It's crazy when quality drama series like Our Zoo and The Crimson Field get cancelled after just ONE series, yet reality crap like I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here are still going on and on after over 13 years! Crazy!
Our Zoo coming soon to BBC1
22 of 23
Originally Posted by Gripper Stebson:
“It's crazy when quality drama series like Our Zoo and The Crimson Field get cancelled after just ONE series, yet reality crap like I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here are still going on and on after over 13 years! Crazy!”
“It's crazy when quality drama series like Our Zoo and The Crimson Field get cancelled after just ONE series, yet reality crap like I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here are still going on and on after over 13 years! Crazy!”
Many people agree with you but perhaps not enough. The 'Our Zoo' petition is still being signed...
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/b...ies-of-our-zoo
This YouTube video has just been posted by Chester Zoo and shows that it is a very special organisation which really does care for animals. The Mottersheads would be so proud.
Look how 'Our Zoo' has grown!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeeF...em-subs_digest
Look how 'Our Zoo' has grown!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeeF...em-subs_digest
Missing Mortimer the monkey but this pygmy marmoset which was recently born at Chester Zoo is incredibly cute:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/...comes-10946539
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/...comes-10946539
Latest comments about Our Zoo on ipetitions:
CJ United States, Bainbridge Island Feb 25, 2016
Our Zoo was a top-notch production, well worth several more seasons of broadcast. I hope the team/scripts can be resurrected and put back into production. The lions are not happy!
Brenda Clarke australia Australia Feb 25, 2016
I love this show, please bring a 2nd season out.
Willeen Keough Canada, Vancouver Feb 24, 2016
Such a charming show, with complex, believable characters. Please bring it back!
Allegra Cermak United States, Bowie Feb 23, 2016
Finally a show where I care about the future of the characters - and not about the empire or India,but real people living in a real England - don't leave us wondering how Mortimer is!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/b...ies-of-our-zoo
CJ United States, Bainbridge Island Feb 25, 2016
Our Zoo was a top-notch production, well worth several more seasons of broadcast. I hope the team/scripts can be resurrected and put back into production. The lions are not happy!
Brenda Clarke australia Australia Feb 25, 2016
I love this show, please bring a 2nd season out.
Willeen Keough Canada, Vancouver Feb 24, 2016
Such a charming show, with complex, believable characters. Please bring it back!
Allegra Cermak United States, Bowie Feb 23, 2016
Finally a show where I care about the future of the characters - and not about the empire or India,but real people living in a real England - don't leave us wondering how Mortimer is!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/b...ies-of-our-zoo
This is part of a comment posted by a Russian fan of 'Our Zoo':
Tal Bar .917460
... it is a well-known fact that if an Englishman is offered money, he is offended, but if you tell him that he simply can not do that - he moves mountains to prove otherwise, it is a challenge call. I love England and the English. People, in which tradition and feigned stiffness coexist with subtle British humor of Tom Sharpe's horror Edgar Allan Poe and Doyle's detective.
This is a series about people. About a soldier wounded and undergoing the horrors of World War I, not being a zoologist, not for profit, but for the sake of ideas and love of animals, risking all that he has, creating from scratch a zoo. Actually, I rarely like the European series, but this series is not for nothing was created in England and the BBC. Gorgeous surroundings, great atmosphere, great actors and the script. All this makes the show a must for viewing. The series is about the people who live and make the very idea of a better life. I'm hoping that this is a documentary series about animals that I am madly in love, I found it on the 5th series and watched them all night.
See for yourself, a family show and maybe something in you and your life will change for the better.
http://seasonvar.ru/serial-10397-Nash_zoopark.html
Tal Bar .917460
... it is a well-known fact that if an Englishman is offered money, he is offended, but if you tell him that he simply can not do that - he moves mountains to prove otherwise, it is a challenge call. I love England and the English. People, in which tradition and feigned stiffness coexist with subtle British humor of Tom Sharpe's horror Edgar Allan Poe and Doyle's detective.
This is a series about people. About a soldier wounded and undergoing the horrors of World War I, not being a zoologist, not for profit, but for the sake of ideas and love of animals, risking all that he has, creating from scratch a zoo. Actually, I rarely like the European series, but this series is not for nothing was created in England and the BBC. Gorgeous surroundings, great atmosphere, great actors and the script. All this makes the show a must for viewing. The series is about the people who live and make the very idea of a better life. I'm hoping that this is a documentary series about animals that I am madly in love, I found it on the 5th series and watched them all night.
See for yourself, a family show and maybe something in you and your life will change for the better.
http://seasonvar.ru/serial-10397-Nash_zoopark.html
Our Zoo was recently enjoyed on ABC in Australia, this is a review of the book 'Our Zoo' by June Williams (Chester Zoo's founder George Mottershead's youngest daughter). The review was produced by Mundaring Libraries in Western Australia. It's good to see that the book is also being enjoyed out there too:
Our Zoo by June Mottershead
Posted on February 29, 2016 by Shire of Mundaring Libraries
“Our Zoo” by June Mottershead is the true story of the Chester Zoo which was dramatized by the BBC and recently aired on the ABC.
Having seen the series, I was prompted to read the book. I couldn’t believe that, in the early thirties, people with no scientific training could actually open zoos, or anything like them, but apparently you could. Luckily for the animals at Chester Zoo, June Mottershead’s father was a visionary, and true but unsentimental lover, of the animals in his keeping.
