ATTENBOROUGH, SIR DAVID FREDERICK

born May 8, 1926, London, Eng.

British television writer.

For the BBC , which he joined in 1952, he originated the series Zoo Quest (1954–64). As controller of BBC-2 (1965–68) and director of programs (1968–72), he helped produce The Forsyte Saga , The Ascent of Man , and Civilisation . As an independent producer, he made innovative educational programs such as Life on Earth (1979) and The Living Planet (1984). He was knighted in 1985.