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Original poster

Does anyone dislike David Attenborough

359 replies

Butterme · 08/05/2026 20:09

I’m just wondering if there is anyone who dislikes David Attenborough.

I genuinely think he’s one of the very few people that everyone likes.
No matter how old, what class, what culture etc all I’ve ever heard is how much they love him.

It’s his 100th birthday today and if you google his name you’ll see.

I thought I’d do a poll incase anyone was too afraid of admitting they don’t like him 🤣

OP posts:
WhyCantISayFork · 09/05/2026 09:59

Tinselandtrainers · 09/05/2026 08:24

All those banging on about him being privileged, he was state educated. He isn't the silver spoon type that you imagine.

He went to Grammar School and then Cambridge?

Luddite26 · 09/05/2026 10:18

Grammar schools then were more equality of opportunity than cross my palm with wads of cash.

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 10:29

Rozendantz · 09/05/2026 06:47

I dislike him enough to immediately switch channels if I hear his voice.

I grew up in one of the African countries he seems to have spent some time in, and I find it enormously irritating that he seems to view himself as an expert on the animals in this country - that the majority of the population there know far more about than he does.

He always seeks advice and is keen to learn from the locals. He is not a know it all.

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 10:30

LogicAboveAll · 09/05/2026 05:52

I don't like Jane Goodall, either, but I don't think people are ready for that conversation based on some of the comments here 😆

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She died

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 10:32

reallyalurker · 09/05/2026 00:42

I don't like the programmes he makes at all, and know two other people who don't either (none of us are climate change deniers, or as far as I know sociopaths, as previous posters have suggested). I don't know anything about the rest of his work or life, so can't comment on that.

Can you explain why you don’t like his programmes?

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 10:33

MajorLanceYouDontWantMeNoMoreNsoul · 09/05/2026 06:13

Oh I absolutely loved that take me right back to sitting on the floor Infront of the black and white TV .

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Johnny Morris wasn’t in David Attenborough’s league!

MajorLanceYouDontWantMeNoMoreNsoul · 09/05/2026 10:38

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 10:33

Johnny Morris wasn’t in David Attenborough’s league!

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I was at infant school at the time
Pardon me for not having a more discerning taste in TV presenters.
I'm off to self flagellate with something prickly to redeem myself😁

Sunshine5791 · 09/05/2026 10:40

i do like his programmes, but don’t know him so don’t know if I’d like him in person as I’ve never met him. It’s lovely for him and his family that he has celebrated such a milestone birthday, but that really comes down to luck, rather than anything else. I felt a similar way with Captain Tom, I liked him at the start, but all the publicity made me actively dislike him. I’m hoping the David Attenborough birthday fuss dies down quickly, so I can get back to enjoying his tv show.

LogicAboveAll · 09/05/2026 10:41

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 10:30

She died

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Changes nothing except the breathing part.

Uricon2 · 09/05/2026 11:06

In terms of actual love though, Gerald Durrell for me. He was a real pioneer for endangered species and DA , a contemporary who knew him, called him "the renegade who was right " and said "He was truly a man before his time, when the time was already upon us".

He didn't actually enjoy writing but made me weep with laughter while reading The Corfu Trilogy and his absolute wonder at and passion for the natural world was palpable.

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 09/05/2026 11:10

I dont find him as fascinating as the English people do. Its the same weirdness ye have with Paddington bear. This whole doffing your cap, "happy birthday sir" "marmalade sandwiches ma'am" that makes me very eye rolly.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/05/2026 11:41

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 09/05/2026 11:10

I dont find him as fascinating as the English people do. Its the same weirdness ye have with Paddington bear. This whole doffing your cap, "happy birthday sir" "marmalade sandwiches ma'am" that makes me very eye rolly.

I don’t know what nationality you are but I can assure you that not all English people like Attenborough

Tinselandtrainers · 09/05/2026 13:11

WhyCantISayFork · 09/05/2026 09:59

He went to Grammar School and then Cambridge?

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Yes. State grammar

WhyCantISayFork · 09/05/2026 13:12

Tinselandtrainers · 09/05/2026 13:11

Yes. State grammar

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It’s a state Grammar now

Tinselandtrainers · 09/05/2026 13:13

It was then

gingercat02 · 09/05/2026 13:32

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/05/2026 20:12

Your poll is stupid. The thread is called, does anyone dislike… and the poll is do you like…

So loads of people will press the wrong button!

Yep me! I love him. Who doesn't?

gingercat02 · 09/05/2026 13:33

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/05/2026 11:41

I don’t know what nationality you are but I can assure you that not all English people like Attenborough

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Irish. Ye is Irish

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 14:34

Loved the tribute programme to him last night. Very moving, joyous and appropriate.

WoodlandLove · 09/05/2026 15:43

I love him. But, I can't watch many of his programmes, as I can't cope with the hunting scenes.
I've not massively engaged with the 100 birthday stuff. I've actually struggled with it, as I lost my own dad recently, and it's his birthday in a few days. He was much younger than 100. Seeing all the birthday stuff has been triggering for me, so I've been avoiding it.
I love the work DA has done around climate change especially.

WaryCrow · 09/05/2026 20:34

Uricon2 · 09/05/2026 11:06

In terms of actual love though, Gerald Durrell for me. He was a real pioneer for endangered species and DA , a contemporary who knew him, called him "the renegade who was right " and said "He was truly a man before his time, when the time was already upon us".

He didn't actually enjoy writing but made me weep with laughter while reading The Corfu Trilogy and his absolute wonder at and passion for the natural world was palpable.

Oh thank goodness there’s another Durrell fan on here. Someone who genuinely saw the problems humans were creating years ago and tried to tell them so, and did something about it. David Attenborough avoided doing so until he really could not avoid it any more, he was starting to get a lot of censure for his lack. I’m not sure, but I think his delay was because he believed in survival of the fittest.

I’m sick of the amount of gushing for DA, it sounds exactly like the gushing over saint Diana. Britain does a fine line in mass hypnosis.

Gerald Durrell didn’t like writing? He did enough of it. His books take up an entire shelf in my house.

Purplecatshopaholic · 09/05/2026 20:48

I do love his voice I must admit, I find it so calming.

Allseeingallknowing · 09/05/2026 20:48

Purplecatshopaholic · 09/05/2026 20:48

I do love his voice I must admit, I find it so calming.

It’s soporific-I’ve often dropped off to it!

TwinklyTaupePanda · 09/05/2026 21:44

I grew up watching David Attenborough programmes on a projector screen at the British Council in Penang on many Saturday mornings; they were activities I remembered fondly.

HRTQueen · 09/05/2026 21:53

I don’t think there is anyone who is so revered in the UK at present

we love him in our house and I have done since starting to watch his shows and the same with ds

Marmalademorning · 09/05/2026 22:09

Redpaisley · 09/05/2026 01:13

Do you always go out of way to look for problems in people?

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Only the ones they don’t approve of 🙄