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Wild at Heart (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Wild at Heart is a current ITV
television drama series about a Bristol
-based vet
and his family emigrating to start a game park in South Africa
. The show premiered in January 2006 and has recently finished screening its sixth series. The seventh series of the show is due to air early in January 2012.
It stars Stephen Tompkinson
, Dawn Steele
, Olivia Scott-Taylor, Hayley Mills
, Deon Stewardson
, Nomsa Xaba, Thapelo Mokoena
, David Butler, Atandwa Kani
, Naima McLean and Tarryn Faye Brummage. And is shot on location at Glen Afric reserve in Gauteng Province, South Africa.
After the success of the American pilot
, renamed Life Is Wild
, the series was picked up by The CW TV network in the USA; however the show was cancelled in February 2008 due to low ratings. Life Is Wild
has been picked up by the Hallmark TV channels in UK & South Africa.
The show airs as a simulcast
from the ITV Network on TV3 Ireland
. Series 1-5 of 'Wild at Heart' have been released on DVD, each released around the time the following series is airing on TV. Series 6 is due to be released on DVD on 6th February 2012.
It has been confirmed by ITV that 'Wild At Heart' will return for a seventh series in 2012. Filming for the new series began in the summer of 2011.
On 9 November 2010, cast and crew returned to the Glen Afric reserve to find that Hamley, a giraffe appearing regularly in the drama, had been struck and killed by lightning during a thunderstorm.
All ratings have been retrieved from www.barb.co.uk and include ITV1 HD.
The series also features former EastEnders
star Jessie Wallace
as Amy Kriel, the dimwitted, self-absorbed wife of Mara's American owner, Elliot Kriel.
where Danny and Alice are on their honeymoon and Danny arranges to meet up with his estranged father Robert Trevanion (Warren Clarke
). However, their meeting is cut short when Danny receives a call from Du Plessis saying that the lions are dying. Danny and Alice have to return to Leopards Den and Alice invites Robert to come back with them, which does not impress Danny. Back in Africa Oliva spots Thabo, a young offender who appeared in Series 5, doing community service out in town. While Olivia is happy to see Thabo back, Fatani and Buhle are not and Fatani tries his best to keep Olivia away from him. Meanwhile Danny, Alice and Robert arrive back at Leopards' Den and decide that they need to get all of Leopards' Den's and Mara's Lions in quarantine, so with the help of Du Plessis, Robert, Vanessa, Alice and Caroline, Danny soon gets all of the lions in a fenced pen but is devastated when he has to shoot all of his pride, including tame lion Hoby. After the devastating outcome Robert has some more devastating news for the Trevanion family as he reveals that he is dying from a brain tumour and that he has very limited time to live. Alice persuades Danny to let Robert stay at Leopards' Den until he dies, but at teatime Robert is missing and Danny fears the worst when Du Plessis reveals that he will not survive the night alone in the African Bush. Danny, Alice, Du Plessis, Olivia, Caroline, Nomsa, Charlotte, Fatani and Thabo all help look for him but it's Thabo who finds Robert lying dead on a rock under the African Stars. After Robert's funeral, the residents of Leopards' Den celebrate his life, but as one character leaves another arrives as Buhle's contractions start and her and Fatani's baby starts to arrive. Grieving Danny throws himself into his work and applies for the prestigious role of state vet, but his attempts to involve Thabo in the lion-breeding project leave Du Plessis feeling like an outsider in his own home. Meanwhile, a geologist arouses suspicion when he arrives to survey the area, and a rogue baboon causes problems at Leopards' Den. Danny faces a tough decision on his first day as state vet, when his investigation into an animal-smuggling ring takes him surprisingly close to home. Meanwhile, Thabo is settling into Leopards' Den, but the arrival of his delinquent older brother leads him into a spot of trouble with the law, which tests his blossoming friendship with Du Plessis. Danny oversees an animal translocation for his first big project as state vet, but Alice struggles with running the clinic in his absence and has a close encounter with lions. Meanwhile, Du Plessis' attempt to show Caroline the `real Africa' backfires when he takes her on a no-frills camping trip in the wilderness. When strange events occur at Leopards' Den - a mirror cracks seemingly for no reason, elephants and lions are spotted miles away from their normal habitat, and crocodiles are found dead - Danny and Alice must work fast to solve the mystery before more animals