David Attenborough breaks record as oldest Daytime Emmy winner at 99

Sir David Attenborough has made history, becoming the oldest ever recipient of an Daytime Emmy award.

The 99-year-old broadcaster was honoured with the award for Outstanding Daytime Personality, Non-Daily, for hosting Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans.

Although Sir David did not attend the ceremony in Pasadena, California, or submit a video message, the award marks a milestone in his seven-decade career.

The documentary also received a Daytime Emmy for its directing team for a Single Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program.

He surpasses the previous record-holder from only one year ago, Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke, who won a Daytime Emmy at the age of 98 for his guest role on the Peacock soap Days of Our Lives.

Sir David’s series was filmed over two years in Sumatra’s Suaq swamp forests, exploring the relationship between humans and orangutans, following the life of an eight-year-old female orangutan named Eden.

Sir David, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in May, is revered worldwide for his groundbreaking work in natural history broadcasting.

He continues to be a global ambassador for wildlife, conservation, and education.

His career began in 1954 with Zoo Quest, and he has since become synonymous with some of the most celebrated nature documentaries in history, including Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, Life in Colour, and The Green Planet.

The 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, held at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, also recognised other performers, including Paul Telfer (Days of Our Lives), Nancy Lee Grahn (General Hospital), Alley Mills (General Hospital), and Drew Barrymore for her daytime talk show.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]