Public slam presenter who trashed Sir David Attenborough on air

One of the planet’s best-loved living treasures has just been insulted on air — and the outraged public has come out swinging.

Over the years, Sir David Attenborough has become a renowned environmental warrior — and a bona fide global treasure to boot.

The 92-year-old icon has been bringing the wilderness into our living rooms for decades thanks to groundbreaking nature documentaries like Our Plane t, and in the process he has become one of the best-loved public figures in the world.

So when a UK TV host took a shocking swipe at his expense this week, viewers were stunned — and soon outraged.

The furore occurred when Dr Gail Bradbrook — the co-founder of the Extinction Rebellion protest that led to 290 arrests this week — was invited to appear on morning TV program Good Morning Britain.

There are calls for Good Morning Britain host Richard Madeley to issue a public apology. Picture: Good Morning Britain

Her organisation was formed to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse, and Dr Bradbrook is a passionate supporter of environmental causes.

Speaking with presenter Richard Madeley, she made the emotional claim that a catastrophic environmental crisis was looming.

“I have two boys, 10 and 13, and they won’t have enough food to eat in a few years time,” she said.

“Sir David Attenborough said the collapse of this civilisation could happen soon.”

But Mr Madeley wasn’t convinced — and seemed to question Sir David’s credibility.

“He’s not a saint you know. He’s just a broadcaster,” he said.

Within moments, the Twittersphere was flooded with fans leaping to the nature veteran’s defence and slamming Mr Madeley.

Dr Gail Bradbrook cited David Attenborough on the show, sparking Mr Madeley’s stunning smackdown. Picture: Good Morning Britain

Some even called on him to issue a “public apology” for insulting the living legend.

“Richard Madeley is an egotistical TV presenter with as much knowledge as a pickled onion, while criticising David Attenborough, a very educated, intelligent, knowledgeable, naturalist,” furious Twitter user Antony Webber said, while Glen Dunvegan added: “Richard Madeley seems to think he knows more about #ClimateBreakdown than Sir David Attenborough, so perhaps we should let RM present an environmental program to show us all there’s nothing to worry about? Or, better still, perhaps he should actually research the topic.”

How has Richard Madeley got the audacity to dis David Attenborough 🤬🤬🤬

— Moll (@mollbartram) April 16, 2019

I’m with her and I absolutely support the protestors. My children are 4 and 10mos and they deserve a healthy future planet. Richard Madeley looks like an absolute idiot dismissing David Attenborough as ‘just a broadcaster’.

— For Their Future (@ForTheirFuture_) April 16, 2019

The whole of the animal kingdom after Richard Madeley says David Attenborough is “not a saint you know. He’s just a broadcaster” pic.twitter.com/oPz149foTs

— meg. (@MeganHulme) April 16, 2019

Was furious waking up to see @GMB presenter Richard Madeley insulting Sir David Attenborough, the most disgusting act of presenting in the history of Television

— Jack Ellis-Leek (@JleekofIpswich) April 16, 2019

After stints in the navy and as a textbook editor, Sir David eventually scored a full-time gig at the BBC in 1952, dipping his toe into nature programs for the first time.

He rose through the ranks and became a senior manager, but when he was put forward as a contender candidate for the role of Director-General of the BBC in 1972, he decided it wasn’t for him, and the next year he left management and returned to broadcasting, with Life on Earth airing in 1979.

Dozens of hit documentaries followed, and he has been honoured with a slew of awards, including a knighthood. several BAFTAs and a string of honorary degrees from British universities.

David Attenborough has been a staunch environmental advocate for decades. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

Sir David regularly appears on “most trusted celebrity” and “living icons” lists and has had scores of species named after him.

A new report by Global Web Index found the “Attenborough Effect” had led to a 53 per cent reduction in single-use plastic usage over the past 12 months in the UK and US.

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