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Call of the Wild
WWF enlists Sir David Attenborough as first guest in new podcast series hosted by actor and broadcaster Cel Spellman.
17 February 2021
Main image: Sir David Attenborough, filming on location at Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire for Wild Isles TV series, co produced by WWF & RSPB. (C) Alex Board / Silverback Films
An extraordinary lineup of celebrities, artists and cultural voices have come together to mark the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, the nation’s most loved naturalist.
This special moment was created by WWF to honour a lifetime that has inspired generations to love and care for our wonderful world – and to renew our shared commitment to protect nature for generations to come.
The project features a powerful spoken word reinterpretation of the classic ‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong, voiced by a remarkable collective of famous voices including Morgan Freeman, Dame Judi Dench, Sam Heughan, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Miranda Richardson, Liz Bonnin, Nadeem Perera, Asa Butterfield, Iwan Rheon and Cel Spellman.
The piece will be broadcast nationwide across Global Radio stations, including Heart and Capital, and on WWF’s social media channels. WWF will also bring the celebration message across the London Underground, demonstrating our wonderful world with a series of nature success stories.
‘Sir David Attenborough has inspired me through his storytelling and passion. He’s inspired and shaped the way myself and my children understand wildlife and nature. He inspired me to slow down, notice the world around me, and support efforts to protect our beautiful natural world.’
GERI HALLIWELL-HORNER
Spice Girl, singer, songwriter, TV personality & author
Alongside the ‘What a Wonderful World’ audio piece, a series of heartfelt messages will see well-known figures reflect on Sir David’s profound influence on their lives and work, as well as sharing their hopes – and urgent concerns – for the future of the natural world.
A common theme across these messages is a powerful call to protect the planet for future generations, with many speaking about the responsibility to ensure children can experience the same joy, wonder and connection to nature.
Contributors including Asa Butterfield, Levison Wood, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Iwan Rheon, Sam Bentley and Cel Spellman speak candidly about the need for collective action, with several issuing direct calls for stronger leadership and environmental commitments from governments.
‘What a Wonderful World’ not only celebrates a century of Sir David Attenborough’s life but also reinforces the ongoing importance of his work – reminding audiences of the beauty, fragility and urgency of protecting our natural world.
‘Sir David has inspired me for as long as I can remember, being a kid and watching all of his documentaries and just being like bug-eyed in wonder at how incredible this place is that we’re living on – everything from the tiniest little bugs to the birds that we often take for granted – and the joy, peace and love that it can bring.’
ASA BUTTERFIELD
Actor
Sir David Attenborough’s relationship with WWF spans more than six decades, placing him at the very heart of the organisation’s story. Present at WWF’s founding in 1961 and once described by founder Sir Peter Scott as the ‘patron saint of conservation’, Sir David has consistently used his voice and influence to amplify WWF’s mission.
From speaking at global platforms, such as the World Economic Forum and COP26, to supporting landmark projects, his contributions have helped bring the urgent need to restore nature into homes, boardrooms and governments worldwide. Through powerful storytelling in works such as David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet and, more recently, Wild Isles (co-produced with WWF), he has not only documented the beauty of the natural world but also issued compelling calls to action to protect it.
‘Sir David Attenborough inspired my love for nature at a very young age – it was the gateway into nature, watching his programmes growing up. But what’s struck me as I’ve got older is looking at the detail of nature through the microscope he puts onto ecosystems and how every little tiny detail in our wonderful world is very robust, but also so delicate. If we don’t look after that, then everything will collapse and it makes you look upon ourselves as people and how we can make a difference in the world, using him as an inspiration.’
IWAN RHEON
Actor and musician
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