I also hope that the BBC do not simply care about ratings (as they have no need to do really) and renew this for a second series.
It was loved by almost everyone who saw it and was just in the totally wrong slot.
The BBC should be about ensuring series like this are still made by British TV as opposed to the big explosions and riddled with sex scenes stuff that grabs the ratings. This was a uniquely British show superbly staged, written and acted.
We want more.
Some will only see that it lost a staggering 8 million viewers from the show that preceded it (almost a modern record) - as in over 12 million watched Great British Bake Off and two thirds switched off (or over) when that ended.
On the other hand its consolidated ratings (the live viewers plus those who watched on catch up) was up to 5.5 million for episode 5 and it has been very consistent in 5.2 to 5.5 million total viewers every week.
The live ratings for episode 6 at 4.5 million also beat ITV comfortably again and was up a bit.
I think that plus the AI (Appreciation Index) figures for Our Zoo - which have all been very good to excellent - ought to be enough to persuade the BBC.
But you just never know these days.
Either way it is going to win awards in my view. Or at worst be nominated. And I feel sure it will sell well abroad as it translates to any audience quite easily I think.
All of that could make the difference to it getting a renewal.
I also hope that the BBC do not simply care about ratings (as they have no need to do really) and renew this for a second series.
It was loved by almost everyone who saw it and was just in the totally wrong slot.
The BBC should be about ensuring series like this are still made by British TV as opposed to the big explosions and riddled with sex scenes stuff that grabs the ratings. This was a uniquely British show superbly staged, written and acted.
We want more.
Some will only see that it lost a staggering 8 million viewers from the show that preceded it (almost a modern record) - as in over 12 million watched Great British Bake Off and two thirds switched off (or over) when that ended.
On the other hand its consolidated ratings (the live viewers plus those who watched on catch up) was up to 5.5 million for episode 5 and it has been very consistent in 5.2 to 5.5 million total viewers every week.
The live ratings for episode 6 at 4.5 million also beat ITV comfortably again and was up a bit.
I think that plus the AI (Appreciation Index) figures for Our Zoo - which have all been very good to excellent - ought to be enough to persuade the BBC.
But you just never know these days.
Either way it is going to win awards in my view. Or at worst be nominated. And I feel sure it will sell well abroad as it translates to any audience quite easily I think.
All of that could make the difference to it getting a renewal.
You are so right. I have spoken to lots of friends and acquaintances and everyone without exception has loved it. I have not heard one detrimental comment, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for another series.
It really is British television at it's very best..
You are so right. I have spoken to lots of friends and acquaintances and everyone without exception has loved it. I have not heard one detrimental comment, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for another series.
It really is British television at it's very best..
There's lots of material in Junes book which could be used in a second series. Lots of animal anecdotes. I particularly enjoyed the tales of Granny Lucy and the duck pond and of June's tea party with Minnie the tapir.
There's lots of material in Junes book which could be used in a second series. Lots of animal anecdotes. I particularly enjoyed the tales of Granny Lucy and the duck pond and of June's tea party with Minnie the tapir.
My copy of the book arrived today so obviously not got far yet but it is a great read. It might not win the Booker Prize but who cares, I bet it is much more readable than the novels that win that!
Interesting to see the key facts that they have been changed but she accepted that things would have to be changed for television. Many people would be worrying about their life story having been altered.
i really enjoyed our zoo more than i originally thought , i originally watched it because i am a fan of lee ingleby but being an animal lover & drama lover as well shouldn't have been that shocked i enjoyed it.
a great ending , great cast who all did a great job & had the right balance.
There will be outrage if it doesnt get another series , there is a lot more to feature.
What an excellent find.
Just watched behind the scenes and it was so good to see how everyone enjoyed the series, especially young June,a natural actress and person:):)
Understandably the drama had to be adapted for TV and the book lets you discover what really happened as well as revealing what happens when the zoo first opened and its struggle to stay open during the War.
Understandably the drama had to be adapted for TV and the book lets you discover what really happened as well as revealing what happens when the zoo first opened and its struggle to stay open during the War.
Missing 'Our Zoo' - would love to hear there will be more. Any news of a second series?
The real June Mottershead will be at Chester Zoo http://www.chesterzoo.org/ tomorrow that's Saturday 25th October signing books between 1pm and 3pm.
We happened to visit Chester Zoo on that Sunday and she was signing copies then too
A bit of a shame the book was £20 at the Zoo, when it is £9 at Amazon. Amazon is either brilliant or destroying the book industry, depending on your point of view.
Monty the penguin in the Christmas John Lewis's Christmas Advert is proving very popular. My interest in penguins grew after after seeing George Mottershead and his brother Billy (Lee Ingleby and Ralph Little) lead the penguins through the village in 'Our Zoo': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvonQgUmkDE
Mojo the fluffy baby penguin was also incredibly cute, who was being hand reared by the young June (Honor Kneafsley) and interrupted the court proceedings.
Apparently, there was a penguin called Oswald who after losing it's partner would follow a young keeper (who later became June's husband) everywhere, even up a ladder! This was in the late 1940s, the BBC filmed them together and made it into one of the short interludes they broadcast when there was a breakdown in transmission.
Having just borrowed Zoo Without Bars: The Story of Chester Zoo and Its Founder George Saul Mottershead by June Johns from my local library, I would highly recommend it.
