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Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Secret Lives of Orangutans explores a remarkable group of orangutans in the pristine jungles of Sumatra.
Sir David Attenborough makes history as the oldest Daytime Emmy winner.(Photo Credit: X)
Dick Van Dyke was previously the oldest performer to win a Daytime Emmy Award, until this British broadcaster broke his record. The honour went to none other than the legendary British broadcaster, writer, and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who made history on Friday by winning the 2024 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily for Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans.
That makes Attenborough,99, a hair older than Van Dyke, who was 98 when he won the Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series Emmy last year for his appearance on Peacock’s Days of Our Lives.
Sir David Attenborough Sets New Record By Winning Daytime Emmy Awards
Attenborough’s win was one of three honours for Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans, which also took home awards for its directing team in the single-camera daytime non-fiction category.
Attenborough’s victory came over a strong lineup of nominees, including Brad Bestelink for Living with Leopards (Netflix); Andi Sweeney Blanco, Courtney Dober, Rob North, and Kirin Stone for The Fixers (BYUtv); Anthony Mackie for Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast (National Geographic); and Martha Stewart for Martha Gardens (Roku).
Narrated by David Attenborough, Secret Lives of Orangutans explores a remarkable group of orangutans in the pristine jungles of Sumatra, highlighting that orangutans are not only one of our closest relatives but may also be more relatable to us than any other great ape. The story follows eight-year-old Eden, who is about to face the most challenging moment of her life.
Attenborough is celebrated as one of the world’s most famous natural science broadcasters, who rose to fame as the host of Zoo Quest in 1954.
As a narrator, his more recent successes include Planet Earth and its sequels, Blue Planet and The Green Planet, Wild Isles, Dinosaurs: The Final Day With David Attenborough, Life In Colour, Frozen Planet and more.
Other Big Wins At the Daytime Emmy Awards
Jonathan Jackson of General Hospital and first-time nominee Susan Walters of The Young and the Restless took home the supporting acting awards. General Hospital also received accolades for Alley Mills as a guest performer in a daytime drama, as well as for its writing and directing teams. This marks Mill’s second career win for playing Heather Webber, the first he won in 2023.
Lisa Yamada of The Bold and the Beautiful won the Emerging Talent award, which replaced the previous younger actor and actress categories. The 23-year-old portrays the murderous Luna Nozawa.
Drew Barrymore earned her first Daytime Emmy as host of her self-titled New York-based talk show.
Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-…Read More
Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-… Read More
October 18, 2025, 13:04 IST