June is the youngest member of the Mottershead family. In 1930 June’s father , George, moved his family and parents to Oakfield estate, a small-holding of seven acres with a big old Victorian house, along with some animals from a small zoo at Shavington. June was only three, and her earliest memories are a little sketchy, but she soon launches into wonderfully evocative detail. The book differs from the series, which was produced with June’s blessing, but as she says, the series is a drama not a documentary. However, the book is engrossing for its details of all the animals, their pecadillos and personalities brought to life by June’s conversational narrative.
There is so much to like about the story. George Mottershead had always wanted to have a zoo, ever since he saw one as a small child, but announced to his father after visiting a zoo, that his zoo would be a zoo without bars, and he would build it. And this is exactly what he does. It is an amazingly improbable story. June grows up thinking that having exotic animals such as Mary the chimpanzee as companions is normal. There are so many funny and touching anecdotes which educate as much as entertain: the ex-menagerie polar bear who didn’t know what to do with the pool built for him, the runaway tapir who gets stuck in a turret, ferrying a collection of reptiles, African grey parrots, cranes and monkeys in a Hillman Minx after picking them up from a Blue Funnel Line Ship, escapee Himalayan bears.
Chester Zoo grew from what seemed almost a glorified back-yard, home-made menagerie to one of the most important zoos in the world in a short time. It was a trail-blazer in so many ways, reflecting the man who started it all.
June Mottershead was in her mid 80s when she wrote this. The hard copy edition with photographs is excellent for putting faces and images to names and stories.
The libraries have a copies in large print, normal print and MP3 formats.
Chester Zoo has a wonderful website http://www.chesterzoo.org/global/about-us/our-history with information about its history, current operations, and more.
https://mundaringlibraries.wordpress.com/
Our Zoo by June Mottershead
Posted on February 29, 2016 by Shire of Mundaring Libraries
“Our Zoo” by June Mottershead is the true story of the Chester Zoo which was dramatized by the BBC and recently aired on the ABC.
Having seen the series, I was prompted to read the book. I couldn’t believe that, in the early thirties, people with no scientific training could actually open zoos, or anything like them, but apparently you could. Luckily for the animals at Chester Zoo, June Mottershead’s father was a visionary, and true but unsentimental lover, of the animals in his keeping.
June is the youngest member of the Mottershead family. In 1930 June’s father , George, moved his family and parents to Oakfield estate, a small-holding of seven acres with a big old Victorian house, along with some animals from a small zoo at Shavington. June was only three, and her earliest memories are a little sketchy, but she soon launches into wonderfully evocative detail. The book differs from the series, which was produced with June’s blessing, but as she says, the series is a drama not a documentary. However, the book is engrossing for its details of all the animals, their pecadillos and personalities brought to life by June’s conversational narrative.
There is so much to like about the story. George Mottershead had always wanted to have a zoo, ever since he saw one as a small child, but announced to his father after visiting a zoo, that his zoo would be a zoo without bars, and he would build it. And this is exactly what he does. It is an amazingly improbable story. June grows up thinking that having exotic animals such as Mary the chimpanzee as companions is normal. There are so many funny and touching anecdotes which educate as much as entertain: the ex-menagerie polar bear who didn’t know what to do with the pool built for him, the runaway tapir who gets stuck in a turret, ferrying a collection of reptiles, African grey parrots, cranes and monkeys in a Hillman Minx after picking them up from a Blue Funnel Line Ship, escapee Himalayan bears.
Chester Zoo grew from what seemed almost a glorified back-yard, home-made menagerie to one of the most important zoos in the world in a short time. It was a trail-blazer in so many ways, reflecting the man who started it all.
June Mottershead was in her mid 80s when she wrote this. The hard copy edition with photographs is excellent for putting faces and images to names and stories.
The libraries have a copies in large print, normal print and MP3 formats.
Chester Zoo has a wonderful website http://www.chesterzoo.org/global/about-us/our-history with information about its history, current operations, and more.
https://mundaringlibraries.wordpress.com/
Happy Mother's day. Lizzie Mottershead was a caring and loving mum to her daughters June and Mew as well as a supportive wife to her husband George. She's an inspirational role model for women. She played a vital part in helping her husband found Chester Zoo.
Nice to see the lovely comments from around the world about this series. The cancellation statement put out by the BBC for this didn't stand up at all. They said
“We are very proud of Our Zoo and would like to thank all those involved,” the spokesperson said. “However, in order to create room for new shows and to keep increasing the range of BBC One drama we sometimes have to make hard choices and it will not be returning for a second series.”
How many original dramas based on the true story of a successful zoo did they have then? I would call that increasing the range. As for creating room for new shows, well Our Zoo WAS a new show.
“We are very proud of Our Zoo and would like to thank all those involved,” the spokesperson said. “However, in order to create room for new shows and to keep increasing the range of BBC One drama we sometimes have to make hard choices and it will not be returning for a second series.”
How many original dramas based on the true story of a successful zoo did they have then? I would call that increasing the range. As for creating room for new shows, well Our Zoo WAS a new show.
Congratulations charity Chester Zoo 'Our Zoo', it has just been reported that 18% more visitors visited the zoo last year and it was the most visited paid for attraction outside London. It even attracted more visitors than St Pauls Cathedral and the British Library! It is great that a good proportion of the money from visitors is used by this organisation to fund conservation projects all over the world helping to save critically endangered species and their habitats.
