Sir David questions BBC's lifestyle TV

Sir David Attenborough has criticised the BBC for airing too many lifestyle TV programmes.

During a speech about public service broadcasting, the veteran wildlife presenter attacked the corporation for failing to support shows about science such as Tomorrow's World.

"Do we really require so many gardening programmes, makeover programmes or celebrity chefs?" Attenborough said.

"There are times when both BBC One and BBC Two, intoxicated by the sudden popularity of a programme genre, have allowed that genre to proliferate and run rampant through the schedules, with the result that other kinds of programmes are not placed - simply because of lack of space."

However, Attenborough praised the Bristol-based BBC natural history unit for producing Life on Earth and Blue Planet.

"It is a prime example of what public service broadcasting can achieve," he said.