Sir David Attenborough has waded into the Brexit debate - saying people “are getting fed up” of an "irritating" EU.
The renowned naturalist said Brussels had “interfered with people’s lives on silly levels or issues” in a rare comment on politics.
But he refused to say which way he had voted in the 2016 EU referendum.
Instead, he replied “I don’t reveal what I voted for… I think there had to be a change, one way or another.”
And he said “there are faults on both sides” in the Brexit debate - and “our political system has got itself in this absurd mess.”
He said: "I think that the irritation of the ways in which the European community has interfered with people's lives on silly levels or silly issues has irritated a lot of people who don't actually understand what the advantages and the disadvantages are.
"They're just fed up with somebody over there who doesn't speak their language, telling him how much money they've got to charge for tomatoes or something silly."
The BBC legend made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica which also covered his views on the environment.
Sir David said South America and Africa "are faced with hideous problems" on the environment.
He added "the world is going to hell" while the public argues about other issues.
In his prolific career since the 1950s, Sir David has not often been outspoken on his political views.
However, he joined celebrities in supporting the re-election of Caroline Lucas as a Green Party MP.
And last month he made an outspoken appearance before MPs - warning climate change will cause "great social unrest" in 20 years.
He said young people's views on the climate were changing so fast they could be compared to the abolition of slavery.
And he suggested the price of plane tickets should rise to reduce demand and help the environment.
