Sir David Attenborough has said he is ‘not afraid of death’ ahead of his milestone 100th birthday.
The beloved broadcaster and biologist, 99, will celebrate his centenary on May 8, with a special BBC programme commissioned to mark the milestone.
Reflecting on his life as he approaches his birthday, Sir David has candidly said he is not afraid of dying – but rather of not living enough.
He simply said: ‘I’m not afraid of d.e.a.t.h… I’m afraid of not living enough.’
Sharing his acquired wisdom, Sir David said: ‘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.
‘If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.’
Sir David Attenborough has said he is ‘not afraid of death’ ahead of his milestone 100th birthday on May 8
Despite his love for animals and his close encounters with nature’s species, Sir David has admitted he hates rats.
He said in the same interview with Yours Magazine: ‘I really, really hate rats.
‘I’ve handled deadly spiders, snakes and scorpions without batting an eyelid but if I see a rat, I’ll be the first to run.’
The national treasure had a pacemaker installed in 2013 and in 2015 he had both his knees replaced in major surgery.
Sir David, whose wife Jane tragically died in 1997 following a brain haemorrhage, has previously spoken his fears for growing old, in particular ‘becoming helpless’.
Meanwhile, in his new interview, Sir David has described his career, which spans eight decades as ‘swanning round the world looking at the most fabulously interesting things’.
Despite worries from fans he may stop making new programmes, Sir David shows no signs of slowing down, with new shows this year.
A new BBC series called Secret Garden will see him reveal the hidden worlds and remarkable wildlife thriving within Britain’s gardens.
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure will go behind-the-scenes of his remarkable series, which first went into production in 1976.
It will feature interviews with Sir David and the rest of the crew sharing insights from the three-year, hair-raising odyssey around the world.
David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth was also previously announced, airing on BBC One and iPlayer.
Broadcasting live from the Royal Albert Hall on his birthday, the celebratory event will feature the BBC Concert Orchestra and special guests.
In December, the letter that launched Sir David’s career was unearthed, showing how things could have been very different for him.
As a budding naturalist, a young Sir David had applied to become a producer.
He had a pacemaker installed in 2013 and in 2015 he had both his knees replaced in major surgery. He has previously spoken his fears for growing old, in particular ‘becoming helpless’
The BBC turned him down, but then encouraged him to apply for its television training scheme, which prompted him to give it another shot.
The letter tells the then 26-year-old that his interview was successful, adding: ‘I am now writing to let you know that you were selected for the Television Training Course as Talks Producer.’
The BBC said that the success of his second application ‘arguably changed the course of broadcasting history’.
Sir David rose to become controller of BBC Two and director of programming during the 1960s and 1970s before presenting scores of award-winning documentaries about the natural world.
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