Sir David Attenborough breaks Jennifer Aniston Instagram record

In a year of truly unexpected occurrences, Sir David Attenborough has added another to the list.

David Attenborough, left, has eclipsed Jennifer Aniston's Instagram record.

In a year of truly unexpected occurrences, there’s another to add to the list. When documentarian Sir David Attenborough made his Instagram debut earlier this week with a brand new account and pre-recorded video missive, he went on to set the record for reaching one million followers faster than anyone on the platform has before.

That’s right, it’s not a TikTok-defecting Gen Z-er, or a beloved TV actor, but a 94-year-old naturalist and filmmaker.

It took him less than five hours - precisely four hours and 44 minutes, according to Guinness World Records - to hit the figure, previously held by Jennifer Aniston.

She reached the one-million mark in just over five hours when she joined with a selfie with Friends castmates back in October 2019.

In the original video, which goes for a little over a minute, Sir Attenborough introduces himself (if it were necessary) before stating: “I’ve been appearing on radio and television for the past 60 years. But this is my first time on Instagram.”

The post’s caption makes a point that, “social media isn’t David’s usual habitat.”

However Attenborough says he felt compelled to take to the platform because, “as we all know, the world is in trouble. Continents are on fire, glaciers are melting, coral reefs are dying, fish are disappearing from our oceans. The list goes on and on.”

Sir David Attenborough on location in Kenya

Attenborough is promising content over the coming weeks: “To explain what the problems are and how we can deal with them.”

As of Tuesday morning, Attenborough had 4.6 million followers and counting.

The timing of his debut isn’t accidental: the trailer for his latest documentary David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet came out days ago, and is due to land on Netflix this Sunday, October 4. The account is in part being run by filmmakers from A Life On Our Planet, director Jonnie Hughes and producer Colin Butfield.

The account has already drawn the attention of tennis player Andy Murray, and Formula One driver Nico Rosberg, who both heaped praise on the post. In another, Attenborough can be seen sitting with Prince William during a private viewing of the film.

Prince William and family with Sir David after an outdoor screening of A Life on the Planet

Prince William will in early October announce his ‘Earthshot Prize’, intended to celebrate progress across several sectors to “anyone who is making a substantial development or outstanding contribution to solving our environmental challenges,” with the intent “to create a new wave of ambition and innovation around finding ways to help save the planet.”

Photos of the Prince’s children and Sir David were broadcast around the world after a screening of A Life on the Planet.