How David Attenborough changed sport forever
The closest most of us associate the name Sir David Attenborough with the history of sport on television is his memorable commentary during an episode of Planet Earth II, broadcast in 2016.
That was his breathless voiceover of the annual contest between freshly hatched iguana babies and racer snakes on the Galapagos Islands, a face-off which held the nation transfixed when that extraordinary footage of a life-or-death dash for the shoreline was first aired. But, unlikely as it may seem, the fact is Attenborough is also responsible for some of the few moments of the BBC's once prodigious sporting output that remain standing. Because, in the days before he became renowned for bringing us ever closer to the drama of the natural world, Attenborough was a hugely influential television controller.
A wonderful moment on Centre Court as the crowd rises for Sir David Attenborough 💚 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/AtcwfoPHwm
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2024
Never mind the landmark series he commissioned like Civilisation, Monty Python's Flying Circus and the Old Grey Whistle Test, he is also the man who kept Match of the Day on our screens. Plus, he was so persuasive in his role as a telly executive he even managed to get the notoriously conservative Wimbledon authorities to change the colour of the tournament balls to yellow (eventually). Not to forget that, when millions of us hunker down to watch the final moments of the World Snooker Championship this weekend, we have one person to thank for it being on the box: David Attenborough.
Back in the 1960s, while still in his early thirties, Attenborough had tired of his early career as a television executive and was studying for a postgraduate degree at the London School of Economics. But the BBC had long noted his innovative approach to programming and, with its new second television station struggling to make its presence known, persuaded him to become the second controller of BBC2, taking over in March 1965. His idea was to create a channel which, he once explained, 'catered to all levels of brow'. There was to be no traditional Reithian snobbery under his watch: all licence-fee payers would be invited to his channel. Not least fans of sport.
On taking control, one of his first tasks was to rescue a programme commissioned by his predecessor Michael Peacock. Match of the Day had begun the previous August, its purpose to offer televised snippets of Saturday's football. And it had not gone down well in the corridors of the Football League. Those in charge of the game had always been wary of television, fearing that showing matches beyond the annual FA Cup final and the occasional England game would have a detrimental effect on live attendances. Thus it was decided among the game's hierarchy that the experimental first season of recorded highlights would be the last. But the new BBC2 boss was more than keen to keep the programme going. And in a meeting with the trepidatious blazers, Attenborough managed to assuage their doubts. He did it, he told a documentary to mark Match of the Day 's 50th anniversary, 'on the basis that nobody watched BBC2, which was more or less true. BBC2 was only visible in a small part of the country – London and Birmingham – and it had a tiny number of viewers'.
'Don't worry, no one's watching' is hardly the most compelling sell. But it worked. The Football League signed off on a new season-deal. Soon after which, thanks to Attenborough's shrewd negotiating skills, the show entered sporting folklore.
Four years later, in 1969, Attenborough finally convinced the government to allow the BBC to introduce a new technology that had long since taken root in the USA and Japan: colour television. It required, however, expensive kit. And Attenborough needed something that would prove its vast superiority over bog-standard black and white to persuade viewers to fork out. So he called a meeting of senior producers, instructing all of them to come up with ideas. The best was a suggestion to embrace the game in which colour is absolutely central to its processes: snooker.
Attenborough seized on the thought, sought the opinion of the established radio commentator Ted Lowe and immediately commissioned Lowe's idea for a show called Pot Black, a weekly competition involving eight players competing in one-frame challenges. Although available in colour for those who had new sets, for the rest of the nation it remained monochrome. Which explains Lowe's infamous attempt to clarify things in those early days: 'For those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green.'
It was Attenborough, moreover, who, in 1973, in his new capacity of director of programmes for the whole corporation, encouraged Grandstand to screen highlights of the semi-final and final of the World Snooker Championship. In 1978, after the tournament moved to the Crucible, daily coverage was introduced, an innovation that has remained in place ever since.
Snooker was not the only sport he brought to the television audience in colour, either. He loved tennis, in particular Wimbledon.
'I mean, it is a wonderful plot: you've got drama, you've got everything,' he once told the Radio Times. 'And it's a national event, it's got everything going for it.'