Article published in the Telegraph:
http://bit.ly/1YlzRIU
Article published in the Telegraph:
http://bit.ly/1YlzRIU
Just found this review of Our Zoo
http://naomiblog15.blogspot.pt/2016/...oo-review.html
Our Zoo // Review
Ever since we finished this series called Our Zoo (which was... this Wednesday) me, together with my siblings, have been growling the same thing a few times every day. Why isn't there a season TWO?!!!!!! It pains my SOUL to hear that there won't EVER be another season released of this stinkin fantastic Period Drama series. I am weeping forever; crushed; shattered; doomed; dead. (Wow, that got really grave.) Seriously though. Let me ask you something. WHY ISN'T THERE A SEASON TWO?! I am asking the film-people. WHY. Did the actors insist on stopping? Insist the contrary! Show them who's boss! Did you loose inspiration? Ask your fans! I'll write the script. Did the costume designer die? Find a new one! Did Upton burn down? Of course it didn't. WHY THEN. Wasn't it popular enough? Internet sources insist the contrary thereof - millions are crushed and on their death beds about the end of Our Zoo. Seriously?! You're kidding me? You're just going to keep it with one little series of six episodes? And Frankie so unhappy? And George buying a lion?!! And us not knowing how and what and who and - *splutters helplessly* You can't just DO that. Wicked child.
(If you stopped because you didn't FEEL like it, I'm afraid I must tell you that I have made up my mind to hate you forever. Apologies in advance. You're welcome.)
JUST LOOK AT THOSE CHARACTERS. I WANT MORE. *bites lip* *glares*
Okay, I'm done with my rant. I'll calm down, comb my furious hair and wash the angry sweat from my forehead. The review of Our Zoo (poet-and-you-didn't-know-it-alert) may start. There be spoilers, but who cares about SPOILERS. (If you care, kind off avert your eyes from the remainder of this post.)
All right, so "Our Zoo" is a six-episode-long (or should I say, short?) series about the true story of the Mottershead family who move to Chester and, of all the freaking things, decide to start a zoo. As in; buying animals and building 'cages' and all that. But the people in the village, Upton, are dead set against the idea - so they do anything to prevent it, from starting petitions to cutting nets to spreading lies. But in the end, with the help of The Good Ones, they finally get Official Permission and enough money to lend... and then, bam, we hear there isn't a second season and there never will be.
(I'm not going to rant about that again but... seriouuusly.)
The series was such a success in our family. My siblings, many of whom adore animals, loved the fact that it was about 'how Chester zoo started' (one of my siblings went to Chester zoo once, but she said she didn't recognise anything, because duh, this is set in 1930) and I, who doesn't really adore animals, loved the old-fashioned-charm, the adooorable costumes, some of the romances, etc. Different audiences can appreciate this; and I appreciate that in a movie/series. (My dad said it was 'brilliant', and my five-year-old sister loved it. Proof.)
Before I'm going to go through the characters, I'll cover the other aspects of the show.
First, the accents. GAH. I'm suddenly really, really obsessed with the Liverpool accent - and I'll talk in none other. Some of you tell me that if you had a British accent like me, you wouldn't stop talking. Well, I can't stop talking in a Liverpool-ian accent nowadays! It's adorable and I just love it. (Or, should I say, luv it? Yeah, I'll say luv it.) But yes, there are also characters with normal boring British accents, but the Liverpool accents are so precious. (My Granddad was bought up in Liverpool, so I have Liverpool-ian blood. Hashtag proud.)
The music isn't amazing, although the Theme song is nice. There isn't any content bedroom-scene-nudity-wise, but unfortunately there are swear words sprinkled throughout. Nothing very big, but I have to admit that there was enough to me to think, 'Oh, I'd better mention there's some language, in my review.'
AND THEN THE COSTUMES. The 30's were just... so glamorous and gorgeous. It might be my favourite time period, actually, fashion-wise. This show really made me fall bam-slap in love the fashion of the 1930 - the shorts, the cuts of the skirts, the gorgeous soft party gowns, the long necklaces, the HATS, and the HAIRSTYLES. My favourite wardrobe probably belonged to Mew, but Lady Catherine's wardrobe was disastrously impeccable, too. And Lizzie and Mew and Frankie's dresses for the auction evening... I'm in love with them. Basically, watch it for the 30's fashion alone. Amen.
Now I will ramble (Wow, I haven't used that word in eons. Remember when it was so overused on the on this circle of blogs?) about the characters. George Mottershead, leader of the household, pillar of the zoo, decider and perseverer of fulfulling his zooological garden dream deserves to be the first I talk about. I loved his ridiculously adorable grin (can I get an Amen about that, please? I need an 'I love George Mottershead grin' T-shirt. Just kidding.), I loved it when he left Billy in the bear-cage, I loved it when he told Mew he was proud of her, I loved how he got along so well with June and how he loved her so much, I loved how he loved his wife, I loved how he didn't give up, and I loved how he respected his parents. So yes, a lot of things about him that I loved.
Other things... not so much. I hated the whole plot-that-hinted-he-partly-fell-in-love-with-Lady-Catherine. Those bits drove me crazy, and I'm so glad it ended well. I'm also so glad he acted like a gentleman in London and that he kissed his wife often. (:-P) But what also annoyed me sometimes was his... Robert-Timmins-ish-nature sometimes. If you've seen Lark Rise to Candleford, you know about Robert Timmins - who has his annoying side. George isn't annoying at all, but sometimes he annoyed me. But yeah. He's a good chump in general. Really, he is.
