To celebrate 90 years of the BBC broadcasting from Bristol, Sir David Attenborough has praised the city and BBC Studios' Natural History Unit, saying "Bristol led the world to be truthful." Speaking exclusively to BBC Points West tonight (Tuesday, September 17), Sir David will discuss the impact the city has had on natural history programming how it revolutionised filming technology, and its global influence on the pursuit of environmental knowledge. When asked about this, Sir David said: "The world would be in a far, far worse situation now had there been no broadcasting of natural history.
People have found it a source of fascination and beauty and interest, and this has become key to looking after the world. People are aware of the problems of conservation in a way that could not exist without broadcasting, and the BBC can claim that we're leading that." September marks 90 years of the BBC broadcasting from Bristol, with Broadcasting House on Whiteladies Road first opening on 18 September 1934.
Today, the BBC's all-important local services for the region Radio Bristol and Points West also call the city home. Bristol's association with wildlife programming goes back to the mid 1940s, when The Naturalist was presented on the Home Service by Desmond Hawkins from the city. When speaking about Bristol's natural history heritage, Sir David said: "Desmond was the king of natural history broadcasting and an accomplished naturalist.
.. Bristol led the world to be truthful.
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