# Talk:David Attenborough

As controller of BBC 2 in the mid to late 1960s, David Attenborough showed an instinctive understanding of what made good television - Match of the Day, Monty Python and The Old Grey Whistle Test among the many ground-breaking shows he commissioned.
More - www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2008/mar/03/davidattenboroughafinespec  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.16.72.221 (talk) 17:05, 2 July 2025 (UTC) 

On what basis is he described as a biologist? Does he any relevant qualifications? Published any peer reviewed research? The entire careers section seems strong on his presenting history and I can't see anything which qualifies him to be referred to as a biologist or natural historiak come to that. 82.9.56.21 (talk) 23:12, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

from the Wikipedia article on biologist: a biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology.
What research has he conducted?  If none, this title needs to be remlved 82.9.56.21 (talk) 23:15, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
Anybody? Im not registered to edit but it needs fixing 82.9.56.21 (talk) 18:38, 17 December 2024 (UTC)
@82.9.56.21 Sources relating Attenborough to biology and being a biologist:
https://www.britannica.com/video/Biography-Sir-David-Attenborough/-298552
https://www.wearesa.au/news/sir-david-attenborough-donates-to-the-warlpiri-project
https://boingboing.net/2024/11/19/sir-david-attenborough-displeased-by-ai-clones-of-his-voice.html/amp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9clK9k2ynM
Strugglehouse (talk) 23:28, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
Whatever being "related to biology" is supposed to mean, it does not mean that he is a biologist. 2601:642:4F84:1590:DDA6:FEA5:D834:38CE (talk) 19:01, 16 February 2025 (UTC)

 Not done:
I tried all of the links you provided (thank you), but like the original commenter here was unable to find anything from an accredited source stating that he has graduated from their program after so many years focusing on anything in the sciences. Really I'd like to focus in on the following text from the article,
"and obtained a degree in natural sciences.[18]"
I followed that source which leads to a publication for the alumni of Clare College. They publish an short piece on his work with the BBC as a broadcaster and programmer, but that source actually not once stated that he was a graduate at all. It is only implied that he did intend because in the interview Attenborough does speak as if he has attended, which isn't really in dispute at this point. I will dispute that he has a degree in "natural sciences," and I would be far more willing to wager that he shifted his focus towards some sort of communication, publishing, etc. and that would be what his earned degree would be focused on. There is no doubt he has countless honorary ones. It would be quite dubious to refer to someone with an honorific because of an honorary degree presented only for display purposes.
I have come to the conclusion that I too have failed to find any evidence demonstrating that Sir Attenborough is different than a world renowned presenter and broadcaster for the BBC. Using the cited reference material, I found nothing in the publication that mentioned him being presented with an honorary degree, or that he received a scholarship to attend. The following is a quotation taken from Attenborough in the interview conducted in the alumni paper,
"“Learning about the natural sciences,
which I studied while at Cambridge,
was a great excitement that has never
abated,” he says."
That as well, does not even make the claim that he had graduated with a focus on any sciences but that he simply learned about the natural sciences, which still encompasses a large field of study and could very well mean anthropology or even astronomy.
Any references to an accredited degree I think ought be removed because the sources referencing the proof of it do not contain such evidence and an honorary degree as proof is dubious (at best) to the reader. Gomerkyle (talk) 19:49, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

Remove identification as a "biologist" from the lead, infobox and categories, because no foundation for it has been provided aside from sources asserting it in passing. 2601:642:4F84:1590:1C29:86FB:EFD6:7D16 (talk) 04:56, 4 April 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: Per this source [1] Valorrr (talk) 18:53, 4 April 2025 (UTC)
So... another source that merely asserts it in passing? WHAT BIOLOGY HAS HE DONE? 2601:642:4F84:1590:342C:71CE:B84A:752C (talk) 06:08, 5 April 2025 (UTC)
@2601:642:4F84:1590:342C:71CE:B84A:752C It's really not difficult to understand. If sources say he's a biologist, he's a biologist. Wikipedia goes by sources, not personal opinion. Strugglehouse (talk) 07:53, 5 April 2025 (UTC)
The notion that words might have meanings, rather than being magic spells, is apparently quite difficult for you to understand.

Change "is an English broadcaster" to "was an English broadcaster"  Turtleatedog (talk) 06:39, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

Not done. His latest film releases today and it'll be broadcast on streaming platforms later this year; that's about as "is" as anyone is likely to be. Matt Deres (talk) 13:39, 8 May 2025 (UTC)
I believe whether the person is alive or has died ought be the determination. If his latest film releases posthumously, we wouldn't continue to refer to him as if he were actively working on the production. Your reply leaves a bit too much open for ambiguity when applying it even to the same article but at a later date. I don't disagree with you that he should still be listed as "is", but I think the reason is flawed and it should be changed to "was" upon his confirmation of death. Gomerkyle (talk) 19:12, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

A video file needs to be replaced, it is a download from TikTok at low quality and does not provide the main part of his speech. A new video is to be uploaded at the approval of this edit request. LavaPulse (talk) 00:31, 29 May 2025 (UTC)

 Question:   What video file are you referring to? You don't need to make an edit request in order to upload a video. Day Creature (talk) 05:05, 29 May 2025 (UTC)
 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. SI09 (talk) 10:30, 28 June 2025 (UTC)