CAPTIVE AUDIENCE: Zoos on screen

The Secret Life Of The Zoo At Christmas (8pm, Ch4) is a festive special from Chester Zoo. Animal parks have made popular viewing for decades…

Zoo Quest (1954-63) Documentary series about zoos have long been a staple of British TV. In fact, David Attenborough (1) got his big break on Zoo Quest, which saw him visiting 1 exotic countries with staff from London Zoo, to acquire animals for its collection. More recently, London Zoo (and sister institution Whipsnade) featured in ITV’s The Zoo (2010-14).

Animal Magic (1962-83) This children’s hit was set in Bristol Zoo, and featured jovial Johnny Morris providing voices for some

of the residents. Cancelled after the show was deemed not educational enough, it was replaced by The Really Wild Show

(1986-2006) hosted by former Animal Magic co-presenter Terry Nutkins. Animal Park (2000-09,

2016) This BBC series about the keepers and animals at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire became an unlikely hit, and ran for ten series. It was originally hosted 2 by Kate Humble and Paul Heiney, but Ben Fogle took over from Heiney from series two. Our Zoo (2014) This BBC drama charted the founding of Chester Zoo by George Mottershead, who started out by charging neighbours to view his own collection of exotic creatures. Lee Ingleby played George (2) as a man of honour, whose dream of creating a humane environment for animals became a reality in 1931.