Absolutely Animals

Absolutely Animals
Presented byDani Behr
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes34
Production
ProducerMike Kavanagh
Running time22-26 minutes
Production companyHawkshead Productions
Original release
NetworkAnimal Planet/Channel 4
Release20 September 1995 (1995-09-20) –
11 August 1998 (1998-08-11)

Absolutely Animals is a television program that aired on Animal Planet and Channel 4 between 20 September 1995 and 11 August 1998.[1] The show was presented by Dani Behr and was designed to cover current animal news stories for the time.[2] The shows is considered Lost Media as no episodes of the original run have survived. However, online promos are available for viewing.[3]

Content

The show's debut season in 1995 featured four presenters: Dani Behr, Laurie Pike, Helen Richards, and Edward Whitley.[4] In the show's 1996 season, it featured two presenters, Wendy Turner and Mark Evans. In every episode that season, Turner stopped by a Halewood, Liverpool, animal shelter run by RSPCA, while Evans met with indivdiuals who have difficult pets.[5] At the animal shelter, Turner encounters a cat violent cat who previously had been abused as well as a person with asthma whose affliction worsens owing to her cats.[6]

In a 1998 episode, Turner visited the United States to examine the conditions faced by rodeo animals.[7] In several 1998 episodes, Turner conducted an examination into the international market for contraband tiger goods. She visited the Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Thailand.[8]

Reception

The Guardian said in 1996 that through its interweaving of bleak updates from a shelter run by the RSPCA with dispatches from far-flung places, the show is "not as high up the cute-ometer as Animal Hospital, but certainly beats bird-watching with Bill Oddie".[9] The newspaper stated in 1998 that Absolutely Animals "moves seamlessly from the hard edged to the cute and furry".[10]

References

  1. ^ Absolutely Animals, Dani Behr, Laurie Pike, Hawkshead Productions, 1995-09-27, retrieved 2025-06-24{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ "Absolutely Animals Archives". Rewind. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  3. ^ SatOnThe TellyThing (2013-02-16). Channel 4 - Continuity - Absolutely Xmas Animals Promo - Christmas 1995. Retrieved 2025-06-24 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Austin, Jeremy (1995-09-19). "Flocks of animal shows fill screen". Midweek. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Keal, Graham (1996-06-19). "Anthea's sister gets chance ot use her animal instinct". Liverpool Daily Post. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Pick of the day: Just mad about animals". Telegraph & Argus. 1996-06-15. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Absolutely not Anthea". Evening Herald. 1998-06-23. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  8. ^ "Wendy's mission: Wendy Turner concludes her investigation into the worldwide sale of illegal tiger products in Absolutely Animals (Channel 4, 8pm)". Hull Daily Mail. 1998-07-07. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "TV Wednesday June 19: Preview Absolutely Animals". The Guardian. 1996-06-15. ProQuest 187805141. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Tuesday's TV Choices: Absolutely Animals". The Guardian. 1998-06-27. ProQuest 188124385. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30.