A celebrated immersive exhibition from the Natural History Museum, featuring Sir David Attenborough, is set to be transformed into a free, five-minute show in central London to mark his 100th birthday.
The adapted experience, titled Our Story With David Attenborough, will be showcased at Outernet London in Tottenham Court Road, commencing on Sir David’s birthday, May 8. The veteran BBC nature presenter will guide viewers through the intricate history of humanity and the Earth, culminating in a vision for London’s future.
Reflecting on the full production, Sir David stated: “In this immersive experience, we explore two stories – the four-billion-year epic of the Earth, and our own, relatively brief chapter, the story of humankind. These two stories are not, at this moment, aligned – but they could be. My hope is that anyone visiting the Our Story experience will come to understand how important humanity is in writing the planet’s next chapter.”
The original 50-minute immersive exhibition first opened its doors at the Natural History Museum in June last year. Adam Farrar, director of commercial and visitor experience at the Natural History Museum, highlighted its success: “Our Story with David Attenborough has been one of the Museum’s most successful experiences, having reached over 150,000 visitors from across the world already since it opened. The Museum’s mission is to create advocates for our planet and we and Open Planet Studios are keen to take the experience to as many people as possible. This special adaptation with Outernet in the beating heart of London promises an inspiring exploration into how we can coexist with both our city and our planet, guided by Sir David’s signature powerful storytelling.”
The Outernet adaptation will run at the Now Building until May 31, while tickets for the full display at the Natural History Museum remain available.
Sir David, born on May 8, 1926, in London, is the son of an academic and principal of University College, Leicester. Before joining the BBC in 1952, he pursued geology at the University of Cambridge and served two years in the Royal Navy. He later gained widespread recognition with the groundbreaking Zoo Quest series, which he hosted for a decade on the BBC.
In 1965, he became controller of BBC Two, overseeing the introduction of colour television, and subsequently served as BBC director of programming. However, the executive role did not appeal, prompting his return to his passion for filming wildlife. His distinctive whispering voice became a familiar sound in 1979 with Life On Earth, where he famously interacted with a family of gorillas, followed by its sequel, The Living Planet, in 1984.
He was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 and received a Knight Grand Cross honour in 2022. Sir David has two children, Susan and Robert, with his late wife Jane, whom he married in 1950. His late brother, Richard, was a renowned actor and film director, known for roles in films such as The Great Escape, Doctor Dolittle, and Jurassic Park. Residing in Richmond, Sir David has recently presented acclaimed series including Dynasties, Prehistoric Planet, and Planet Earth III.