Pet Rescue (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Pet Rescue was a British daytime TV series broadcast on Channel 4
. Launched in January 1997, it chronicled various pets and animals being rescued, cared for, and then either rehoused or returned to the wild.
Produced by Bazal Productions/Endemol
for Channel 4, and with a theme tune penned by Simon May
, it ran to a set format, which developed little over time:
The program closed with an "advert" for a particular animal which had spent a lot of time in a rescue home, which the public could call in to apply to rehouse. This later feature followed normal RSPCA rehousing procedures, and was not a "lottery".
Presenters included:
Channel 4 axed the series in November 2002, shortly after it had reached its 1,000th episode. Repeats can now be seen on Animal Planet
, National Geographic Wild
, and DMAX
.
In 2005, Wendy Turner Webster re-recorded her voice over of the show, to keep viewers up to date with animals progress due to repeat airings.
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. Launched in January 1997, it chronicled various pets and animals being rescued, cared for, and then either rehoused or returned to the wild.
Produced by Bazal Productions/Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
for Channel 4, and with a theme tune penned by Simon May
Simon May
Simon May is a British musician and composer, best known for composing some of British television's best known theme tunes, including EastEnders and Howards' Way, and for composing the music for the 1988 film The Dawning....
, it ran to a set format, which developed little over time:
- A central presenter
- A location, based around an RSPCA office
- A couple of 'show' stories which were intertwined, and reached conclusion within that show - ie: animal rehoused/released into wild
- A longer story about a particular animal, species or animal issue
The program closed with an "advert" for a particular animal which had spent a lot of time in a rescue home, which the public could call in to apply to rehouse. This later feature followed normal RSPCA rehousing procedures, and was not a "lottery".
Presenters included:
- Tris PayneTris PayneTris Payne is a television presenter, best known for appearances on Wish You Were Here...? and House Doctor, as well as Real Rooms on BBC1, Hot Property on Channel 5, and This Morning on ITV....
- Matthew Robertson
- Wendy Turner WebsterWendy Turner WebsterWendy Turner-Webster is an English journalist, television presenter and animal rights campaigner.-Biography:...
- Helen Page
Channel 4 axed the series in November 2002, shortly after it had reached its 1,000th episode. Repeats can now be seen on Animal Planet
Animal Planet (UK TV channel)
Animal Planet is an television channel in the United Kingdom. The channel is dedicated to programming that highlights the relationship between humans and animals.A one hour timeshift channel called Animal Planet +1 was launched in May 2001....
, National Geographic Wild
National Geographic Wild
Nat Geo WILD is a cable TV channel focused on animal-related programs. It is a sister network to National Geographic Channel and it is the latest channel to be jointly launched by the National Geographic Society and Fox Cable Networks. It first launched in Hong Kong on January 1, 2006, focusing...
, and DMAX
DMAX (UK & Ireland)
DMAX is a TV channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Discovery announced on 22 November 2007, that they would launch a version of DMAX in the UK and Ireland market on 8 January 2008 after its initial success in Germany....
.
In 2005, Wendy Turner Webster re-recorded her voice over of the show, to keep viewers up to date with animals progress due to repeat airings.