die. Meanwhile, Du Plessis discovers a pregnancy test while tidying up, but jumps to the wrong conclusion. Danny is called in to investigate when the routine transportation of a tiger goes wrong, and discovers Alice could be to blame for the animal's death. Meanwhile, Du Plessis resorts to desperate measures in a bid to save his home when the mining company announces plans to buy Leopards' Den. Danny and Alice are divided when Peeters asks for their help in relocating a pack of rogue hyenas. Meanwhile, Du Plessis launches a one-man campaign of vandalism against unwelcome new neighbours the mining company, but when he is caught on camera, a restraining order and a fine are not the only consequences of his actions. As the court case looms, Danny realises he may have to sacrifice his principles to save Leopards' Den, and Caroline decides to take matters into her own hands by going undercover at the mining company. Applying for a job as Peeters' personal assistant, she hopes to find out more about the firm's plans, while Du Plessis resorts to sabotage to protect his home. When the mining company takes over Leopards' Den, Danny reaches an agreement with Peeters to set up a field hospital in the Bush until all the animals have been rehomed. The family ends up camping out there, with Du Plessis claiming squatters' rights. But when the electricity generator fails their protest takes a catastrophic turn, and Caroline is attacked by a lion. Caroline is badly wounded, and it is later uncovered that one of Peeter's men sabotaged the generator. The family take a last stand to stop the mining company from destroying Leopards' Den and to defend their home. The recently unhospitalised Caroline is knocked down by a policeman - in an attempt to defend her and the rest of the family, Jana runs towards them and is shot in the head, killing her instantly. Olivia particularly is devastated by the cheetah's death, taking Jana to her mother's grave regardless of the family's ban from Leopards' Den. Whilst burying Jana, Caroline collapses. The family considers returning to England until things have settled, where Georgina has offered to take them in. Du Plessis is reluctant, but wants Caroline to go ahead without him. Meanwhile poachers have been discovered in the area, but they have been using an unusual method - anaesthetising rhinos before removing their horns while still alive. Danny and Du Plessis uncover that the new state vet has been a part of the operation and are taken prisoner upon tracking him down, but are saved by Fatani, who brings the police to the hideout. New hope for Leopards' Den is found when Danny realises the new state vet had liased with Peeters', meaning his operation could be corrupt. Peeters agrees to halt work on Leopards' Den on exchange for their silence during the investigation. Du Plessis and Danny have now got Leopards' Den back and decide to climb to the top of a cliff so that they can see what Leopards' Den looks like from a height and toast their success while there. Meanwhile Alice, Olivia, Caroline and Charlotte are back in England with Georgina where they know they can be safe and sound!
, Dawn Steele
, Olivia Scott-Taylor, Atandwa Kani
, Deon Stewardson
and Hayley Mills
will all return to the ITV drama.
ITV have also confirmed that Robert Bathurst
will join the cast in the seventh series of the show. . It has also been announced that Lucy-Jo Hudson
will return to the show, returning to her home at Leopards Den well on her way to becoming a skilled vet herself. . On 25 October 2011 it was revealed that Jill Halfpenny
had joined the cast as Fiona Lynch..
This is distributed by AWAL.
during a thunderstorm.He was known to be a very friendly animal and his death was felt by many members of the cast, crew and fans.
These are all distributed by Acorn Media UK
.
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
television drama series about a Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
-based vet
Veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
and his family emigrating to start a game park in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The show premiered in January 2006 and has recently finished screening its sixth series. The seventh series of the show is due to air early in January 2012.
It stars Stephen Tompkinson
Stephen Tompkinson
Stephen Tompkinson is a British actor. He is best known for his work in comedy and drama productions such as Drop the Dead Donkey, Ballykissangel, Grafters, In Deep, Wild at Heart and DCI Banks....
, Dawn Steele
Dawn Steele
Dawn Anne Steele is a Scottish actress best known for her roles in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, Sea of Souls & Wild at Heart.-Career:...
, Olivia Scott-Taylor, Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award...
