Sir David Attenborough exploring the real world has made armchair adventurers of all of us, starting in black and white TV, pioneering colour television.

Now, he is bringing us into his virtual world.

Hold the World is a new virtual reality experience that takes you behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum with a hologram of the nation's favourite adventurer.

Image: Sir David is a keen recycler and has given up single-use plastic bottles

Image: Hold the World gives you a one-on-one audience with Sir David Attenborough

I met the man himself ahead of World Oceans Day.

Sir David Attenborough has travelled the world and celebrated the wonders beneath the oceans' surfaces - but in recent years, he has seen first-hand the plastic waste that is destroying marine life.


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Image: David Attenborough told Sky News there are simple things we can do to help the environment

During his 60-year career, the global population has tripled and almost eaten up the natural world.

The explorer says what he has seen during that time inspired him to become a conservationist.

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He told Sky News: "Sixty years ago, people had not seen a giraffe, never gone to the African bush... well it's not like that anymore - there's hardly an important species they can't see on TV.

"More importantly than that, we've become aware of what we've done to the world and the responsibility we have for looking after the wild world.

'We use plastic without a thought'

"It isn't just being high-minded - we are part of the wild world. If it wasn't for other animals, we would starve... we couldn't even breathe our air."

He warns that if we don't act now and take steps to protect the natural world, "the human race will regret it".

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Sir David is an optimist when it comes to the state of our oceans. He says the damage is not irreversible, and nature can recover if we give it a chance.

With the help of campaigns such as Sky Ocean Rescue, people have grasped the importance of protecting the natural world more so than at any other point in his lifetime.

Sir David is less optimistic when it comes to Donald Trump and climate change, saying even he would not be able to persuade the US president that it is a huge global problem.

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Sir David does his bit on our screens but he does it at home too.

A keen recycler, he is passing on plastic and has ditched single-use plastic bottles.

"There are so many simple things we can do," he said. "It's absurd to suggest we can do totally without plastic but there are so many areas where we use plastic without a thought."

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He also wants the government to ban plastic straws.

When it comes to Theresa May's target of eliminating plastic waste by 2042, he says it is up to us to beat that target and get the government there ahead of schedule.

Sir David is up for this challenge. On World Oceans Day, ask yourself: are you?

:: Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at skyoceanrescue.com.