Noel: I’m not a dodgy surgeon

NOEL Fitzpatrick hit back at critics who have slammed his use of cutting-edge surgery.

The Channel 4 vet is known for carrying out new procedures to save poorly animals.

He said: “I get some criticism for moving things too far in veterinary medicine.

“Yet I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I would never pick up a scalpel and operate on any animal if I wouldn’t do it on my own dog.” He added: “If people really watch these programmes and understand the experience in the animal and human field that goes into the development of each and every initiative, they will realise there is an entire team of compassionate, caring people desperately trying to do their best.

“They want to make a real difference to that animal and to the wider world.”

Noel’s current run of hour-long specials offers viewers more insight into the science behind the surgery. He added: “This new series is a peg in the ground for advances in medical technology that can and should change the world we live in for the better, bringing hope to hundreds of thousands of animals and humans.”

Catch the show on Thursday at 8pm. JOE Dempsie says the cast endured freezing conditions during filming. He stars as Rob Elliott in the new BBC drama, set in a remote village in the Highlands. He said: “Approaching Scottish winter on night shoots at 3am with rain machines hasn’t been great. “But there is no other way to shoot those scenes. “When you read it in the script you think how great it is…until you actually have to do it and realise your costume is essentially just a long-sleeved T-shirt.” One of Us starts on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One.