PARK life

BEN FOGLE on animal magic at Longleat

- ELAINE PENN

ANIMAL PARK

The Animal Park team never know what tales of creatures great and small will unfold when they arrive at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in Wiltshire. But it's an annual event that Ben Fogle - who fronts the BBC1 daytime hit alongside Kate Humble, Hamza Yassin and Megan McCubbin - always looks forward to.

'It's been 25 years now of going there and seeing old friends, both animals and keepers,' says the presenter, 51, who joined the show from its second series in 2001, as he joins TV Times for an exclusive chat. 'I enjoy being back – every day is a celebration on Animal Park!'

Here, Ben tells us what to expect from the new 15-part run...

Congratulations on your 25th year of presenting Animal Park, Ben! What moments stand out?

The births of animals when the keepers have, in many cases, spent years trying to pair couples and encourage mating. The birth of any animal is always an exciting moment. And you can see the joy in the keepers' eyes.

Have you witnessed any animal births?

I've never been around for a birth, but I've been lucky enough to meet most of the newborns swiftly after their arrival. There have been many tiger and lion births. A birth is a very private moment. The keepers want to ensure that the animals aren't distressed. So even if we happen to be in the park, we are kept at arm's length out of respect for the animals.