Sir David Attenborough on Donald Trump: 'We could shoot him. It's not a bad idea'

'What alternative do we have? Do we have any control or influence over the American elections?' the naturalist says before joking about an alternative solution

Sir David says he thinks the BBC was 'absolutely right' to let the Great British Bake Off go (BBC)

Until now, Sir David Attenborough was one of the few individuals in the public eye not to have broached the ever-present, all-pervasive topic of Donald Trump. However, the naturalist and beloved broadcaster has now given his assessment of the situation and suggested a way to counter the Republican’s ascent to power which, believe it or not, involves a gun.

In an interview with the Radio Times, the nonagenarian was probed about how we solve a problem like Mr Trump and quipped: “We could shoot him”.

Sir David, who returns to screens for Planet Earth II this weekend, said the British public had no way of influencing the outcome of the US presidential elections so proposed an altogether more extreme solution.

“Well, we lived through that with earlier presidents – they’ve been equally guilty… But what alternative do we have? Do we have any control or influence over the American elections? Of course we don’t,” he said.

Adopting a hushed tone, he said: "We could shoot him, it's not a bad idea" before chuckling.

Sir David argued the claim, frequently touted by Michael Gove, during the Brexit campaign that “we’ve had enough of experts” was “catastrophic”.

In the wide-ranging interview, Sir David also said he thought the BBC was “absolutely right” to let the Great British Bake Off go. The BBC lost the rights to the widely popular show in September after being outbid by Channel 4 in a deal thought to be worth around £75 million.

“Oh, absolutely right! To say to them: ‘If you want another million, go ahead, we’ve got plenty more ideas where that came from’,” Sir David said.

He also confessed he did not agree with the BBC’s decision to sack former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson. “Well, yes, I regret letting Clarkson go, because it's very good to have a voice that's anti-establishment, or so profoundly anti-establishment.”

Clarkson was fired from the show in March last year after it was revealed the presenter was responsible for an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” which left his colleague bleeding and seeking hospital treatment.