, Deon Stewardson
Deon Stewardson
Deon Stewardson is a British-South African actor, best known for his role in the popular show Wild at Heart as Anders Du Plessis. As well as this role he has taken on a number of minor roles in many different genres, including The Foster Gang. Stewardson has also starred in film, most notably...
, Nomsa Xaba, Thapelo Mokoena
Thapelo Mokoena
Thapelo Mokoena is a South African actor and television presenter best known for presenting the first season of the South African version of the reality competition Fear Factor, in 2005 and his current role in Wild at Heart.-Work:...
, David Butler, Atandwa Kani
Atandwa Kani
Atandwa Kani is a South African actor who recently made his United States television debut in the program Life Is Wild. Kani is the son of John Kani, a well known South African actor....
, Naima McLean and Tarryn Faye Brummage. And is shot on location at Glen Afric reserve in Gauteng Province, South Africa.
After the success of the American pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
, renamed Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild is an American television serial drama adapted by Michael Rauch, George Faber and Charlie Pattinson from the popular British drama Wild at Heart. The show is about a New York veterinarian who moves his second wife and their two sets of children to a South African game reserve run by...
, the series was picked up by The CW TV network in the USA; however the show was cancelled in February 2008 due to low ratings. Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild is an American television serial drama adapted by Michael Rauch, George Faber and Charlie Pattinson from the popular British drama Wild at Heart. The show is about a New York veterinarian who moves his second wife and their two sets of children to a South African game reserve run by...
has been picked up by the Hallmark TV channels in UK & South Africa.
The show airs as a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
from the ITV Network on TV3 Ireland
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
. Series 1-5 of 'Wild at Heart' have been released on DVD, each released around the time the following series is airing on TV. Series 6 is due to be released on DVD on 6th February 2012.
It has been confirmed by ITV that 'Wild At Heart' will return for a seventh series in 2012. Filming for the new series began in the summer of 2011.
On 9 November 2010, cast and crew returned to the Glen Afric reserve to find that Hamley, a giraffe appearing regularly in the drama, had been struck and killed by lightning during a thunderstorm.
Cast and characters
| Actor | Character | Previous actor | Duration | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Tompkinson Stephen Tompkinson Stephen Tompkinson is a British actor. He is best known for his work in comedy and drama productions such as Drop the Dead Donkey, Ballykissangel, Grafters, In Deep, Wild at Heart and DCI Banks.... |
Danny Trevanion | 2006– | |||
| Lucy-Jo Hudson Lucy-Jo Hudson Lucy-Jo Hudson is a British actress, best known for playing the role of Katy Harris in the long-running soap opera, Coronation Street from 2002–05, and as Rosie Trevanion in the ITV drama Wild at Heart from 2006–09.... |
Rosie Trevanion Gifthold | 2006–2009, 2012– | |||
| Olivia Scott-Taylor | Olivia Adams Trevanion | Rafaella Hutchinson | 2006–2008, 2010– | ||
| Deon Stewardson Deon Stewardson Deon Stewardson is a British-South African actor, best known for his role in the popular show Wild at Heart as Anders Du Plessis. As well as this role he has taken on a number of minor roles in many different genres, including The Foster Gang. Stewardson has also starred in film, most notably... |
Anders Du Plessis | 2006– | |||
| Nomsa Xaba | Nomsa Nguni | 2006– | |||
| Thapelo Mokoena Thapelo Mokoena Thapelo Mokoena is a South African actor and television presenter best known for presenting the first season of the South African version of the reality competition Fear Factor, in 2005 and his current role in Wild at Heart.-Work:... |
Cedric Fatani | 2007– | |||
| Hayley Mills Hayley Mills Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award... |
Caroline Du Plessis | 2007–2008, 2009– | |||
| Abigail Kubeka | Cebile Fatani | 2007– | Recurring character | ||
