EXCLUSIVE: Sir David Attenborough has been hosting some of our favourite nature shows for decades, but now a former BBC producer has shared an incredible tale of the broadcaster’s kindness
A BBC producer who has worked with Sir David Attenborough on some of the broadcaster’s biggest documentaries has shared a candid insight into their friendship.
During an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Chadden Hunter fondly looked back at his time working with the national treasure – pinpointing one moment that showed his kindness.
Recalling filming in Africa with Sir David, Chadden said: “I remember being with him in the field in Africa once when I was trying to extend a shoot by a few days, because we had had bad weather and I was trying to beg David (saying) ‘can we extend by a few days?’ And he said ‘Well, I’ve got lunch with a friend in London to get back for’.”
Still eager to see if Sir David could potentially rearrange his lunch plans, Chadden replied to him saying: “‘Oh gosh, surely your friend would understand if we just extended. Could you move the lunch with your friend?'”
Eager to help Chadden out, Sir David responded: “‘I guess I could (rearrange my lunch). It’s just that Nelson is not in town that often’.” To Chadden’s astonishment, “Nelson” was in fact Nelson Mandela.
After sharing the almost surreal conversation that played out, Chadden believes that it gave a real insight into the presenter’s “humble” character: “David’s always so humble about things. For him, it was just lunch with a friend.”
Chadden was in Ethiopia in 1990, collecting research for his PhD on monkeys, when he first crossed paths with a BBC film crew who had been filming at the same location. After catching a glimpse at what a career in broadcasting might entail, Chadden later combined his love of the natural world with his desire to start working in TV.
Since then Chadden and Sir David have gone on to work together on a number of BBC documentaries including the likes of Planet Earth One and Two, Seven Worlds One Planet and Frozen Planet.
While Chadden has since left the broadcaster to start his own company, Chadden Hunter Films, Sir David’s long-standing association with the BBC has continued with the latest episode of his newest series set to air this evening.
The producer previously spoke about one of his favourite places in the world to visit, having travelled the globe for his career.
He explained that, “unless you’re going to the plains of Southern Africa, of Eastern Africa”, the country right on our doorstep is a true hidden gem.
Chadden added that the country literally “blows his mind” due to the number of people that live there
