Flight to freedom

How comedian John Bishop helped release two beluga whales from captivity in China

- IAN MACEWAN, ELAINE REILLY

As well as being one of Britain’s funniest comedians, John Bishop is also a mad-keen animal lover, and he was delighted when he was asked recently to get involved in an ambitious wildlife-conservation project.

The mission involved relocating two 12-year-old beluga whales, Little Grey and Little White, from an entertainment water park in China to a new whale sanctuary in Iceland.

The whales’ incredible and challenging 6,000-mile journey by land, air, and sea to their new home is the subject of a two-part ITV documentary, John Bishop’s Great Whale Rescue, which follows the animals as they are transported from China after years entertaining aquarium crowds.