Il nostro zoo

I have no idea why they wouldn't continue with such a wonderful series as this. I was obsessed with every episode and it led me to look into it and being American I'd never heard of this.

I can't believe more stories like this aren't told instead of a 17th movie of Spider-Man or whatever. But this was something fascinating and true and heartwarming a legendary cast of actors.

You know it's not too late to bring it back...

Scant few scenes of wildlife interacting with humans interwoven with old timey British melodrama. If your kids don't have an iPad maybe they'll enjoy. Pretty boring.

Lee Ingleby plays George Mottershead, a wounded ex First World War soldier left with post traumatic stress. He has a loving family and loves animals.

Helped by money from his parents he purchases a manor in the early 1930s and turns it to Chester Zoo but has to deal with some opposition from prominent locals and officialdom.

Of course despite the hardship George endures, we realise that he will eventually triumph as Chester Zoo is still going strong and this is inspired by true events. However as with the feature film 'We bought a Zoo' the series is more about the journey, triumphing over adversity and being together as a family. The series also has the feel good factor of exotic animals being introduced to the grim north of the 1930s and allowing the makers to have dimly lit interiors and some two dimensional villains who think George is having a delusional flight of fancy.

George might be an idealist and you do find yourself rooting for him there is something rather derivative about Our Zoo. Maybe it wants to channel the success of Call the Midwife but got nowhere near reaching the levels of All Creatures Great and Small and not helped by its grim colours and gloomy mood. A drama about a zoo should had been bright and colourful.

The show never quite took off in the ratings and ended up being cancelled after one series by the BBC.

Think4Yourself thinks... (6 stars). This was a delightful and inspiring story that was hurt by inconsistent writing that made the characters act in strange ways just to create drama and conflict. If they would have stuck to the main story this deserving show could have earned more than one season. It filled a niche that is under-represented on TV, a light, friendly story that revolves around science and nature and ambition. The cast was entertaining and Lee Ingleby did a fine job as the lead.

The charm of 'Our Zoo' is that it is based on the incredible true story of a man called George Mottershead, who with his family in the 1930s had a vision to build a zoo without bars. This zoo is Chester Zoo and today has been named by trip adviser as No 1 in the UK and is the most visited tourist attraction in the UK outside London. Also pleasing to know is Chester Zoo has also evolved with the times and today is now heavily involved in conservation work.

George despite having no formal higher education was a pioneer in keeping animals in enclosures without bars. He wasn't very wealthy but was determined to create a zoo where animals would be happier and well cared for. Incredibly resourceful as well as being quite a risk taker, he was also very fortunate to have the support of his family, who had strengths which complemented his own and were willing to work hard to make the zoo a success. In 1930, it was the time of the depression and George was able to purchase 'Oakfield' a manor house at a bargain price at auction, along with stables,a conservatory, lodge and a 7 acres of grounds. The story is based on the struggle George and his family had to open the zoo due to local opposition, including that of the local reverend. George found to his surprise the local gentry taking an interest and providing support as many of them already kept themselves exotic pets. This is an inspiring story with all the elements needed in a drama to keep the viewer entertained. The acting is superb in it and the sets and costumes take you back to the wonderful era of the 1930s.