David Attenborough: A Remarkable Year of Achievement and Environmental Advocacy at 99
Emmy Record and Continued Excellence
Sir David Attenborough has made history, winning the 2024 Daytime Emmy award for outstanding daytime personality – Non-Daily — for Netflix’s ‘Secret Lives of Orangutans’ at the age of 99. Sir David Attenborough has now become the oldest Daytime Emmys winner ever at 99, beating previous record holder Dick Van Dyke, who won last year. This remarkable achievement underscores his enduring influence in natural history broadcasting, with the Brit’s career as a writer, host and narrator spans eight decades.
Ocean Documentary Delivers Message of Hope
In May 2025, Attenborough released his latest feature-length documentary, ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’, which premiered in cinemas globally. The film premiered at the Royal Festival Hall on May 6, with Sir David Attenborough and King Charles III in attendance alongside many special guests. The story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen. Attenborough explained in part in the new documentary that ‘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.’
Recognition and Future Projects
Today, Sir David Attenborough received the 2025 Beacon Award for his pioneering contributions to natural history broadcasting and his advocacy for conservation, over a career spanning more than 70 years. Looking ahead, BBC AMERICA announced that renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy Award-winner Sir David Attenborough will narrate Kingdom, a major new six-part natural history series set to premiere in 2026.
Enduring Legacy and Global Impact
As Attenborough approaches his 100th birthday in May 2026, his influence on environmental awareness remains unparalleled. His long history as a naturalist and presenter of the highest integrity and his well-known insistence on basing what he says on scientific fact, has made him one of the world’s most influential and respected environmental advocates. His work continues to inspire global action on conservation and climate change, demonstrating that age is no barrier to making a significant impact on the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.