VETERAN broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has said that he is saddened by the lack of choice on today's TV screens.

The naturalist, 88, is presenting a six-part wildlife series, Life Story, for BBC1 and will later return to the channel to front a 3D film on the Great Barrier Reef.

But the former BBC2 controller said that he did not know what to make of his old channel, because it was hard to see what distinguished its programmes from shows on BBC1.

Sir David said while the number of channels had exploded in recent years, they were all chasing certain genres, such as cookery and lifestyle.

"You'd think that the more stations there are, the more varied the output, but the practice is the reverse - the more you get, the more similar they become," he said.

"I don't watch any cookery programmes... I don't watch quizzes either.

"I only put on programmes that I actually, positively, want to see."

Asked what he made of BBC2 today, Sir David said: "I'm not sure how they would define its policy. I guess that BBC4 has taken on perhaps the invention and experimental side of BBC2."

He added: "I can't tell whether a programme is on BBC1 or BBC2 just by watching it."