| Dawn Steele Dawn Steele Dawn Anne Steele is a Scottish actress best known for her roles in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, Sea of Souls & Wild at Heart.-Career:... |
Alice Trevanion | 2009– | |||
| Tarryn Faye Brummage | Charlotte Collins Trevanion | Megan Martell | 2009– | ||
| Niama McLean | Buhle | 2010– | |||
| Kagiso Legoadi | Cashile | 2010– | |||
| Atandwa Kani Atandwa Kani Atandwa Kani is a South African actor who recently made his United States television debut in the program Life Is Wild. Kani is the son of John Kani, a well known South African actor.... |
Thabo | 2010– | (Also starred in Life is Wild Life Is Wild Life Is Wild is an American television serial drama adapted by Michael Rauch, George Faber and Charlie Pattinson from the popular British drama Wild at Heart. The show is about a New York veterinarian who moves his second wife and their two sets of children to a South African game reserve run by... ) |
||
| Sithokomele Majola | Junior Fatani | 2011– | |||
| David Butler | Christian Peeters | 2011– | (Also starred in Life is Wild Life Is Wild Life Is Wild is an American television serial drama adapted by Michael Rauch, George Faber and Charlie Pattinson from the popular British drama Wild at Heart. The show is about a New York veterinarian who moves his second wife and their two sets of children to a South African game reserve run by... ) |
||
| Robert Bathurst Robert Bathurst Robert Guy Bathurst is an English actor. Bathurst was born in the Gold Coast in 1957, where his father was working as a management consultant. His family moved to Dublin, Ireland, in 1959 and Bathurst was enrolled at an Anglican boarding school... |
Ed Lynch | 2012– | |||
| Jill Halfpenny Jill Halfpenny Jill Halfpenny is an English actress.Halfpenny is best known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1999–2000, and as Kate Mitchell in rival soap EastEnders, from 2002-2005... |
Fiona Lynch | 2012– | |||
Past characters
| Actor | Character | Duration | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovril | Jana the Cheetah | 2006–2011 | ||
| Mary Anne Barlow | Vanessa | 2009–2011 | ||
| Hamley | Hamley the Giraffe | 2006–2011 | ||
| Cal MacAninch Cal Macaninch Cal MacAninch is a Scottish actor, best known for portraying the character of DI John Keenan in police drama Holby Blue on BBC 1 during 2007-8.... |
Rowan Collins | 2009–2010 | ||
| Fana Mokoena | Mr Ekotto | 2007–2010 | Recurring Character | |
| Luke Ward-Wilkinson Luke Ward-Wilkinson Luke Ward-Wilkinson, born in 1992 in England, is an English actor.-Career:He is best known for his lead role as the teenage Simon Doonan in the BBC comedy series Beautiful People which has so far run for 2 series on BBC Two.... |
Evan Adams/Trevanion | 2006–2009 | ||
| Juliet Mills | Georgina Black | 2009 | ||
| Shana Burton | Grace | 2009 | ||
| Lucy-Jo Hudson Lucy-Jo Hudson Lucy-Jo Hudson is a British actress, best known for playing the role of Katy Harris in the long-running soap opera, Coronation Street from 2002–05, and as Rosie Trevanion in the ITV drama Wild at Heart from 2006–09.... |
Rosie Trevanion Gifthold | 2006–2009, 2012– | Returning to the show in 2012 (Series 7) | |
| Martinus Van Der Berg | Max Gifthold | 2007–2009 | ||
| Wayne Van Rooyen | Kirk Du Plessis | 2007–2009 | Recurring Character | |
| Kim Cloete | Neema Du Plessis | 2008–2009 | Recurring Character | |
| Unknown actor/actress | Amber Du Plessis | 2009 | Recurring Character | |
| Amanda Holden Amanda Holden Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award... |
Sarah Trevanion | 2006–2008 | ||
| Mbongeni Nhlapo | Regal | 2006–2008 | ||
| Jessie Wallace Jessie Wallace Jessie Wallace is an English actress best known for her portrayal as Kat Moon in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:... |
Amy Kriel | 2008 | ||
| Craig Gardner | Elliot Kriel | 2008 | ||
| Busi Lurayi | Thandi Nguni | 2007–2008 | ||
| Gary Lawson | Alex Tate | 2006–2007 | ||
| Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe | Themba Khumalo | 2006 | ||
Guest Characters
| Actor | Character | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Van Niekerk | "Jonas Rittman" | 2011 | |
| Warren Clarke Warren Clarke -Biography:Clarke was born in Oldham, Lancashire. His first television appearance was in the long running Granada soap opera Coronation Street, initially as Kenny Pickup in 1966 and then as Gary Bailey in 1968. His first major film appearance was in Stanley Kubrick's controversial A Clockwork... |
