TV Times – 03 August 2019

16 TV TIMES

K

ate Humble is making

TV Times – and Ben

Fogle – very jealous!

We’re at Longleat

Safari Park in Wiltshire

watching the pair film the 1 4 th series

of BBC1’s much-loved fly-on-the-

enclosure series Animal Park.

After the presenters and a keeper

have waited for a shy red panda to

come nearer to the camera, a thrilled

Kate can’t wait to come over and tell us

how, earlier in the day, she got to hug

one of the group of Southern koalas

who have recently made Longleat their

home and are the only ones of their

species in Europe.

‘They’re adorable and the hug

was purely for veterinary purposes,

obviously!’ grins Kate, 50.

‘I didn’t get to hug one – Kate always

grabs the best jobs!’ adds Ben, 4 5,

pulling a mock scowl.

The super-cute marsupials, which

a lucky TV Times meets later in the day

• but sadly can’t cuddle! – are just one
  of the fascinating stories featured in
  the new series. Here, Ben and Kate
  tell us what to expect...

Is there plenty of drama this year?

Kate: There are births, deaths and

escapees. Who needs Killing Eve?! You

don’t have to come up with jeopardy

or love interests, it’s all there. There’s

something this time I can’t reveal but

it made me think, ‘That was worth

getting out of bed for!’ Fantastic stuff

surprises us every year.

What new animals do you meet?

Ben: Apart from the koalas, which

are magical, today I’ve also seen at

least three other animals I’d never

encountered before, like the Cuban

crocodile, the American porcupine

and I hadn’t even heard of the potoroo

[a small marsupial].

Have you learnt any new skills?

Ben: We’re experts in all sorts! There’s

no ‘hands off ’ on Animal Park – we get

our hands mucky.

Kate: Yes, because we’ve both been here

for so long, we’re trusted to be useful.

I’ve held a baby giant anteater called

Bella while they worked out her sex and

Bella is now Basil! So, if anyone has one

and they’re not sure of the sex, call me!

Are the animals behaving

themselves for the cameras?!

Ben: Of course not! We’ve skipped

filming marmosets today because one

was looking at me and thinking, ‘No

way!’ It wouldn’t be as enjoyable if

everyone played ball.

What do you love about returning

to Longleat each year?

Kate: The tea! No, it’s just lovely to

see what’s happened and this time we

revisit the likes of Xena the cheetah

and Red the tiger. But it’s also like a

family gathering with the keepers.

Ben: Yes, there’s familiarity and Kate

and I are great friends – I have to say

that! We lead such busy lives, this is a

guaranteed moment when we catch up

and pretend we’re 20 years younger!

CAREN CLARK

PH

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ANIMAL PARK IS PREVIEWED ON

PAGES 48-

koalas are

magical!’

NEW FACTUAL

Animal Park

MONDAY-FRIDAY / BBC1 / 9.15AM

There are

births, deaths

and escapees.

Who needs

Killing Eve?!

KATE HUMBLE

‘

The

As TV Times visits Animal Park, Kate

Humble and Ben Fogle tell us why they’ve

fallen in love with Longleat’s new residents