Lizzie!! I LOVE LIZZIE, despite the hiiiighly annoying fact that the movie hinted she had a part-time 'crush' on the Reverend. Luckily that passed quickly. (Why can't couples remain 100% percent faithful 100% of the time please? Thanks.) Lizzie has THE cutest Liverpool accent in the movie, and I love her hair and her face and her hat. And her piano playing. She's such a brilliant mother, she's such an excellent wife (for the most time) and I love the support she gives her husband and her daughters and her parents-in-law. She really held the family together, she did, and I'd like to be her friend. Loved her!
June! JUNE IS JUST SO ADORABLE. And she's a young writer! I loved how every episode started off with her writing her 'Our Zoo newsletter' - her voice is adorable, and her curls are just... I mean look at her, doesn't she look ridiculously nice? She IS ridiculously nice. She's completely besotted with animals - Mortimer the monkey (mun-keh) is her best friend - and she's complimentary and gorgeous and I loved her. For the first three episodes or so, when most of the characters hadn't yet developed to their best, she was my favourite character. (Doesn't she look like Shirley Temple but then better?)
Ugh, in the beginning Mew - short for Muriel; not named after the noise of a cat - annoyed me enormously much. My whole family loathed her boyfriend, Alexander, or whatever his name was. We were all jolly happy when Mortimer the monkey ate the lipstick he gave her. Mew was just so... so DROOPY. Quit feeling sorry for yourself, girl, BE sensible, SERIOUSLY. You're only frikkin' fifteen and you want to go off to New York with an annoying boy. The Zoo was good for her - working was what she needed. I did sympathize with her, though - she's the complete opposite of a tomboy (like me) and I felt her disgust when she had to milk the goat and feed the animals, which was the exact kind of thing she hated. She loved pretty things, and she wanted to be just like Lady Catherine. By the end of the series, I really liked her - she became so much more sensible, and she found a guy called Archie who's just DA best, and she helps her family by getting a paid job as a typist... I really liked her by the end. She still kind of annoyed me, because of her I'm-so-mature-and-pretty-attitude (which she totally has), but I really loved how she matured as a character. And, I've told you this, but her WARDROBE. So gorgeous.
Despite the fact that her smile is gorgeous and that her wardrobe is even MORE gorgeous, at first I HATED Lady Catherine. I thought, OH NO. A rich blonde single lady who'll drive George away from his wife JUST NO. And I did think that for several episodes, because she often talked to him as if she were flirting, and they smiled way too much at each other and it drove me maddddd. But then she saw how much George and Lizzie loved each other, and what a wonderful spouse Lizzie is... and by the end, after that little speech she gave at the epic court scene - I loved her. (Still though, not my favourite character at all, considering I only enjoyed her character fully by the very last episode.)
ARCHIE was the best! He was so funny and GOOD and nice and... I really really loved him. He was just what Mew needed, seriously. Such a genuinely nice guy, a support to his (annoying) mum (seriously his mum is THE annoying-est character in the show, I shan't devote another sentance to her)... gack, Archie was the best. (HIS MUM WASN'T. And neither was that court-man. And I HATED the Reverend. SO MUCH. That is all I'm going to say on the characters I hate. But I really didn't like them at ALL.)
THE GRANDMA. She was grumpy; but hilarious. She disapproved; but yet she stood by and supported. My heart melted a little (a lot) when she and Granddad were cute together (her reaction to him saying that they should kiss - HAHA) - and I loved it when Granddad stood up for her when her cooking was slighted. Love the couple. She was so annoying sometimes, though, although understandably. Zoo's aren't for everyone, after all. (She seemed to love the bears, though! THEY'RE PREGNANT I CAN TELL. (And she's so proud of the bear cubs, it's hilarious.))OH AND. She was so quotable. We loved the stuff that came out of her mouth, especially the following line: "Oh Pipe down, we have to listen to you squawking all day; what's the difference?" - We laughed so much; we had to rewatch that bit a few times. SO GOOD.
AND THE GRANDPA. MY FAVOURITE. (I need a hug from him.) He was so supportive, and KIND and smiling... and he couldn't bear to see anyone say bad things about his wife or his son, and I just love him to bits. His smile is adorable, and he works so hard and he's so excited about the birds... I just love the Grandpa. He and I would be the bestest of friends. (Isn't he the same actor as the pub-man in Lark Rise to Candleford? I really recognise him.)
Frankie!! I loved Frankie from the very start - from her sassy smile to her WARDROBE - Ahhhhh, I forgot all about her wardrobe!!!! It's AMAZING. Really, it IS. It's sassy yet classy; knit-and-wool yet chique and tailored - it's office-y, yet adorable. Gee, I can see why Billy fell for her. She's so beautiful. (I absolutely loved the way she and Billy met. Billy's SO much fun... oh, let's talk about him right now, shall we? I saved the guy for last.)
Billy improved so much throughout the movie. In the beginning I thought ugh no a girl-crazy man who doesn't know how to spend his money oh no. But then I saw him helping his brother-in-law with the bears, and I saw him bringing home animals and I saw him being so hilarious, trying to sell his silly things. And then his car broke down, and he was so eager and helpful with the penguins. And then HIS SMILE and his stupid comments and silly laugh... I LOVED BILLY. He and Frankie... GAH. HE AND FRANKIE. They were so adorable. Please, please - anyone who has seen this show, you must comment and talk with me about Billy and Frankie together. We must talk about the dress Billy gave her, and the rose, and when Mew went, "YOU two?" and when they helped the Mottersheads together, and when THEY HUGGED IN THE END.
(Frankie did NOT deserve to loose her job like that. Argh. I need a season two. So badly.)