Robert Trevanion | 2011 | |
| Camilla Waldman | Hannah | 2010 | |
| Nicholas Le Prevost Nicholas Le Prevost Nicholas Le Prevost is an English actor. He was educated at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset from 1957 to 1961 and at Kingswood School, Bath from 1961 to 1964... |
Gene | 2010 | |
| Susie Blake Susie Blake Susie Blake is a British actress.-Personal life:Blake trained at the Arts Educational School and LAMDA in London. She is the granddaughter of the actress Annette Mills and a great - niece of the actor Sir John Mills... |
Judith | 2008 | |
| Maggie O'Neill Maggie O'Neill -Biography:The youngest of six Catholic brothers and sisters, born to head teacher parents, O'Neill grew up in the Midlands, where she was educated at a convent school, and after being inspired by a sixth-form drama teacher, "fell" into acting.... |
Elaine | 2008 | |
| Samantha Womack | Tessa | 2007 | |
| Geoffrey Hutchings Geoffrey Hutchings Geoffrey Hutchings was a British stage, film and television actor.-Early life and career:Hutchings was born in Dorchester, Dorset, England. After attending Hardye's School, he studied French and Physical Education at Birmingham University before he became a member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic... |
Bill | 2007 | |
Ratings
| Series | Episodes | Aired | Average Viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 29 January 2006 - 5 March 2006 | 9.67 |
| 2 | 10 | 14 January 2007 - 25 March 2007 | 7.94 |
| 3 | 8 | 13 January 2008 - 9 March 2008 | 8.16 |
| 4 | 10 | 11 January 2009 - 15 March 2009 | 7.99 |
| 5 | 10 | 10 January 2010 - 14 March 2010 | 7.71 |
| 6 | 10 | 9 January 2011 - 13 March 2011 | 7.92 |
All ratings have been retrieved from www.barb.co.uk and include ITV1 HD.
Series 1 (2006)
Wild at Heart begins with the Trevanion family going about their lives in Bristol. Everything changes drastically when an abandoned monkey is brought into Danny's surgery. His wife Sarah suggests they go to Africa to rehabilitate the monkey in hopes that a holiday will bring the family closer together. The holiday becomes a permanent adventure and throughout the series we see the Trevanions settle into life in the bush and work to start up a game park. They're faced with plenty of challenges along the way including lethal snake bites, a deadly strain of anthrax, darting lionesses, missing children, uninvited guests, and a rival game park whose manager causes plenty of trouble when he can.Series 2 (2007)
The second series is even more eventful than the first. The Trevanions struggle with finances whilst trying to satisfy their first proper guests with luxury accommodations and game drives. They face a new owner of Mara, the neighbouring game park, after the original one is killed whilst illegally hunting. The new owner seems even more intent on causing mayhem as he takes water from Leopard's Den's watering hole and more. This series introduces more characters and more complications that are thrown at the Trevanions, including a bitter inspector who nearly shuts them down, the arrival of Sarah's difficult mother Caroline, plane crashes, releasing vultures, family revelations, marriage proposals, and worst of all, to nearly end the family's time in Africa, a fatal lion attack.Series 3 (2008)
The series focuses on opening an animal hospital, which in the penultimate episode is nearly achieved when a fire strikes the luxury guest lodge. Series 3 features a new American owner of Mara who at first appears friendly enough, but following a betrayal, turns nasty. Sarah goes back to her teaching roots when the local school is missing a teacher, tiger cubs go missing, Du Plessis goes out of his way to find love, Caroline's sister Judith visits, and Rosie and Max get engaged. The penultimate and final episodes of the series feature tragedy when the fire ruins the wedding day and the family is left grieving the loss of Sarah as she dies whilst trying to save Jana the cheetah.The series also features former EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
star Jessie Wallace
Jessie Wallace
Jessie Wallace is an English actress best known for her portrayal as Kat Moon in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:...
as Amy Kriel, the dimwitted, self-absorbed wife of Mara's American owner, Elliot Kriel.
