Environmentalist and former TV presenter David Bellamy has died at the age of 86, prompting tributes to a ‘larger-than-life character’ who ‘inspired a whole generation’.
Bellamy died on Wednesday morning, according to the Conservation Foundation which he founded.
The former broadcaster was a household name, appearing in programmes such as Don’t Ask Me and Bellamy on Botany, and travelling to the North Pole for an ITV series called On Top Of The World.
His distinctive voice was a frequent target of impersonators, and Sir Lenny Henry’s catchphrase ‘grapple me grapenuts’ was inspired by Bellamy.
Later in life, he attracted criticism after labelling climate change as ‘poppycock’ and complained that he had been ‘shunned’ as a result.
Tributes: Naturalist and broadcaster David Bellamy (pictured at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2013) has died at the age of 86, prompting tributes to a ‘larger-than-life character’
Younger man: David Bellamy as a 25-year-old in 1959, the year he married his wife Rosemary (pictured right). The couple had five children, four of them adopted
At home with the family: David Bellamy in 1991 with his wife Rosemary, cradling his new grandson Theo
David Shreeve, the director of the Conservation Foundation, paid tribute today to a ‘larger-than-life character who became a very special friend and teacher’.
‘Sadly, I have to report that David Bellamy died this morning,’ Mr Shreeve said.
‘David and I worked together on a variety of projects in a various places since launching The Conservation Foundation in 1982.
‘He was a larger-than-life character who became a very special friend and teacher.
‘He inspired a whole generation with his wide range of interests and enthusiasm which knew no bounds.
‘The Conservation Foundation was very special to him and so today is very sad for all of us.’
Radio presenter Danny Baker also paid tribute to Bellamy, calling him a ‘truly brilliant and canny broadcaster’.
Referencing Henry’s ‘grapple me grapenuts’ catchphrase that Bellamy inspired, Baker added: ‘Thoughts with Lenny Henry at this time.’
At work: David Bellamy, who was once a botany lecturer at Durham University, at the Hampton Court flower show in 2011
Career: Bellamy in 1976, when he was a household name as an environmentalist and TV personality
Two naturalists: David Bellamy with fellow environmentalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough in 2008 at the launch of a £25million butterfly conservation project
Born in London in January 1933, Bellamy later lived in County Durham and was a lecturer at Durham University for a time.
He married his wife Rosemary in 1959 and they had five children, four of them adopted.
Bellamy worked in a factory and as a plumber before marrying his wife Rosemary in 1959. They were still married when he died.
The couple had five children, four of whom were adopted.
Bellamy achieved wider recognition following his work on the Torrey Canyon oil spill in 1967. Offers for TV work followed, launching his small screen career.
Thanks to his distinctive voice and screen presence, Bellamy quickly became a popular presenter on programmes such as Don’t Ask Me.
He also fronted his own shows, including Bellamy On Botany, Bellamy’s Britain, Bellamy’s Europe and Bellamy’s Backyard Safari.
Imitation: Bellamy’s distinctive voice was a frequent target of impersonators, and Sir Lenny Henry’s catchphrase ‘grapple me grapenuts’ was inspired by him (they are pictured together)
Frosty: David Bellamy in 1987 during an ITV series, On Top Of The World, that took him to the North Pole
In later life, Bellamy attracted criticism for voicing doubts about global warming.
In 2004 he described climate change as ‘poppycock’ and later said the stance cost him his TV career.
Later he said he had been ‘shunned’ and his work had ‘dried up’ after he questioned climate change.
‘I was due to start another series with the BBC but that didn’t go anywhere, and the other side [ITV] didn’t want to know,’ he said.
‘I was shunned. They didn’t want to hear the other side,’ he claimed.
Bellamy also stood as a parliamentary candidate at the 1997 general election, running for the Referendum Party in John Major’s constituency.
He came fourth, winning 5.5 per cent of the vote.