At the age of 19, Christian Marot never anticipated receiving a response to the letter he had sent to Sir David Attenborough, which included his wildlife filming work.

Surprisingly, just ten days later, he received a reply that included both commendations and thoughtful feedback, along with the original USB drive affixed to the personalized stationery featuring the broadcaster’s name.

“It felt surreal,” recalls Marot, describing the response as “extraordinarily motivating for an aspiring wildlife filmmaker.”

Fast forward a decade, Marot, now an accomplished camera operator, found himself on a sun-drenched field in Greenford, capturing intimate footage of Sir David releasing harvest mice onto a blade of grass.

It was a genuine “pinch-me moment” for someone who has faced challenges with dyslexia and was often told by educators that he “would not find success in life.”

I met with Christian on a rainy winter day in Greenwich Park, close to his home situated between Hither Green and Catford in south-east London.

This weather provided a stark contrast to the hot, hazy days of the previous summer when he served as one of the lead camera operators for Sir David’s latest documentary, Wild London.

However, the blend of towering skyscrapers against a natural backdrop perfectly aligns with the documentary’s theme—highlighting the wildlife in our surroundings, a passion Marot has nurtured throughout his life.

His fascination began in earnest at the age of 12 after receiving a box set of Sir David’s documentaries, which prompted him to pick up a camera for the first time.

He began to document the wildlife in his vicinity.

“I was literally in my London backyard. I’d set up camp and wait for any creature to wander into my garden,” he explains.

Initially focused on still photography, he quickly became a finalist in the esteemed International Garden Photographer of the Year competition.

After the passing of his grandmother when he was 19, he used a small inheritance to embark on a journey to Madagascar, inspired by Sir David’s documentary about the island.

“I only had a very basic kit with me,” he admits. “I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing.”

Nevertheless, he managed to capture beautiful footage and was ultimately pleased with the final cut of a short film.

His family motivated him to send it to the celebrated naturalist and assisted him in locating an address.

To his astonishment, a response arrived soon after.

“I thought it was incredible that someone of his caliber took the time to reply to someone like me, just a young lad passionate about wildlife,” he reflects.

“His role seems to be to encourage and inspire people from our generation to value and make a change for the natural world.”

In the following years, Marot acquired experience in nature filming, taking on roles as a camera assistant and second camera operator, but he never imagined he would collaborate with Sir David directly.

That changed when he received a call to work on Wild London.

Marot shares, “It was a chance to collaborate on a project with my idol, as well as work on something right in my hometown. I never thought those two paths would intersect.”

On the first day of filming in Greenford, West London, Marot finally met the man who had been his inspiration since childhood.

He arrived early, feeling “extremely nervous,” he admits.

However, when Sir David showed up, he introduced himself and promptly made Marot feel comfortable.

Marot’s responsibility was to film close-up shots of Sir David’s hands as he gently encouraged a harvest mouse to grip the grasses of a meadow.

“It was an absolutely remarkable day that felt truly special,” he says.