Series 4 (2009)
The series begins 12 months after the fire and features Danny battling for custody of Evan, yet losing. However, Evan finally is allowed to return to the game reserve. Meanwhile Caroline has returned to England, so her sister Georgina comes to stay, yet fails to make friends with Du Plessis, revealing to him that Caroline does not love him anymore and will not be returning to Africa. A new vet, Alice Collins, joins Leopards Den. She and Danny get off at a bad start, but in the end Danny asks Alice to stay at Leopards Den. Rosie marries Max but suffers a miscarriage; then leaves with Max to study veterinary medicine in Cape Town. After a few episodes, and Alice nearly leaving, it becomes clear that she has feelings for Danny, about which she confides to Du Plessis. In the penultimate episode, a storm hits Leopard's Den and Alice seeks help for an injured Danny whilst the others try to find her daughter Charlotte among the rubble of the old hut. Alice finds help, and is taken to Mara. She manages to tell the owner, Vanessa, that Danny is still out in the storm, bleeding and unconscious. There is much confusion while searching for Danny, but he is eventually found. Afterward, Vanessa, the owner of Mara, tells Alice that she and Danny are an item, which is untrue. She says this because she knows Alice has feelings for Danny, too. Alice gets back to Leopards Den and packs her bags, planning to leave. Danny tells Vanessa that he does not return her feelings. When Danny finds Alice's suitcase, he goes after Alice, who is releasing a giraffe prior to her departure. Danny and Alice finally admit their love for each other in a passionate embrace. They tell no one, although everyone learns the truth. Alice and Danny's relationship is branded, "The worst kept secret in Africa!" Caroline returns in the final moments of the series 4 finale.Series 5 (2010)
The fifth series kicks off with Du Plessis and Caroline's wedding, but someone from Caroline's past is set to ruin it before their marriage even starts. Elsewhere, Alice's brother Rowan moves in to Mara, while Alice tries to repair their sibling relationship. Evan has moved to England to live with his sister and Dad. Vanessa has got over her feelings for Danny and they remain friends, and starts a relationship with Rowan which ends after he gives a black leopard a drug which kills it but he lets Danny take the blame, meaning Danny has his license taken away until Rowan fixes his mistake. Rowan is thrown out by Vanessa, and Alice persuades Danny to let him stay at Leopard's Den. Olivia, Danny's step daughter, returns, and is not happy Danny is with Alice and has got over her mother so quickly. Danny proposes to Alice, but she refuses, telling him he needs to make up with his step daughter first. Fatani takes over Max's Bar, hires Buhle and they quickly fall in love. On the 2nd anniversary of Sarah's death, Danny, Olivia, Nomsa, Alice and Charlotte have a little ceremony at Sarah's favourite hut, where Olivia makes up with Alice by telling her that Sarah would have liked her. Du Plessis and Caroline could not make it because Dup is in hospital because of a heart condition and is awaiting surgery. In the finale, Fatani proposes to Buhle using Danny's ring accidentally, Du Plessis reveals he has no money as he gave it all to his son, which Caroline is not pleased about as she wanted to buy Mr Ekotto's land. Rowan is doing Du Plessis job while he rests from his Heart condition, which Du Plessis is not happy about. Vanessa's dad buys the land, but Du Plessis releases a rare animal, sets fake tracks and an environmental specialist claims it is a conservation zone which cannot be built on. Vanessa, using the money Rowan has given her for this purpose, buys out her father's share of Mara, confronting her father which she has been persuaded to do by Rowan, gets back together with Rowan and allows him to move back in. Danny proposes to Alice again, with help from Olivia, and this time she agrees.Series 6 (2011)
It's months since Danny got engaged to Alice and the series kicks off in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where Danny and Alice are on their honeymoon and Danny arranges to meet up with his estranged father Robert Trevanion (Warren Clarke
Warren Clarke
-Biography:Clarke was born in Oldham, Lancashire. His first television appearance was in the long running Granada soap opera Coronation Street, initially as Kenny Pickup in 1966 and then as Gary Bailey in 1968. His first major film appearance was in Stanley Kubrick's controversial A Clockwork...