So his new colour BBC2, he decided, would feature not just recorded highlights in the evening as was traditional, but live matches during the day. Thus it was Attenborough who was responsible for half the British workforce feigning illness in order to spend the afternoon behind closed curtains watching the tennis.
Even then, he was always seeking improvements. He noticed, while watching his station's output, that it was hard for the home audience to follow white balls moving across green turf. Why not introduce yellow coating for the balls? The International Tennis Federation did a bit of investigation and discovered Attenborough was right: it was not just the green of the All England Club lawns, yellow was a much more visible colour against all the surfaces on which the game was played. In 1972, it decreed yellow was the way forward. Though being Wimbledon, the annual fortnight did not adopt the Attenborough yellow until 1986. By which time the great man himself had long moved on into his career as a nature documentary maker. There can be no doubt he was rather good at that, too.
But it is in sport we have a lot to be grateful to him for. Thanks to his hapless successors in charge of sport, the BBC has largely wilted in the face of rights challenges from more commercially muscular operations. The fact is, there is not much more remaining in the corporation's portfolio that does not have, some six decades on, a mark left on it by Attenborough. Even in sport, it seems, he is a national treasure.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Claudia Winkleman unveils new look as she shares post-surgery snap
Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman has shared a candid snap from her hospital bed after undergoing eye surgery - and warned fans not to zoom in on her eye TV presenter Claudia Winkleman has revealed she has undergone eye surgery - and she can't don her trademark heavy eyeliner for weeks as she recovers. The Strictly Come Dancing co-host was flooded with support as she shared a candid update with her fans on Friday night. Posing next to a medical professional, Claudia, 53, looked unrecognisable without her usual heavy fake tan and smokey eye make-up as she donned a hospital gown for the picture. Captioning the image, The Traitors host told her Instagram followers: "This amazing human makes me see. He's operated on my eyes before and he did it again today. No eyeliner for weeks and I sleep in goggles (no words) but I'm eternally grateful. "Do NOT zoom in on my left eye - it's wonky. Thank you Julian. I paid for the treatment, this isn't an ad. I just love him. It's very possible I'm still a bit sedated. Night, night." Gogglebox star Izzi Warner was one of the first comment on Claudia's post, writing: "We still have the costume and Bobby is willing to wear the eye liner for you if you need a stand in Claudia! Happy healing." "You look beautiful Claudia," Drag Race UK star Baga Chipz told the TV star, with a fan adding: "He did my eye surgery about 8 years ago! Played rock music as he did it. He told me it would be life changing and he was right. Amazing man!" Claudia's health update comes just days on from the popular star being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours. The mum-of-three presenter was honoured on last week alongside her Strictly Come Dancing co-host, Tess Daly, for services to broadcasting. Claudia said: "I am incredibly grateful to receive this honour. It's a real privilege to work with extraordinarily talented people and I have only got this because of them. "So this is for the BBC, the traitors and the faithful, for pianos and for the cha cha. I will buy a hat and am taking my mum. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble." Born and raised in London, she studied history of art at Cambridge University and after graduating began her career as a TV and radio presenter, fronting a range of BBC TV shows including Comic Relief and The Great British Sewing Bee. She also presented on BBC Radio 2 until 2024, hosting different programmes on the station including the comedy quiz series Hot Gossip, the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show and Claudia On Sunday. In 2004, she joined BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, presenting its weekday companion show It Takes Two until she passed it to broadcaster Zoe Ball, with her taking on the Sunday night results show alongside Tess Daly. The presenter joined Tess for the main show every Saturday from 2014, after Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped down. The Bafta-winning presenter is also behind the hit BBC game show The Traitors and won best entertainment performance at the 2023 awards. She will be fronting its charity spin-off series, The Celebrity Traitors, in which 19 famous faces will enter the castle in the Highlands, including comedian Alan Carr, actor and broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry and retired diver Tom Daley.
