Pandemic has made us value our perfect planet and find support from nature, says Attenborough

One of Attenborough's most legendary series, The Blue Planet, made its debut on the BBC in another time of global fear and anxiety, on Sept 12,2001, the day after the World Trade Center attack in New York. In lockdown, once again large numbers of people have turned to the calming power of nature, something he said was a recognized phenomenon.

"I think it's been demonstrated that people, particularly those having a bad time, find a lot of support in nature, they didn't realize they owed so much to it," he said. "Psychiatrists have shown an awareness of the natural world is a crucial element in the personality and without it we get sick… we've become aware of the fact we've become too besotted with mechanical devices, too busy rushing around."

The veteran filmmaker admitted that despite all he has seen over the years, the natural world, and the way its stories are told, still retain the power to amaze him, as much as his viewers.