Basically, I highly recommend this show, although it did have some things that annoyed me a little, as I've mentioned throughout this post. But I loved it to bits - it made me so happy, it made me swoon about the costumes, it made me almost like animals, it made me want to have curls like Mew, it made me SOOO yearn for more.
And George's grin. And BILLY's grin. And BILLY AND FRANKIE. And Archie. And the GRANDDAD.
I really LOVE this show. Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GumbvZepgNU
and then watch it and sign the petition for series two. Goodbye.
http://naomiblog15.blogspot.pt/2016/...oo-review.html
Our Zoo // Review
Ever since we finished this series called Our Zoo (which was... this Wednesday) me, together with my siblings, have been growling the same thing a few times every day. Why isn't there a season TWO?!!!!!! It pains my SOUL to hear that there won't EVER be another season released of this stinkin fantastic Period Drama series. I am weeping forever; crushed; shattered; doomed; dead. (Wow, that got really grave.) Seriously though. Let me ask you something. WHY ISN'T THERE A SEASON TWO?! I am asking the film-people. WHY. Did the actors insist on stopping? Insist the contrary! Show them who's boss! Did you loose inspiration? Ask your fans! I'll write the script. Did the costume designer die? Find a new one! Did Upton burn down? Of course it didn't. WHY THEN. Wasn't it popular enough? Internet sources insist the contrary thereof - millions are crushed and on their death beds about the end of Our Zoo. Seriously?! You're kidding me? You're just going to keep it with one little series of six episodes? And Frankie so unhappy? And George buying a lion?!! And us not knowing how and what and who and - *splutters helplessly* You can't just DO that. Wicked child.
(If you stopped because you didn't FEEL like it, I'm afraid I must tell you that I have made up my mind to hate you forever. Apologies in advance. You're welcome.)
JUST LOOK AT THOSE CHARACTERS. I WANT MORE. *bites lip* *glares*
Okay, I'm done with my rant. I'll calm down, comb my furious hair and wash the angry sweat from my forehead. The review of Our Zoo (poet-and-you-didn't-know-it-alert) may start. There be spoilers, but who cares about SPOILERS. (If you care, kind off avert your eyes from the remainder of this post.)
All right, so "Our Zoo" is a six-episode-long (or should I say, short?) series about the true story of the Mottershead family who move to Chester and, of all the freaking things, decide to start a zoo. As in; buying animals and building 'cages' and all that. But the people in the village, Upton, are dead set against the idea - so they do anything to prevent it, from starting petitions to cutting nets to spreading lies. But in the end, with the help of The Good Ones, they finally get Official Permission and enough money to lend... and then, bam, we hear there isn't a second season and there never will be.
(I'm not going to rant about that again but... seriouuusly.)
The series was such a success in our family. My siblings, many of whom adore animals, loved the fact that it was about 'how Chester zoo started' (one of my siblings went to Chester zoo once, but she said she didn't recognise anything, because duh, this is set in 1930) and I, who doesn't really adore animals, loved the old-fashioned-charm, the adooorable costumes, some of the romances, etc. Different audiences can appreciate this; and I appreciate that in a movie/series. (My dad said it was 'brilliant', and my five-year-old sister loved it. Proof.)
Before I'm going to go through the characters, I'll cover the other aspects of the show.
First, the accents. GAH. I'm suddenly really, really obsessed with the Liverpool accent - and I'll talk in none other. Some of you tell me that if you had a British accent like me, you wouldn't stop talking. Well, I can't stop talking in a Liverpool-ian accent nowadays! It's adorable and I just love it. (Or, should I say, luv it? Yeah, I'll say luv it.) But yes, there are also characters with normal boring British accents, but the Liverpool accents are so precious. (My Granddad was bought up in Liverpool, so I have Liverpool-ian blood. Hashtag proud.)
The music isn't amazing, although the Theme song is nice. There isn't any content bedroom-scene-nudity-wise, but unfortunately there are swear words sprinkled throughout. Nothing very big, but I have to admit that there was enough to me to think, 'Oh, I'd better mention there's some language, in my review.'
AND THEN THE COSTUMES. The 30's were just... so glamorous and gorgeous. It might be my favourite time period, actually, fashion-wise. This show really made me fall bam-slap in love the fashion of the 1930 - the shorts, the cuts of the skirts, the gorgeous soft party gowns, the long necklaces, the HATS, and the HAIRSTYLES. My favourite wardrobe probably belonged to Mew, but Lady Catherine's wardrobe was disastrously impeccable, too. And Lizzie and Mew and Frankie's dresses for the auction evening... I'm in love with them. Basically, watch it for the 30's fashion alone. Amen.
Now I will ramble (Wow, I haven't used that word in eons. Remember when it was so overused on the on this circle of blogs?) about the characters. George Mottershead, leader of the household, pillar of the zoo, decider and perseverer of fulfulling his zooological garden dream deserves to be the first I talk about. I loved his ridiculously adorable grin (can I get an Amen about that, please? I need an 'I love George Mottershead grin' T-shirt. Just kidding.), I loved it when he left Billy in the bear-cage, I loved it when he told Mew he was proud of her, I loved how he got along so well with June and how he loved her so much, I loved how he loved his wife, I loved how he didn't give up, and I loved how he respected his parents. So yes, a lot of things about him that I loved.
