Fans of Sir David Attenborough can see the free show from May 8
The Natural History Museum’s immersive Sir David Attenborough exhibition is set to be reimagined as a free five-minute show in central London to mark his 100th birthday.
Our Story With David Attenborough will be modified for screening at Outernet London on Tottenham Court Road from Sir David’s birthday on 8th May, with the distinguished BBC nature broadcaster guiding audiences through the history of humanity and Earth, before unveiling a vision of London’s future.
Sir David said: “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 full 50-minute immersive exhibition launched at the Natural History Museum last June.
Adam Farrar, director of commercial and visitor experience at the Natural History Museum, said: “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.”
He added: “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 adapted exhibition will be showcased at Outernet’s Now Building through to May 31, and tickets are still available for the complete display at the Natural History Museum.
Sir David was born on May 8, 1926, in London to an academic father who served as principal of University College, Leicester. Prior to joining the BBC in 1952, he studied geology at the University of Cambridge and completed two years of service in the Royal Navy, subsequently establishing his reputation through the pioneering Zoo Quest series, which he presented for a decade on the BBC.
In 1965, he assumed control of BBC Two, supervising the introduction of colour television, and subsequently rose to BBC director of programming – however, life as a broadcasting executive held little attraction, prompting his return to his true calling of capturing wildlife on film.
His distinctive hushed tones became instantly recognisable across British households in 1979 when viewers watched him interacting and connecting with a gorilla family in Life On Earth, followed by its successor The Living Planet in 1984.
The subsequent year saw him knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II, before receiving a Knight Grand Cross honour in 2022. The broadcaster has two children, Susan and Robert, with his late wife Jane, who he married in 1950. His late brother Richard was a celebrated actor and film director who appeared in films including The Great Escape, Doctor Dolittle and Jurassic Park.
In recent years, Sir David, who lives in Richmond, has fronted programmes such as Dynasties, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.
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