Sir David Attenborough discovers ferocious Jurassic predator

Sir David Attenborough discovers the incredible ‘virtually undamaged’ skull of a ferocious Jurassic predator in his latest BBC show

Sir David Attenborough has unearthed the skull of a ferocious Jurassic predator in his latest BBC film. 

The documentary narrator, 96, explored the history of the incredible Tyrannosaurus rex of the oceans which terrorised Dorset’s Jurassic coast millions of years ago. 

The creature had a huge 6ft jaw crammed full of huge dagger-like teeth and Sir David revealed the skull is ‘virtually undamaged’ after all these years. 

He said: ‘Pliosaurs were the biggest and most formidable hunters in the Jurassic seas – the marine equivalent, you might say, of T-rex. 

‘The skull of this one is, by itself, over two metres long and armed with massive fangs.

Sir David Attenborough has unearthed the skull of a ferocious Jurassic predator in his latest BBC film

The documentary narrator, 96, explored the history of the incredible Tyrannosaurus rex of the oceans which terrorised Dorset’s Jurassic coast millions of years ago

‘Skulls, which can tell us most about an animal, are easily smashed before fossilisation. 

‘But this one is virtually undamaged and promises to reveal all kinds of new details about these terrifying hunters that preyed on Lyme Regis’s better-known ichthyosaurs.’

Sir David will work with palaeontologists to better understand this monster for the BBC1 programme which is filmed on location in the UK.  

By better understanding the new species of pliosaur, by using the skull, the experts can discovery how the beast looked, behaved and hunted.

Executive producer Mike Gunton said: ‘Sir David’s eyes lit up when we told him about this find. He couldn’t wait to join the dig and get a first look.’ 

Jack Bootle, head of specialistfactual programme commissioning at the BBC, added: This film promises to be a thrilling trip through time to a moment when monsters ruled the seas around Britain.’

Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit. 

It comes after Sir David was crowned the greatest British TV presenter of all time, according to a poll last month. 

Sir David said: ‘Pliosaurs were the biggest and most formidable hunters in the Jurassic seas – the marine equivalent, of T-rex. The skull of this one is, by itself, over two metres long and armed with massive fangs’

Sir David will work with palaeontologists to better understand this monster for the  BBC1 programme which is filmed on location in the UK

The TV presenter won 28 per cent of the vote with 30 household names making up the list in all.

In second place in the Perspectus Global poll is the late Sir Terry Wogan, whose broadcasting career began in the 1960s and included his BBC chat show Wogan in the 1980s and 1990s and his Radio 2 breakfast show, in which he entertained millions of TOGs (Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals).

Sir Bruce Forsyth came third, having presented a string of Saturday night prime-time hits including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, Bruce’s Price is Right and co-hosting Strictly Come Dancing.

Ant and Dec, who have won the title of best TV presenter at the National TV Awards 21 times, were eighth.

When asked what makes a great TV host, 47 per cent of Britons felt it was someone who seemed genuine.

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