Other things... not so much. I hated the whole plot-that-hinted-he-partly-fell-in-love-with-Lady-Catherine. Those bits drove me crazy, and I'm so glad it ended well. I'm also so glad he acted like a gentleman in London and that he kissed his wife often. (:-P) But what also annoyed me sometimes was his... Robert-Timmins-ish-nature sometimes. If you've seen Lark Rise to Candleford, you know about Robert Timmins - who has his annoying side. George isn't annoying at all, but sometimes he annoyed me. But yeah. He's a good chump in general. Really, he is.Lizzie!! I LOVE LIZZIE, despite the hiiiighly annoying fact that the movie hinted she had a part-time 'crush' on the Reverend. Luckily that passed quickly. (Why can't couples remain 100% percent faithful 100% of the time please? Thanks.) Lizzie has THE cutest Liverpool accent in the movie, and I love her hair and her face and her hat. And her piano playing. She's such a brilliant mother, she's such an excellent wife (for the most time) and I love the support she gives her husband and her daughters and her parents-in-law. She really held the family together, she did, and I'd like to be her friend. Loved her!
June! JUNE IS JUST SO ADORABLE. And she's a young writer! I loved how every episode started off with her writing her 'Our Zoo newsletter' - her voice is adorable, and her curls are just... I mean look at her, doesn't she look ridiculously nice? She IS ridiculously nice. She's completely besotted with animals - Mortimer the monkey (mun-keh) is her best friend - and she's complimentary and gorgeous and I loved her. For the first three episodes or so, when most of the characters hadn't yet developed to their best, she was my favourite character. (Doesn't she look like Shirley Temple but then better?)
Ugh, in the beginning Mew - short for Muriel; not named after the noise of a cat - annoyed me enormously much. My whole family loathed her boyfriend, Alexander, or whatever his name was. We were all jolly happy when Mortimer the monkey ate the lipstick he gave her. Mew was just so... so DROOPY. Quit feeling sorry for yourself, girl, BE sensible, SERIOUSLY. You're only frikkin' fifteen and you want to go off to New York with an annoying boy. The Zoo was good for her - working was what she needed. I did sympathize with her, though - she's the complete opposite of a tomboy (like me) and I felt her disgust when she had to milk the goat and feed the animals, which was the exact kind of thing she hated. She loved pretty things, and she wanted to be just like Lady Catherine. By the end of the series, I really liked her - she became so much more sensible, and she found a guy called Archie who's just DA best, and she helps her family by getting a paid job as a typist... I really liked her by the end. She still kind of annoyed me, because of her I'm-so-mature-and-pretty-attitude (which she totally has), but I really loved how she matured as a character. And, I've told you this, but her WARDROBE. So gorgeous.
Despite the fact that her smile is gorgeous and that her wardrobe is even MORE gorgeous, at first I HATED Lady Catherine. I thought, OH NO. A rich blonde single lady who'll drive George away from his wife JUST NO. And I did think that for several episodes, because she often talked to him as if she were flirting, and they smiled way too much at each other and it drove me maddddd. But then she saw how much George and Lizzie loved each other, and what a wonderful spouse Lizzie is... and by the end, after that little speech she gave at the epic court scene - I loved her. (Still though, not my favourite character at all, considering I only enjoyed her character fully by the very last episode.)
ARCHIE was the best! He was so funny and GOOD and nice and... I really really loved him. He was just what Mew needed, seriously. Such a genuinely nice guy, a support to his (annoying) mum (seriously his mum is THE annoying-est character in the show, I shan't devote another sentance to her)... gack, Archie was the best. (HIS MUM WASN'T. And neither was that court-man. And I HATED the Reverend. SO MUCH. That is all I'm going to say on the characters I hate. But I really didn't like them at ALL.)
THE GRANDMA. She was grumpy; but hilarious. She disapproved; but yet she stood by and supported. My heart melted a little (a lot) when she and Granddad were cute together (her reaction to him saying that they should kiss - HAHA) - and I loved it when Granddad stood up for her when her cooking was slighted. Love the couple. She was so annoying sometimes, though, although understandably. Zoo's aren't for everyone, after all. (She seemed to love the bears, though! THEY'RE PREGNANT I CAN TELL. (And she's so proud of the bear cubs, it's hilarious.))OH AND. She was so quotable. We loved the stuff that came out of her mouth, especially the following line: "Oh Pipe down, we have to listen to you squawking all day; what's the difference?" - We laughed so much; we had to rewatch that bit a few times. SO GOOD.
AND THE GRANDPA. MY FAVOURITE. (I need a hug from him.) He was so supportive, and KIND and smiling... and he couldn't bear to see anyone say bad things about his wife or his son, and I just love him to bits. His smile is adorable, and he works so hard and he's so excited about the birds... I just love the Grandpa. He and I would be the bestest of friends. (Isn't he the same actor as the pub-man in Lark Rise to Candleford? I really recognise him.)
Frankie!! I loved Frankie from the very start - from her sassy smile to her WARDROBE - Ahhhhh, I forgot all about her wardrobe!!!! It's AMAZING. Really, it IS. It's sassy yet classy; knit-and-wool yet chique and tailored - it's office-y, yet adorable. Gee, I can see why Billy fell for her. She's so beautiful. (I absolutely loved the way she and Billy met. Billy's SO much fun... oh, let's talk about him right now, shall we? I saved the guy for last.)