). However, their meeting is cut short when Danny receives a call from Du Plessis saying that the lions are dying. Danny and Alice have to return to Leopards Den and Alice invites Robert to come back with them, which does not impress Danny. Back in Africa Oliva spots Thabo, a young offender who appeared in Series 5, doing community service out in town. While Olivia is happy to see Thabo back, Fatani and Buhle are not and Fatani tries his best to keep Olivia away from him. Meanwhile Danny, Alice and Robert arrive back at Leopards' Den and decide that they need to get all of Leopards' Den's and Mara's Lions in quarantine, so with the help of Du Plessis, Robert, Vanessa, Alice and Caroline, Danny soon gets all of the lions in a fenced pen but is devastated when he has to shoot all of his pride, including tame lion Hoby. After the devastating outcome Robert has some more devastating news for the Trevanion family as he reveals that he is dying from a brain tumour and that he has very limited time to live. Alice persuades Danny to let Robert stay at Leopards' Den until he dies, but at teatime Robert is missing and Danny fears the worst when Du Plessis reveals that he will not survive the night alone in the African Bush. Danny, Alice, Du Plessis, Olivia, Caroline, Nomsa, Charlotte, Fatani and Thabo all help look for him but it's Thabo who finds Robert lying dead on a rock under the African Stars. After Robert's funeral, the residents of Leopards' Den celebrate his life, but as one character leaves another arrives as Buhle's contractions start and her and Fatani's baby starts to arrive. Grieving Danny throws himself into his work and applies for the prestigious role of state vet, but his attempts to involve Thabo in the lion-breeding project leave Du Plessis feeling like an outsider in his own home. Meanwhile, a geologist arouses suspicion when he arrives to survey the area, and a rogue baboon causes problems at Leopards' Den. Danny faces a tough decision on his first day as state vet, when his investigation into an animal-smuggling ring takes him surprisingly close to home. Meanwhile, Thabo is settling into Leopards' Den, but the arrival of his delinquent older brother leads him into a spot of trouble with the law, which tests his blossoming friendship with Du Plessis. Danny oversees an animal translocation for his first big project as state vet, but Alice struggles with running the clinic in his absence and has a close encounter with lions. Meanwhile, Du Plessis' attempt to show Caroline the `real Africa' backfires when he takes her on a no-frills camping trip in the wilderness. When strange events occur at Leopards' Den - a mirror cracks seemingly for no reason, elephants and lions are spotted miles away from their normal habitat, and crocodiles are found dead - Danny and Alice must work fast to solve the mystery before more animals die. Meanwhile, Du Plessis discovers a pregnancy test while tidying up, but jumps to the wrong conclusion. Danny is called in to investigate when the routine transportation of a tiger goes wrong, and discovers Alice could be to blame for the animal's death. Meanwhile, Du Plessis resorts to desperate measures in a bid to save his home when the mining company announces plans to buy Leopards' Den. Danny and Alice are divided when Peeters asks for their help in relocating a pack of rogue hyenas. Meanwhile, Du Plessis launches a one-man campaign of vandalism against unwelcome new neighbours the mining company, but when he is caught on camera, a restraining order and a fine are not the only consequences of his actions. As the court case looms, Danny realises he may have to sacrifice his principles to save Leopards' Den, and Caroline decides to take matters into her own hands by going undercover at the mining company. Applying for a job as Peeters' personal assistant, she hopes to find out more about the firm's plans, while Du Plessis resorts to sabotage to protect his home. When the mining company takes over Leopards' Den, Danny reaches an agreement with Peeters to set up a field hospital in the Bush until all the animals have been rehomed. The family ends up camping out there, with Du Plessis claiming squatters' rights. But when the electricity generator fails their protest takes a catastrophic turn, and Caroline is attacked by a lion. Caroline is badly wounded, and it is later uncovered that one of Peeter's men sabotaged the generator. The family take a last stand to stop the mining company from destroying Leopards' Den and to defend their home. The recently unhospitalised Caroline is knocked down by a policeman - in an attempt to defend her and the rest of the family, Jana runs towards them and is shot in the head, killing her instantly. Olivia particularly is devastated by the cheetah's death, taking Jana to her mother's grave regardless of the family's ban from Leopards' Den. Whilst burying Jana, Caroline collapses. The family considers returning to England until things have settled, where Georgina has offered to take them in. Du Plessis is reluctant, but wants Caroline to go ahead without him. Meanwhile poachers have been discovered in the area, but they have been using an unusual method - anaesthetising rhinos before removing their horns while still alive. Danny and Du Plessis uncover that the new state vet has been a part of the operation and are taken prisoner upon tracking him down, but are saved by Fatani, who brings the police to the hideout. New hope for Leopards' Den is found when Danny realises the new state vet had liased with Peeters', meaning his operation could be corrupt. Peeters agrees to halt work on Leopards' Den on exchange for their silence during the investigation. Du Plessis and Danny have now got Leopards' Den back and decide to climb to the top of a cliff so that they can see what Leopards' Den looks like from a height and toast their success while there. Meanwhile Alice, Olivia, Caroline and Charlotte are back in England with Georgina where they know they can be safe and sound!
