Cox my successor, says TV legend

Broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough has hailed Oldham-born physicist Brian Cox as his natural successor.

Sir David, who has spent six decades showing the wonders of the natural world to television audiences, paid tribute to Prof Cox, a former Hulme Grammar School pupil and member of pop group D:Ream, at the annual Radio Times Covers Party at Claridge’s in London.

He said: “If I had a torch I would hand it to Brian.”

Sir David’s career has included a stint as controller of BBC2 as well as award–winning programmes including “Life on Earth”, “The Living Planet” and “The Private Life of Plants”.

Earlier in the evening, Prof Cox had praised Sir David’s inspirational example: “There are many, many scientists across the world who cite David’s programmes as being the inspiration that got them into science.

“He has contributed to science, and thereby contributed to society, to Britain and the world. That’s what great science communicators can do.”


::Prof Cox can be seen on BBC2 at 9pm on Sunday in his new series “Wonders of Life”.