Archive May 1, 2025

Beloved broadcaster Sir David Attenborough made a candid confession about ‘ nearing the end of his life’, but still hopes of reaching his 100th birthday, partly due to his diet

Sir David Attenborough is set to mark his 99th birthday in a few days, but has acknowledged that he is “nearing the end of his life”. While he has expressed his desire to reach his 100th birthday, the legendary broadcaster has credited some of his enduring health and vigour to his brilliant diet.

While he hasn’t fully adopted a vegetarian lifestyle, Attenborough, who turns 99 on May 9, drastically scaled back his red meat consumption, a move he believes could be contributing to his impressive longevity. Back in 2017, Attenborough shared insights into his eating habits and revealed: “I have certainly changed my diet. Not in a great sort of dramatic way. But I don’t think I’ve eaten red meat for months”.

He also admitted: “I do eat cheese, I have to say, and I eat fish. But by and large, I’ve become much more vegetarian over the past few years than I thought I would ever be”.

Studies have consistently shown that plant-based diets can help extend life by staving off chronic diseases. They also reduce one’s carbon footprint – a matter very dear to the environmentalist, reports the Express.

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Red meat includes beef, lamb, mutton, pork, veal, venison and goat. Eating too much processed meat and red meat probably increases your risk of bowel (colorectal) cancer, according to the NHS.

Some meats are high in saturated fat, which can raise blood cholesterol levels if you eat too much of it. Having high cholesterol raises your risk of coronary heart disease.

Despite maintaining a healthy diet and staying mentally sharp, Attenborough confessed to Anderson Cooper in a 2021 interview that he fears cognitive decline as he gets older, with the prospect of becoming “helpless” due to a condition like Alzheimer’s being among his greatest concerns.

He also confided to the Telegraph about his concerns regarding ageing, saying he is “coming to terms” with the possibility of memory loss as he grows older. This week, the wildlife guru made a candid admission and touched on his mortality in his latest captivating documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough, as he nears his 99th birthday.

“When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true. After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea”, he revealed.

He also voiced his deep worries about the deteriorating state of the ocean, confessing: “Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all”.

However, Attenborough clung to optimism, asserting that marine environments can bounce back strongly. He insisted: “If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important”.

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Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK and the MP for Clacton, resides in a rural, quaint town 17 miles from Westminster, where house prices range from £570K to £570K but have been steadily declining.

Local elections are taking place across England today, with millions of voters heading to their nearest polling station. Hoping to win two or three mayoralties for his party is Nigel Farage, the MP for Clacton and Leader of Reform UK.

The 61-year-old politician can be found at his home in Downe, a quiet and picturesque village that is about 17 miles from Westminster, when he isn’t campaigning or sitting in parliament. The legendary 19th-century naturalist and “godfather” of evolutionary biology lived in Downe, which is located in the London borough of Bromley.

The village, which is only a short drive from Orpington, is surrounded by Kent’s countryside, championship golf courses, and stately private residences. Guy and Barbara Farage were the parents of Mr. Farage in Farnborough, Kent.

According to the Express, he attended the prestigious Dulwich College, a fee-paying university whose notable alumni include Jeeves and Wooster author P. G. Wodehouse and The Chemical Brothers’ Ed Simons.

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Nigel has always maintained his love for Kent, settling for Downe, where the two counties share a border. Given that the village has a quick access to central London, it’s not surprising that properties there cost an average of £565, 833, according to Rightmove data from last year. He is said to reside in a family home there.

Semi-detached homes sold for an average of £681, 250, accounting for the majority of property sales in Downe. Terraced homes sold for around £335, 000. However, Downe real estate values are declining, with prices dropping by 27% from their previous year’s peak of £776, 675 and by 50%.

The village is served by two TfL bus lines, the R8 (Orpington-Biggin Hill via Downe) and the 146 (Bromley-Downe). Busses from Bromley South or Orpington Stations are both accessible in 20 minutes.

Downe has two bars: George and Dragon and The Queens Head, which are ideal for Mr. Farage to relax in after a long day at work. The former prides itself on its selection of real ales and seasonal food options while the latter is a family-run, traditional 16th-century country pub.

RAF Biggin Hill is only a short drive from the village. In the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940, this former fighter base stood up for London and South-east England from enemy bombing. The RAF Biggin Hill Museum and Chapel, where Winston Churchill’s “Few” are commemorated, is where this historical tale is narrated.

The area has several courses to choose from, including Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club, High Elms Golf Club, Cherry Lodge Golf Club, and West Kent Golf Club, if the MP wants to play golf on the weekend.

Darwin’s Down House is Downe’s main attraction. The study that the father of evolutionary theory wrote in On the Origin of Species is accessible here. The family home of Darwin is regarded by English Heritage as having significant international significance.

The renowned scientist would regularly walk the house’s perimeter known as the Sandwalk. Additionally, he planted orchids in a greenhouse and set up a laboratory in a brick hut.

Visitors can now learn how the naturalist’s observations helped shape the development of his pioneering theories because the gardens that served as Darwin’s “living laboratory” were set in.

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