care home residents and countless individuals and families of all ages. I simply can’t reply to each of you all separately, but I would like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages and wish those of you who have planned your own local events tomorrow, have a very happy day.”
Touted as an “unmissable event honoring one of the most influential figures in broadcasting and natural history storytelling,” the Friday birthday bash in London featured star power, dramatic wildlife stories and live music, as the BBC Concert Orchestra served up original compositions from some of Attenborough’s most popular landmark series.
The night, hosted by Kirsty Young, who had already hosted the legend’s 90th birthday celebration event, opened with a thunderous standing ovation for Attenborough who waved at the crowd before sitting down next to Prince William.
What followed was a performance by the BBC Concert Orchestra, joined by the Ascension Choir and The Herds, of the theme from Planet Earth II, accompanied by a video montage celebrating the 70 years of Attenborough’s career as a wildlife filmmaker.
Dan Smith, who collaborated with Hans Zimmer on the Planet Earth III soundtrack, then hit the stage and put smiles on the faces of the crowd by performing the Bastille hit song “Pompeii” with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Ascension Choir.
Toward the end of the evening, the audience was treated to a clip sh