My wild life growing up at Chester zoo
June Mottershead’s father founded Chester zoo in 1931. It was also the family home and as she grew up many of the animals became her friends – especially Mary, their first chimpanzee
Having just borrowed Zoo Without Bars: The Story of Chester Zoo and Its Founder George Saul Mottershead by June Johns from my local library, I would highly recommend it.
So disappointed to hear there will be no second series of BBC 'Our Zoo'. I loved it and felt it was such an uplifting and inspirational tale of a family who overcame all obstacles to open a zoo without bars.
I would have loved for the drama to have continued and to have discovered how they managed to build a zoo that today is regarded as one of the best in the World and does so much for conservation.
There are not enough dramas, which the whole family can enjoy together on television. I do still wonder why 'Our Zoo' was originally shown at 9pm - too late for families.
Why on television are there so many programs showing violence, murder or promoting people with values that are shallow and self-centred? This must be having a negative impact on our society and particularly the young.
Comments
It was loved by almost everyone who saw it and was just in the totally wrong slot.
The BBC should be about ensuring series like this are still made by British TV as opposed to the big explosions and riddled with sex scenes stuff that grabs the ratings. This was a uniquely British show superbly staged, written and acted.
We want more.
Some will only see that it lost a staggering 8 million viewers from the show that preceded it (almost a modern record) - as in over 12 million watched Great British Bake Off and two thirds switched off (or over) when that ended.
On the other hand its consolidated ratings (the live viewers plus those who watched on catch up) was up to 5.5 million for episode 5 and it has been very consistent in 5.2 to 5.5 million total viewers every week.
The live ratings for episode 6 at 4.5 million also beat ITV comfortably again and was up a bit.
I think that plus the AI (Appreciation Index) figures for Our Zoo - which have all been very good to excellent - ought to be enough to persuade the BBC.
But you just never know these days.
Either way it is going to win awards in my view. Or at worst be nominated. And I feel sure it will sell well abroad as it translates to any audience quite easily I think.
All of that could make the difference to it getting a renewal.
You are so right. I have spoken to lots of friends and acquaintances and everyone without exception has loved it. I have not heard one detrimental comment, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for another series.
It really is British television at it's very best..
There's lots of material in Junes book which could be used in a second series. Lots of animal anecdotes. I particularly enjoyed the tales of Granny Lucy and the duck pond and of June's tea party with Minnie the tapir.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Zoo-June-Mottershead/dp/1472226356/ref=zg_bs_67_24
My copy of the book arrived today so obviously not got far yet but it is a great read. It might not win the Booker Prize but who cares, I bet it is much more readable than the novels that win that!
Interesting to see the key facts that they have been changed but she accepted that things would have to be changed for television. Many people would be worrying about their life story having been altered.
a great ending , great cast who all did a great job & had the right balance.
There will be outrage if it doesnt get another series , there is a lot more to feature.
http://www.nationaltvawards.com/
Me too, but bet they don't get through to the shortlist....
Me too...thanks for the link.
Episode 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjTC_fbLbII
Episode 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi_p2-nFu-E
Episode 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvonQgUmkDE
Episode 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fEfdmFriI4
Episode 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE21TO_MGwo
Episode 6:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEw6FTS9jZE
Me too well apart from i voted midsomer instead of our zoo but i did vote for lee
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Zoo-June-Mottershead/dp/1472226356
What an excellent find.
Just watched behind the scenes and it was so good to see how everyone enjoyed the series, especially young June,a natural actress and person:):)
Thank you for posting these. I see that all the episode are on there
Reviews of the 'Our Zoo' book are five and four stars so people seem to be enjoying it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/1472226356/ref=zg_bs_67_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Understandably the drama had to be adapted for TV and the book lets you discover what really happened as well as revealing what happens when the zoo first opened and its struggle to stay open during the War.
Missing 'Our Zoo' - would love to hear there will be more. Any news of a second series?
We happened to visit Chester Zoo on that Sunday and she was signing copies then too
A bit of a shame the book was £20 at the Zoo, when it is £9 at Amazon. Amazon is either brilliant or destroying the book industry, depending on your point of view.
Fantastic series and fantastic Zoo!
No ones reported a second series yet, and like you would love it if they could renew it.
Mojo the fluffy baby penguin was also incredibly cute, who was being hand reared by the young June (Honor Kneafsley) and interrupted the court proceedings.
I went on to read the real story of Chester Zoo in the 'Our Zoo' book written by June Mottershead, http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Our%20Zoo, which is full of animal anecdotes.
Apparently, there was a penguin called Oswald who after losing it's partner would follow a young keeper (who later became June's husband) everywhere, even up a ladder! This was in the late 1940s, the BBC filmed them together and made it into one of the short interludes they broadcast when there was a breakdown in transmission.
My library does not seem to have this
I would have loved for the drama to have continued and to have discovered how they managed to build a zoo that today is regarded as one of the best in the World and does so much for conservation.
There are not enough dramas, which the whole family can enjoy together on television.
http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/incoming/bbc-confirms-no-second-series-8260107
Why on television are there so many programs showing violence, murder or promoting people with values that are shallow and self-centred? This must be having a negative impact on our society and particularly the young.
I believe that this an extremely bad mistake on the part of the BBC and I think they may regret this decision.