Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Beast of friends
We’ve done other shows but Animal Park is the glue.”
“Ben is so incredibly likeable and he has a great sense of humour,” says Kate. “I have spent the last 20 years taking the p*** out of him! But one of the extraordinary things about him is how he embraces his fears.
“When we first met, guinea pigs were slightly nerve-racking for Ben. He denies that now but he is not fearless and I still have endless admiration for him.
“We shared a house many times during filming and I can remember I would quite happily go out running with Inca while he lay in bed for as long as possible.”
Their jokey but close friendship is one of the many reasons why their TV partnership has stood the test of time. Ben says: “There are some great enduring partnerships – Ant and Dec, Holly and Phil – but these tend to be entertainment shows whereas a programme like ours is factual, and I don’t think there are many pairings that have gone on for 20 years.”
Reflecting on the highs and lows they have shared filming Animal Park, he says none of the stories have been more poignant than those featured in the new series, starting next Monday, which will reflect on Covid’s impact on the animals.
“It was like going into an empty school when we were allowed to film,” says Ben. “The impact has been profound, the safaris aren’t getting the revenue, they can’t afford to pay the keepers but the animals still have to be fed. Animals do like the sociability and so it was quite unnatural to be going around the park without lots of people there.” However there have been some positive stories to come out of lockdown too.
Kate says: “Preston the armadillo was so fat last year he couldn’t have got his leg over anyone, let alone Polly (another armadillo) but they now have offspring together, which is pretty cool.”
Both presenters think the reason why Animal Park is still going strong after 20 years is down to its feelgood nature and amazing stories that could give any TV soap a run for its money, all set against the backdrop
ate and Ben have been in regular contact with each other during lockdown, with both having very different experiences.
While Kate has been flat-out filming three different TV series with Ludo, who also works in telly, Ben has been at home with his family after 10 work trips were axed.
Ben says: “It has taken some time getting used to it all but I feel very privileged because we have been able to spend time together as a family and really get to know each other.
“I am missing the travel but I have spent the time writing a book about how the wilderness has made me a better person. And actually, now I don’t want to be away as my children go into their early teens.”
Referring to his love of adventure, he says: “Once they leave the nest, then maybe that will be the time to sail or run around the world.”
So as Kate and Ben look forward to working together on more instalments of Animal Park, can they see themselves on the show in another 20 years?
“If you had asked me 10 years ago I would have said I think not,” says Ben. “But there is great nostalgia and Animal Park does an important job. If it is still doing that job, then I would love to still be part of it.”
Kate says: “We still love it as much as we did at the start. It’s an annual event in our calendars and both of us would be astonishingly honoured if we could keep on doing it for another 20 years – pushing each other around in our Lord Bath chairs.”
Animal Park returns to BBC1 on Monday at 10am