Billy improved so much throughout the movie. In the beginning I thought ugh no a girl-crazy man who doesn't know how to spend his money oh no. But then I saw him helping his brother-in-law with the bears, and I saw him bringing home animals and I saw him being so hilarious, trying to sell his silly things. And then his car broke down, and he was so eager and helpful with the penguins. And then HIS SMILE and his stupid comments and silly laugh... I LOVED BILLY. He and Frankie... GAH. HE AND FRANKIE. They were so adorable. Please, please - anyone who has seen this show, you must comment and talk with me about Billy and Frankie together. We must talk about the dress Billy gave her, and the rose, and when Mew went, "YOU two?" and when they helped the Mottersheads together, and when THEY HUGGED IN THE END.
(Frankie did NOT deserve to loose her job like that. Argh. I need a season two. So badly.)
Basically, I highly recommend this show, although it did have some things that annoyed me a little, as I've mentioned throughout this post. But I loved it to bits - it made me so happy, it made me swoon about the costumes, it made me almost like animals, it made me want to have curls like Mew, it made me SOOO yearn for more.
And George's grin. And BILLY's grin. And BILLY AND FRANKIE. And Archie. And the GRANDDAD.
I really LOVE this show. Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GumbvZepgNU
and then watch it and sign the petition for series two. Goodbye.
Incredible to think that there was so much opposition to George Mottershead's dream of a zoo without bars. The Mottersheads didn't give up and today this charity is going from strength to strength as seen on the Channel 4 program tonight The Secret Life of the Zoo.
Chester Zoo raises awareness of the real threat we are facing of loosing many incredible species like orang-utans, elephants, rhinos as well as lesser known species like chicken frogs. As the human population grows faster and faster at an exponential rate, other species populations have plummeted in just the last few decades. Something needs to be done soon before we end up destroying our planet.
We need more dramas which inspire and influence in a positive way. The Mottershead's were able to accomplish their dream, overcome adversity to 'bring a little bit of beauty back into the World'.
Their legacy today is the top paid for attraction outside London:
http://www.chesterzoo.org/global/pre...actions?page=1
Chester Zoo raises awareness of the real threat we are facing of loosing many incredible species like orang-utans, elephants, rhinos as well as lesser known species like chicken frogs. As the human population grows faster and faster at an exponential rate, other species populations have plummeted in just the last few decades. Something needs to be done soon before we end up destroying our planet.
We need more dramas which inspire and influence in a positive way. The Mottershead's were able to accomplish their dream, overcome adversity to 'bring a little bit of beauty back into the World'.
Their legacy today is the top paid for attraction outside London:
http://www.chesterzoo.org/global/pre...actions?page=1
Lovely review of June Mottershead's book 'Our Zoo' on Amazon. It's a great read if you'd like to find out what happened after the series 'Our Zoo' finished...
A book you want to hug!
By Mrs. V. Campbellon 16 March 2016
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Something of a saga, this book details the establishment and development of Chester Zoo. It is one of the most heart warming books I have read. The story was featured in a TV series which I loved and that prompted me to read the book. This enhanced my enjoyment of the narrative. The next step must be to visit the zoo!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Zoo-June...ct_top?ie=UTF8
A book you want to hug!
By Mrs. V. Campbellon 16 March 2016
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Something of a saga, this book details the establishment and development of Chester Zoo. It is one of the most heart warming books I have read. The story was featured in a TV series which I loved and that prompted me to read the book. This enhanced my enjoyment of the narrative. The next step must be to visit the zoo!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Zoo-June...ct_top?ie=UTF8
It will be great to have Lee Ingleby back on our screens in the new BBC drama 'The A Word' which starts on Tuesday at 9pm.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/w...x-year-7580254
In the series 'Our Zoo' Lee was brilliant in the role of George Mottershead, a WW1 veteran badly injured in the Battle of the Somme, who dreamt of creating a zoo without bars in 1930 and founded Chester Zoo.
http://www.chesterzoo.org/global/abo...ge-mottershead
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/w...x-year-7580254
In the series 'Our Zoo' Lee was brilliant in the role of George Mottershead, a WW1 veteran badly injured in the Battle of the Somme, who dreamt of creating a zoo without bars in 1930 and founded Chester Zoo.
http://www.chesterzoo.org/global/abo...ge-mottershead
Remembered with much fondness June Mottershead, who passed away on May Day, last year. She was the youngest daughter of George and Lizzie Mottershead. The Mottershead family founded Chester Zoo and their inspiring story was told in the BBC one drama Our Zoo, where she was played by the talented Honor Kneafsey. June and the drama series are both missed. RIP
In BBC one 'Our Zoo' George Mottershead played by Lee Ingleby is suffering from shell-shock. This is an interesting link about the real George Mottershead, who was seriously injured in 1916 in the Battle of the Somme:
https://www.1418now.org.uk/somme100/...ul-mottershead
Shortly after being injured, while George was still in hospital, Lizzie gave birth to their eldest daughter Mew. Then George received the sad news his younger brother Stanley had been killed in France just three days before his daughter's birth. In WW1 he also lost his half brother Albert and Lizzie lost two brothers - one who went missing in action and was never found.
It took George several years before he gained his strength and was able to walk again without crutches.
https://www.1418now.org.uk/somme100/...ul-mottershead
Shortly after being injured, while George was still in hospital, Lizzie gave birth to their eldest daughter Mew. Then George received the sad news his younger brother Stanley had been killed in France just three days before his daughter's birth. In WW1 he also lost his half brother Albert and Lizzie lost two brothers - one who went missing in action and was never found.
It took George several years before he gained his strength and was able to walk again without crutches.
