Episode 1
Drama series. Deeply affected by his war trauma and driven by his unique love of animals, George attempts to build his dream - a zoo without bars.
George Mottershead is a man who has lost his way. Haunted by memories of combat in the Great War, he now finds himself living with his wife and two daughters in his parents' cramped home above the family grocery store. While delivering goods by the docks one day, he spots an unwanted squirrel monkey and a camel about to be put down in the quarantine bay. George can't bear to let them suffer so takes them both home to his parents' backyard instead - much to the family's bewilderment.
His family sees this as further evidence that he's losing his mind, but George is busy making plans that will change their lives forever. On the way to an army reunion he comes across a rundown stately home, Oakfield, surrounded by acres of land, and he formulates the idea of buying it and building around it the first British zoo without bars. Against the odds he persuades the bank to lend him the money to buy Oakfield.
But once George has persuaded his sceptical family to move into their new ramshackle house, the whole family faces the tough task of convincing the genteel and hard-to-please villagers to accept them as neighbours. George thinks it best to keep the zoo plans secret, which becomes difficult when Mortimer the monkey escapes into the village.
Last on
Clips
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"Behold the beast"
Duration: 01:01
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Behind the Scenes: Welcome to Our Zoo
Duration: 03:01
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
George Mottershead | Lee Ingleby |
Lizzie Mottershead | Liz White |
Billy Atkinson | Ralf Little |
Reverend Aaron Webb | Stephen Campbell Moore |
Lady Katherine Longmore | Sophia Myles |
Muriel Mottershead | Amelia Clarkson |
June Mottershead | Honor Kneafsey |
Albert Mottershead | Peter Wight |
Lucy Mottershead | Anne Reid |
Casper Butterfield | Richard Bremmer |
Christopher | Parry Glasspool |
Celia | Elizabeth Rider |
Drinker | Neil Bell |
Barlow | Karl Collins |
Alice | Rose Reynolds |
Young Boy | Harvey Chaisty |
Fenchwood | Jonathan Cullen |
Camilla Radler | Hayley Carmichael |
Archie Radler | Tom Hardman |
Auctioneer | Hugh Simon |
Land Agent | Charlie De'Ath |
Mr John Pollard | Gary Davis |
Mr Ernest Fowler | Steve Cooper |
Writer | Matt Charman |
Producer | Marcus Wilson |
Director | Andy De Emmony |
Executive Producer | Luke Alkin |
Executive Producer | Kenton Allen |
Executive Producer | Matthew Justice |
Executive Producer | Adam Kemp |
Executive Producer | Matthew Read |
Idea Originator | Adam Kemp |
Broadcasts
- Wed 3 Sep 2014 21:00麻豆官网首页入口 One except Scotland & Scotland HD
- Wed 3 Sep 2014 22:40麻豆官网首页入口 One Scotland HD & Scotland only
Behind the Scenes of Our Zoo
Go on location with the cast, crew and animals of Our Zoo!
iWonder: The history of British zoos
From royal beasts to modern conservation, discover the amazing history of British zoos.