Our Zoo

BBC drama 'Our Zoo' 

The six-episode series, written by award-winning playwright Matt Charman, features many scenes from the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley and tells the true story of Matt Charman, the man who created Chester Zoo in the 1930s. 

Staff at the Museum had to deal with plenty of monkey business back in April 2014 when the series was filmed, watching over both animals and actors as filming took place in parts of the Museum. Viewers will be able to spot 1930s Street as well as the Ironmonger’s which were used in the series.

The series followed main character George Mottershead as he creates Chester Zoo, the first zoo ‘without bars’, in the 1930s. Frustrated by living with his wife and two daughters under his parents’ roof, and tormented by his war trauma, George decides to change his life and put a bit of beauty back into the world. Antics ensue as George attempts to keep the project a secret, which becomes all the more difficult when a little monkey named Mortimer escapes into the village.

Behind the Scenes - Our Zoo: Episode 1 - BBC One

Our Zoo: Trailer - BBC One

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