A letter from Sir David Attenborough started my wildlife filming career

From Garden Snaps to Sir David: Christian Marot’s Full Circle Moment

Christian Marot never imagined he would receive a reply to the letter he sent to Sir David Attenborough at the age of 19. Along with the letter, he had included a copy of his wildlife cinematography. To his astonishment, a response arrived just ten days later. It contained both praise and a thoughtful critique, with the original USB stick neatly taped to personalised stationery bearing the legendary broadcaster's name.

"It was just surreal," Marot says. For a budding wildlife filmmaker, it was an immense boost to his confidence. Years later, he found himself in a sun-drenched field in Greenford, filming close-up shots as Sir David released harvest mice onto a grass frond. It was a "pinch-me" moment for someone who had once found words difficult due to his struggle with dyslexia, and whose teachers had warned him that "not everyone succeeds in life."

From Back Gardens to Madagascar

We met in Greenwich Park, south-east London, not far from his home between Hither Green and Catford. The setting—a mix of a skyscraper horizon and a natural foreground—perfectly captures the essence of his latest project. Marot worked as a camera operator on Sir David’s recent film, Wild London, which aims to highlight the wildlife living right alongside us.

Marot’s passion began at age 12 after receiving a box set of Sir David’s films. He was "fully hooked" and immediately picked up a camera to photograph nature in his own back garden.

• "I’d basically camp out and wait for whatever came into the garden," he recalls.

• His early still photography was so accomplished that he became a finalist in the prestigious International Garden Photographer of the Year competition.

Following the death of his grandfather, Marot used a small inheritance to fund a trip to Madagascar, inspired by Sir David’s documentary on the island. "I took a very basic kit with me," he says. "I had no idea what I was doing." Despite his modesty, he captured beautiful footage and produced a short film he was proud of. At his family’s urging, he found an address for the famous naturalist and sent it off.

"I thought it was amazing for someone of his stature to write back to a young boy with a passion for wildlife. It’s almost his calling to inspire our generation to appreciate the natural world."

Working with a Hero

Though Marot built a career as a camera assistant and second unit operator, he never expected to work directly with his idol. That changed with Wild London.

"It was the opportunity to work with my hero, but also to film in my hometown. I never thought those two worlds would collide," he says. On the first day of filming in Greenford, Marot arrived early, his "nerves going mad." However, Sir David’s presence immediately put him at ease. Marot’s task was delicate: filming close-up shots of Sir David’s hands as he encouraged a harvest mouse to cling to a blade of meadow grass.

The Journey Continues

For the series, Marot chased deer sightings in East London, tracked snakes along the Regent’s Canal, and waited for pigeons to hop onto Tube trains.

"It has come full circle," Marot reflects. "I remember being a 12-year-old boy picking up a camera for the first time in my garden, and here I am 20 years later doing the exact same thing for a BBC David Attenborough series."

Marot’s mother was always disappointed that he never wrote a follow-up letter to Sir David to thank him for that original encouragement. After seeing a call for Londoners to share their wildlife encounters for the new programme, he decided to share his story as a public "thank you."

"Attenborough had such a dramatic effect on my career," Marot says. "I wouldn’t be here without him. It shows that with dedication and putting yourself out there, anything is possible."