Sir David Attenborough has said the BBC still needs “white men explaining things” in television programmes, after the editor of BBC Four said “the era of that has passed.”

The Blue Planet presenter gently contradicted Cassian Harrison, who told the Edinburgh International Television Festival in August: “There’s a mode of programming that involves a presenter, usually white, middle-aged and male, standing on a hill and ‘telling you like it is.’

“We all recognise the era of that has passed.”

Newsnight’s Evan Davis asked: "I don't know if you heard in August, Cassian Harrison, the editor of BBC Four, said the BBC no longer wants TV shows in which white, middle aged men stand up and explain things. I'm sure he didn't have you in mind.”

Chuckling, Sir David replied: “I'm sure he did, because that's what I do.

“I don't think [those days have] passed, I personally think there's a place for that sort of thing, Blue Planet got one of the biggest audiences of documentaries in a long time. On the other hand I suppose he might say there wasn’t a lot seen of you. Which is absolutely true and a very good thing.”