Animal Magic – 1962–1984
Directors
Robin Hellier
John Downer

Cast
Johnny Morris – Presenter
Gerald Durrell – Presenter
Keith Shackleton Presenter – 1964-1968
Terry Nutkins -1978-1984
Roger Tabor – 1974-1978
Sheila Young – 1976-1978
Tony Soper – Reporter

Review by TC Raymond

He talked to the animals!

Johnny Morris, or “keeper Morris” as he was known, was a singularly gifted children’s presenter who combined a knack for gentle storytelling and convincing vocal impersonations with the physical dexterity and knockabout clowning of a silent film comedian. For over twenty years, Morris talked to the animals at Bristol Zoo and (with a little help from his own overdubbing) they talked to him. All this was fine until some high-ups at the BBC decided that Morris’s act was old hat and that he was in danger of convincing the young viewers that animals really could speak. To my mind, Morris did no greater evil than demonstrating (in his own gentle, avuncular way) that animals had feelings, emotions and personalities too, and helped to communicate a definite respect for our furry friends to us children who were watching his unique rapport with the creature kingdom. But the times were changing fast, and after a gimmick-laden final series (including a ghastly episode where Morris and his sidekick Nutkins were miniaturized – with much use of primitive blue screen and colour seperation techniques – and let loose in a typical back garden), ANIMAL MAGIC was canned and a memorable chapter in television history came to an end. RIP Johnny, you are sadly missed.

Review by Screenman

He Certainly Did,

Following upon the success of his voice-over from ‘Tales Of The Riverbank’, Johnnie Morris seemed to get typecast as a latter-day Doctor Doolittle.

For a whole generation he gave voice to the other species in a gentle, humane and hilarious way. Some were presented as proud and arrogant, others as shy and nervous. He seemed to encapsulate a character in just one line. Many an accomplished Oscar-winner must have secretly envied his ability.

The naturalist Desmond Morris (a relative?) denounced his anthropomorphic interpretations, and clearly – despite his huge and enduring popularity, others evidently shared this view, or at least thought they knew better. Eventually, he was axed by a less gentle, more cynical generation of Thatcherite production managers. And television became that little bit poorer for his passing. As indeed it will when David Attenborough finally succumbs.

The only other contributor has summed the case up more succinctly than I, but such a wonderful program and its entertainer could hardly be allowed just a single mourner.

Johhnie Morris, the man who talked to and for a generation of animals. An irreplaceable treasure.