BBC
The eminent broadcaster and environmental advocate marks a significant milestone this Friday, with a special concert scheduled for the evening at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In an audio message released on Thursday, Sir David expressed, “I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas."
He continued, “I have been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings, from pre-school groups to care home residents, and countless individuals and families of all ages."
He remarked, “I simply can't reply to each of you separately, but I'd like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages and wish those of you who have planned your own local events: Have a very happy day."
The concert at the Royal Albert Hall serves as the grand finale of a week filled with special events and broadcast programming in tribute to Sir David, who was born in 1926 and began his career at the BBC in 1952.
Throughout his career, Sir David has engaged in numerous animal encounters captured in his wildlife documentaries.
Kirsty Young will serve as the presenter for this special 90-minute concert, which will be available for viewing on BBC One and iPlayer starting at 20:30 BST on Friday.
Notable guests including Sir Michael Palin, Steve Backshall, Liz Bonnin, and Chris Packham will make appearances at the event to commemorate Sir David's life and legacy.
Ahead of the concert, Young shared, “Sir David's gift to the world has been a life spent exquisitely revealing Earth's wonders to us all. The very least he deserves is a big 100th birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall. I'm very happy indeed, as the host, to be able to invite everyone to the party."
The event will feature highlights from some of the most iconic wildlife moments of Sir David's career, alongside selections from the BBC's natural history archive.
The BBC Concert Orchestra will provide live music, including iconic pieces associated with his most renowned television series, such as sequences from Planet Earth II and Frozen Planet II.
Additionally, the concert will showcase performances by Bastille frontman Dan Smith, who will collaborate with the orchestra for a rendition of the band’s hit “Pompeii,” featured in Planet Earth III.
Furthermore, Sigur Rós is scheduled to perform “Hoppípolla,” a piece prominently used in the promotion of Planet Earth and Planet Earth II, with additional musical contributions from singer Sienna Spiro and harpist Francisco Yglesia.
In celebration of Sir David's centenary, the BBC has offered an array of special programming throughout the week.
A recent documentary showcased Sir David and members of his former production team reflecting on the creation of their groundbreaking 1979 series, Life on Earth.
Additionally, the recent BBC One series, Secret Garden, allowed Sir David to explore the hidden worlds and wildlife thriving in British gardens. Many of his other acclaimed programmes are also available in a dedicated collection on iPlayer.
The BBC's chief content officer, Kate Philips, commented that Sir David's 100th birthday represents an "extraordinary" occasion, describing him as a "truly remarkable individual."
Born in west London on May 8, 1926, Sir David has led a distinguished career, presenting pioneering natural history series such as his Life Collection, The Trials of Life, and The Blue Planet.
He is a father of two, with his wife Jane, who passed away in 1997. His brother Richard was an Oscar-winning actor and director who passed away in 2014.
On Thursday, the Natural History Museum honored Sir David by naming a newly identified species of parasitic wasp after him.
The Attenboroughnculus tau, found in the Patagonian lakes of Chile, was recently cataloged in the museum's collection, four decades after its original discovery.
This is not the first instance of species being named in tribute to the broadcaster, as he has previously been honored with the naming of a wildflower, butterfly, grasshopper, dinosaur, and ghost shrimp.
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