STV News
3 hours ago
- STV News
Alan Cumming to receive honorary degree from University of St Andrews
Actor Alan Cumming is to receive an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews during a week of graduations for students from almost 90 countries. More than 2,200 students will gather at the University of St Andrews from June 30 for summer graduation ceremonies. Graduates from 88 different countries, including Canada, Australia and Nepal will receive their awards in the Younger Hall from June 30 to July 4. The graduation ceremony season will include nine 'distinguished individuals' honoured for their contributions to sport, politics, science, medicine and the arts. Marvel actor and The Traitors US presenter Alan Cumming will receive an honorary degree on Thursday July 3, while BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner will be presented with one on Friday July 4. Sustainability campaigner Sara Parkin and US golfer Judy Rankin will also receive the accolade during the week. Also recognised will be Russian-American scientist Eugene Koonin and political theorist and feminist writer Professor Cynthia Enloe. There is one ceremony on June 30 at 2pm, while the other ceremonies will occur twice in one day. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BBC Breakfast staff say studio is 'like the Hunger Games' as host Naga Munchetty 'faces bullying claims' and boss Richard Frediani takes leave
BBC Breakfast staff have reportedly compared the studio to 'the Hunger Games' after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show. Host Naga Munchetty is 'facing bullying claims' and under-fire editor Richard Frediani has reportedly taken an extended period of leave. Now, it has been claimed that the show has been 'ripped apart' with some staff members backing Naga and Richard, while others disagree with their approach. A source told The Sun: [Richard] already created two camps on the show. But the revelations about Naga have thrown a new twist on the scandal. 'Some find her a passionate advocate of people behind the scenes, while others find her as difficult as Fredi. 'This explosive mix has led to a deluge of revelations from both sides, creating a huge headache for the BBC as it scrambles to mop up the mess. It's everyone for themselves like the Hunger Games.' A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously.' Naga was reportedly spoken to by bosses over a sex jibe she made while off-air at BBC Radio 5 Live. Her representatives have been approached for comment and it is unclear whether she will rebut the claims in The Sun. According to The Sun, Naga used a slang term for a sex act during an off-air break. The alleged remark in 2022 was said to have stunned the studio and led to Naga being spoken to by bosses. It was then reported that on BBC Breakfast last year, Naga was spoken to over alleged bullying of a woman. The BBC are now reportedly facing questions over whether there are 'double standards'. MailOnline has contacted a representative for Naga Munchetty for comment. It comes as it was also reported that BBC Breakfast's editor Richard has taken an extended period of leave, after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show. It was previously claimed that the show's staff are feeling increasingly 'uneasy' around Frediani, with the former Head of ITV News accused of 'shaking' a female editor while working on the show. The Sun claimed that Richard has stepped back from the show, and while he had already taken time off to go on holiday, has mutually agreed to extend his break. Sources are also claiming that BBC bosses have held a series of meetings on how to handle the developing crisis. In an internal email obtained by the publication, John McAndrew, Director of Live and Daily News, thanked staff for their 'positivity' during this 'stressful time' - and informed them of Richard's decision. A source added: 'Fredi was already taking a break because obviously the allegations against him have been pretty damning, and he needed time to reflect. 'He's devastated by some of the claims and has also had a lot of behind the scenes support from colleagues, many of whom think he's a brilliant boss. 'BBC executives have ensured duty of care measures and he is still in touch with a few of the team. Right now, it's imperative that the BBC gets its house in order and ensures everyone is happy.' When contacted by MailOnline, a BBC representative said: 'While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values. 'We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed.' On Thursday, Deadline reported that a consultant had been drafted in to help steer an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations on BBC Breakfast. Staff have been approached about sharing their experiences, according to people familiar with the process. It had previously been reported earlier this week that a bullying probe had been opened into BBC's flagship Breakfast show, with the investigation set to look into claims dating back as far as 2019. A source told The Sun: 'To the viewer BBC Breakfast is a warm, gentle programme, one that is flourishing in the ratings. But beyond the cosy red sofa it is a very different picture. Several people — crew, production and even presenters — have been very unhappy'. 'Tension between Charlie and Naga is rife. Fredi is very old-school and has some slightly tyrannical tendencies. He is very cerebral but also quite aggressive in his methods. Some people think a recent promotion has gone to his head'. 'Meanwhile, Naga, who is passionate about speaking up if she believes something is wrong, has spoken to people who are unhappy. Formal complaints have been lodged, so the BBC has to be seen to act. The probe has really divided the newsroom'. They went on to claim that some believe Fredani, known as Fredi, is simply doing his job others think his methods are 'too tough' for 2025.
