Ben Fogle, known for his adventurous television persona, is taking a more sedate turn with his new Channel 5 series, Ben Fogle's Animal Clinic. The 10-part programme, returning this week, follows the work of the University of Liverpool's School of Veterinary Science and introduces viewers to a variety of animals.
Fogle, 39, explained that after seven years of fast-paced action shows such as Swimming with Crocodiles and Extreme Dreams, he sought a slower-paced project. 'I was looking for an excuse to do some slower-paced projects and this is perfect,' he said. 'Obviously I love animals and my dad is a vet. I did once want to be a vet myself.'
His father, Dr Bruce Fogle MBE, is a well-known vet, and Ben recalled assisting him as a child. 'As a little boy I used to sit in on dad's operations and I was even his assistant around Christmas when he gave the nurses time off,' he said. 'I helped while he was injecting dogs and so on.'
Fogle, who is married to Marina and has two young children, Ludo and Iona, noted that the new series allows him to balance work with family life. 'It doesn't mean I'm not doing the adventure stuff anymore, in fact I've got lots of stuff coming up, but as a dad with young kids it's nice not to go so far away,' he said.
He has also filmed a new travel series, Middle East, for BBC2 with James Cracknell, which is due to air at Christmas. Fogle described the reunion as 'pretty amazing' and said the trip was one of the most unexpected he has ever done.
