Sir David Attenborough's centenary: How he built Bristol's 'Green Hollywood'

As Sir David Attenborough turns 100, his role in creating a wildlife film industry in Bristol is highlighted. The city now produces 80% of high-quality natural history TV globally, earning it the nickname 'Green Hollywood'. Attenborough's landmark series 'Life on Earth' (1979) drew 15 million UK viewers and 500 million worldwide, pioneering international co-production with Warner Brothers. Bristol's Natural History Unit (NHU) grew into a hub employing about 1,000 people across 15 production companies, worth an estimated £100m. Attenborough pushed technical innovation, winning BAFTAs in black-and-white, colour, HD, 3D, and 4K. Directors Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill co-founded Silverback Films in 2012, benefiting from Attenborough's legacy. The Wildscreen Festival, dubbed 'Oscars of Wildlife', convenes in Bristol biennially. Despite never living there, Attenborough's impact is profound, with Lucie Muir of Wildscreen stating 'there's a bit of David in all of us'.