A remarkable BBC2 documentary has captivated audiences with the true story of a Scottish wrestler who raised a colossal 65-stone grizzly bear, treating the animal 'like a son'.
An Unlikely Family in the Ochil Hills
Hercules The Bear, which aired on Tuesday night, detailed the extraordinary lives of Maggie Robin, 74, and her late husband Andy. The professional wrestler and his wife, who had no children of their own, purchased a bear cub for just £50 in 1974 from a Scottish wildlife park.
The couple brought the 'wee boy' to their sprawling ranch in Scotland's Ochil Hills, where he lived with them for a quarter of a century. Their domestic life with Hercules was astonishingly ordinary in many ways. The bear would enjoy meals of spaghetti bolognese and Marks & Spencer prawns, share a pint with Andy, and even occasionally drink Babycham.
Hercules drank morning tea from a mug, sat at the table to blow out his birthday candles, and spent evenings sprawled in front of the fire. The documentary, following Andy's death from cancer in December 2019 aged 84, showed how the couple's entire world revolved around the bear they considered their child.
From Ranch to Hollywood Stardom
The unique family's life attracted global fascination, transforming Hercules into an international celebrity. The bear toured the world, met Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and even landed a role opposite Roger Moore in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.
His fame was such that he was voted Personality of the Year by the Scottish Tourist Board in 1980. Driving their specially adapted bus, the Robins would sometimes be pulled over by police, only for officers to ask: ‘Can we have a look at the big fellow?’
However, fame also brought crisis. While filming a TV commercial for Kleenex in 1980 on the remote island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, Hercules went missing. A huge military operation gripped the nation for 24 days before he was found, having lost 15 stone. His dramatic helicopter rescue made global headlines.
A Lasting Legacy and a Final Resting Place
Viewers took to social media after the documentary, praising the 'brilliant and hilarious' stories. Many were moved by the tale, with one noting the 'saddest part is the couple never had children and chose to raise Hercules'.
The bond between Andy and Hercules was profound. Friends and family revealed the wrestler was 'besotted' with the bear and 'never recovered from losing Hercules' when the animal's health deteriorated after a back injury. Hercules died in 2000.
Originally buried in the garden of their Clackmannanshire home, Hercules's remains were later moved. After selling their house, the Robins had the bear disinterred and reburied beneath a life-size wooden statue in his honour at Langass Woods on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, where he is now visited by thousands annually. Andy Robin was laid to rest by his side.
