David Attenborough's Life Stories

Background

The commissioning of Life Stories was announced in January 2009. Speaking of his move from television to radio, Attenborough remarked that "It's a chance to talk about fossils, archaeopteryx" and other subjects close to his heart, including his first pet, a salamander, and his favourite animal - the bird-of-paradise. The programmes were broadcast on Friday evenings and repeated on the Sunday morning of the same week. They were also broadcast on the BBC World Service station as part of the "Letter from" strand. During the series run, each episode was made available as a podcast on the Radio 4 website, and are still available on the BBC Sounds app.

Episodes

Series 1 (2009)

Series 2 (2011)

Reception

The series drew widespread praise from the British press. Gillian Reynolds, radio critic for The Daily Telegraph, wrote "his opening talk, about his affinity with the gently ruminant three-toed sloth, was pure delight". She went on to describe Attenborough as a "gent, scholar, a brilliant communicator with a sense of humour", and added that "unlike many a radio broadcaster these days, he doesn't drop his voice on the key word in any sentence." *The Observer'''s Kate Kellaway, comparing the "Sloth" episode to Attenborough's television work, wrote "if the marvellous first programme is anything to go by, it will prove that we do not need to be on televisual safari to be completely intrigued." Writing in *The Times'' on Attenborough's delivery, Simon Barnes remarked that "all the time the lilting, dancing voice is alight with wonder and — let's call a spade a spade — love."

In May 2010, Attenborough won Speech Broadcaster of the Year at the Sony Radio Academy Awards for his work on Life Stories.

Book and audio book

The complete series was released in audio book form and the scripts compiled in a hardback volume. Attenborough went on a national book signing tour to promote the titles, and also appeared on the BBC One chatshow Friday Night with Jonathan Ross to talk about the book. This book contains the same text that was used in Attenborough's speeches, along with pictures at the end of each chapter, accompanied by captions written by Attenborough.

• Life Stories by David Attenborough, published in hardcover edition by BBC Books on 1 October 2009 ()
• David Attenborough's Life Stories, 3CD audiobook set released by BBC Audio on 21 October 2009 ()

References

References

1. "Network Radio Programme Information: BBC Week 7". BBC Press Office.
2. (29 January 2009). "David Attenborough takes up Alistair Cooke's radio slot". The Daily Telegraph.
3. Barnes, Simon. (30 May 2009). "Pure Attenborough — the nation's favourite wildlife broadcaster has a change of habitat". The Times.
4. Jamieson, Alastair. (4 June 2009). "Sir David Attenborough: I want to come back as 'animal with wild sex life'". The Daily Telegraph.
5. Reynolds, Gillian. (8 June 2009). "Radio Review: 'If the BBC had elections, I bet Attenborough would win'". The Daily Telegraph.
6. Kellaway, Kate. (7 June 2009). "In praise of a world turned upside down". The Observer.
7. (11 May 2010). "6 Music and Asian Network win Sony radio awards". BBC News.