Main content
David Attenborough's First Expedition
An expedition to Sierra Leone in 1954 launched Sir David Attenborough’s career. His story is told via BBC archives. From 2021.
In 1954, the BBC broadcast a new TV programme in Britain.
It was called Zoo Quest and it launched the career of a man who has since brought the natural world into millions of homes around the world, the broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
Louise Hidalgo has been listening back through the BBC archives to Sir David telling the story of the first natural history expedition for Zoo Quest, to Sierra Leone in West Africa.
Last on
Mon 4 May 2026
02:40GMT
BBC Radio 4 Extra
More episodes
Previous
Broadcasts
Wed 7 Apr 2021 07:50GMTBBC World Service- Wed 7 Apr 2021 11:50GMTBBC World Service
- Wed 7 Apr 2021 17:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Thu 8 Apr 2021 02:50GMTBBC World Service
- Sun 3 May 2026 07:40GMTBBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sun 3 May 2026 12:40GMTBBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sun 3 May 2026 18:40GMTBBC Radio 4 Extra
- Mon 4 May 2026 02:40GMTBBC Radio 4 Extra
Podcast
-
![]()
Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there