Originally Posted by Liz_W:
“In BBC one 'Our Zoo' George Mottershead played by Lee Ingleby is suffering from shell-shock. This is an interesting link about the real George Mottershead, who was seriously injured in 1916 in the Battle of the Somme:
https://www.1418now.org.uk/somme100/...ul-mottershead
Shortly after being injured, while George was still in hospital, Lizzie gave birth to their eldest daughter Mew. Then George received the sad news his younger brother Stanley had been killed in France just three days before his daughter's birth. In WW1 he also lost his half brother Albert and Lizzie lost two brothers - one who went missing in action and was never found.
It took George several years before he gained his strength and was able to walk again without crutches.”
“In BBC one 'Our Zoo' George Mottershead played by Lee Ingleby is suffering from shell-shock. This is an interesting link about the real George Mottershead, who was seriously injured in 1916 in the Battle of the Somme:
https://www.1418now.org.uk/somme100/...ul-mottershead
Shortly after being injured, while George was still in hospital, Lizzie gave birth to their eldest daughter Mew. Then George received the sad news his younger brother Stanley had been killed in France just three days before his daughter's birth. In WW1 he also lost his half brother Albert and Lizzie lost two brothers - one who went missing in action and was never found.
It took George several years before he gained his strength and was able to walk again without crutches.”
This Summer 'Two by Two', two graphic artists, based in Sale, Greater Manchester, have set up a project 'Sale Art Zoo' to share and honour the great story of Sale-born entrepreneur George Mottershead, founder of Chester Zoo in 1931.
"His is an inspiring tale of a local man, a hardworking, dedicated visionary man, responsible for creating one of the best and most caring, innovative zoos in the world."
'Sale Art Zoo' promises be a wild, fun and exciting community art exhibition taking to the streets, parks and open spaces of Sale! In Sale Library, there will be an exhibition all about George Mottershead's life, including his life before WW1 when he ran a gym and was into physical fitness .
Sale Art Zoo will run from 22nd July until 11th of September 2016. If you're in the area and enjoyed 'Our Zoo' it might be worth a visit.
https://twobytwohurrah.co.uk/portfolio/sale-art-zoo/
Originally Posted by RoseAnne:
“Nice to see the lovely comments from around the world about this series. The cancellation statement put out by the BBC for this didn't stand up at all. They said
“We are very proud of Our Zoo and would like to thank all those involved,” the spokesperson said. “However, in order to create room for new shows and to keep increasing the range of BBC One drama we sometimes have to make hard choices and it will not be returning for a second series.”
How many original dramas based on the true story of a successful zoo did they have then? I would call that increasing the range. As for creating room for new shows, well Our Zoo WAS a new show. ”
“Nice to see the lovely comments from around the world about this series. The cancellation statement put out by the BBC for this didn't stand up at all. They said
“We are very proud of Our Zoo and would like to thank all those involved,” the spokesperson said. “However, in order to create room for new shows and to keep increasing the range of BBC One drama we sometimes have to make hard choices and it will not be returning for a second series.”
How many original dramas based on the true story of a successful zoo did they have then? I would call that increasing the range. As for creating room for new shows, well Our Zoo WAS a new show.
”
Same garbage as ITV trotted out about Home Fires. And the new show stuff includes some panel game with Kelly Brook. Also - they didn't apply the same logic to the execrable Love Island did they?
I've discovered some interesting information about Our Zoo, Chester Zoo's founder George Mottershead's eldest daughter Muriel 'Mew' who emigrated to New Zealand in 1956. Shortly after arriving she met and married Charles McCann, a biologist and botanist, who had been recently widowed. They married and had a son Robbie. She had three step children who at first found it difficult to accept her as they had just lost their mother. Her step son Clifford has memories of Mew's house having creatures in the cupboards and her hatching eggs in her bra ...
http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.....1.1.1/mb.ashx
http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.....1.1.1/mb.ashx
It would be lovely if the series Our Zoo could be repeated again at a more family friendly time by the BBC. It has recently been shown again in Australia and is on again in Canada.
Today my family had a great day out at Chester Zoo and it is wonderful to learn how the zoo is helping save many species around the world on the brink of extinction through its research and conservation work.
http://www.chesterzoo.org/support-us/act-for-wildlife
We also got to see the zoo's latest new additions some very cute Asian short claw otter pups:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnYWfnDjryA
Today my family had a great day out at Chester Zoo and it is wonderful to learn how the zoo is helping save many species around the world on the brink of extinction through its research and conservation work.
http://www.chesterzoo.org/support-us/act-for-wildlife
We also got to see the zoo's latest new additions some very cute Asian short claw otter pups:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnYWfnDjryA
I've really been enjoying the second series of The Secret Life of the Zoo on Channel 4 about 'Our Zoo' today. Recently my family visited Chester Zoo to see the Christmas lanterns which is wonderful to do if you have young children. The Mottershead family first moved into Oakfield House in December 1930, I wonder what their first Christmas would have been like?
http://www.chesterzoo.org/whats-happening/christmas
http://www.chesterzoo.org/whats-happening/christmas
Our Zoo might not be coming to BBC1 this Christmas but there was a special arrival at the Chester Zoo last night - a baby female asian elephant.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...n-chester-zoo/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...n-chester-zoo/
After watching the link of the trailer above I really cannot begin to understand why they are not making another series. There is so much to tell about this wonderful zoo.
Shame that the majority of viewers now want to watch idiots wanting their face on tv for 15 mins of fame to something that is so educational.
Shame that the majority of viewers now want to watch idiots wanting their face on tv for 15 mins of fame to something that is so educational.
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