I was thinking the other day that pretty much my only real criticism of the Olympic ceremonies is that none of them involved Sir David Attenborough. They still fascinate me, believe it or not; they matter as we won’t have another chance to show off to the world like that again for a very long time. They were an opportunity to show the entire world what we can do, and for the most part I think danny Boyle and his fellow directors did an excellent job. Yet if I had directed it, I would have included David Attenborough in there somewhere: watching this and this just now reminded me what a national treasure Attenborough is. He has a great intellect and is fascinating to listen to. I do think he should have been included in last year’s festivities. Mind you, that raises the question, what could he have done? He is above all a documentary-maker and storyteller, more suited to talking and discussing than performing in such spectaculars. Perhaps that’s why Boyle left him out, but I still think it was a shame this great man was not included. And I also think that if Thatcher is getting a state funeral, David Attenborough will deserve one too, when the time comes.