Sir David Attenborough gives powerful NTA speech

From Digital Spy

Sir David Attenborough and the Blue Planet II team received this year's Impact Award at today's (January 23) National Television Awards – and we don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

And by 'house', we of course mean nation.

Following the huge success of their ground- and heart-breaking documentary series, the team behind Blue Planet took to the stage to give audiences around the world a very important message.

Related: Blue Planet II producer reflects on harrowing scenes: "It was our obligation to really show how it is"

Touching on some of the series' more harrowing scenes, about the amount of plastic polluting the world's oceans, Sir David said it was "a privilege" to raise awareness of such an urgent issue.

"It was my job, it was my privilege, to provide the words for that series. And you know, and I know, that what counted in that series were the pictures," he said in a touching speech.

"It is the pictures that were created by the cameramen and the camerawomen who dived into the ocean together, who spent three and half, four years in doing so.

"These are the people who should be holding this, but I know that they would join me in saying that what we were all trying to do is to raise an issue that is of great importance to not only this country but worldwide – what we're doing to our planet."

Sir David concluded: "If our television programmes have helped stirred the consciences of people around the world – and that we are going to do something to protect this beautiful world – then all of us will be very pleased."

We love you, Sir David – and we're not the only ones...