Series 7 (2012)
On 19 May 2011 ITV announced that Wild at Heart had been recommissioned for a seventh series to air 2012. Filming of the new 10 episodes for the show began in the summer season of 2011. Stephen TompkinsonStephen Tompkinson
Stephen Tompkinson is a British actor. He is best known for his work in comedy and drama productions such as Drop the Dead Donkey, Ballykissangel, Grafters, In Deep, Wild at Heart and DCI Banks....
, Dawn Steele
Dawn Steele
Dawn Anne Steele is a Scottish actress best known for her roles in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, Sea of Souls & Wild at Heart.-Career:...
, Olivia Scott-Taylor, Atandwa Kani
Atandwa Kani
Atandwa Kani is a South African actor who recently made his United States television debut in the program Life Is Wild. Kani is the son of John Kani, a well known South African actor....
, Deon Stewardson
Deon Stewardson
Deon Stewardson is a British-South African actor, best known for his role in the popular show Wild at Heart as Anders Du Plessis. As well as this role he has taken on a number of minor roles in many different genres, including The Foster Gang. Stewardson has also starred in film, most notably...
and Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award...
will all return to the ITV drama.
ITV have also confirmed that Robert Bathurst
Robert Bathurst
Robert Guy Bathurst is an English actor. Bathurst was born in the Gold Coast in 1957, where his father was working as a management consultant. His family moved to Dublin, Ireland, in 1959 and Bathurst was enrolled at an Anglican boarding school...
will join the cast in the seventh series of the show. . It has also been announced that Lucy-Jo Hudson
Lucy-Jo Hudson
Lucy-Jo Hudson is a British actress, best known for playing the role of Katy Harris in the long-running soap opera, Coronation Street from 2002–05, and as Rosie Trevanion in the ITV drama Wild at Heart from 2006–09....
will return to the show, returning to her home at Leopards Den well on her way to becoming a skilled vet herself. . On 25 October 2011 it was revealed that Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny is an English actress.Halfpenny is best known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1999–2000, and as Kate Mitchell in rival soap EastEnders, from 2002-2005...
had joined the cast as Fiona Lynch..
Soundtrack release
The music is all composed by Tristin Norwell and Nick Green exclusively for the show. The soundtrack is available for purchase currently as a download only.| "Coming Home - Soundtrack to the TV Series Wild At Heart" (download) | 1 February 2010 |
This is distributed by AWAL.
Offscreen
On 9 November 2010, cast and crew returned to the Glen Afric reserve to find that Hamley, a giraffe appearing regularly in the drama, had been struck and killed by lightningLightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
during a thunderstorm.He was known to be a very friendly animal and his death was felt by many members of the cast, crew and fans.
DVD release
| DVD | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Complete First Series (2 discs) | 3 April 2006 |
| The Complete Second Series (3 discs) | 18 February 2008 |
| The Complete Third Series (3 discs) | 2 February 2009 |
| The Complete Fourth Series (3 discs) | 1 February 2010 |
| The Complete Fifth Series (3 discs) | 7 February 2011 (Play.Com) |
| The Complete Sixth Series (3/4 discs) | 6 February 2012 (Amazon.co.uk) |
These are all distributed by Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....
.
External links
- Wild at Heart at TV.com