David Attenborough at 90: The broadcaster's life and career in pictures

David Attenborough (John Phillips/Getty Images )

David Attenborough will turn 90 on Sunday.

When asked about the prospect of reaching the milestone age recently, he said he feels "unbelievably lucky".

He was born in London in 1926 as the middle child of three boys Richard and John, Richard Attenborough being the famed actor and director who passed away in 2014.

With a keen interest in nature as a child, he went on to study natural sciences at Cambridge University. Attenborough first worked with the BBC in 1952 later becoming controller of BBC Two in 1965 and director of programming for BBC Television in 1969.

His iconic documentaries, which are narrated by his instantly recognisable voice, began in 1979 when he started the Life series. Since then, programmes including Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Africa have also attracted younger audiences.

Attenborough has two children, Robert and Susan. His wife Jane died in 1997 from a brain haemorrhage. In 2011, Attenborough told the Radio Times he found consolation from the natural world during periods of “deep grief”.

Click through the gallery above to look at the life so far of the veteran broadcaster.