Wild at Heart (British TV series) explained

Genre:Family drama
Creator:Ashley Pharoah
Starring:Stephen Tompkinson
Dawn Steele
Lucy-Jo Hudson
Amanda Holden
Olivia Scott-Taylor
Deon Stewardson
Hayley Mills
Nomsa Xaba
Thapelo Mokoena
Jessie Wallace
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Series:7 + Finale Special
Num Episodes:65
List Episodes:List of Wild at Heart episodes
Location:Glen Afric Country Lodge, Broederstroom, North West Province, 0240, South Africa
Runtime:43–48 minutes (series, approx.) 120 minutes (finale special, approx.)
Company:Company Pictures
STV Productions
Network:ITV
Related:Life Is Wild

Wild at Heart is a British television drama series created by Ashley Pharoah about a veterinary surgeon and his family, who emigrate from Bristol to South Africa, where they attempt to rehabilitate a game reserve for wild animals and establish a veterinary surgery and animal hospital. The show was broadcast on ITV for seven series beginning on 29 January 2006 and ending on 30 December 2012.

History

Wild at Heart began airing 29 January 2006 on ITV. It ran for seven series, concluding 30 December 2012 with a two-hour finale. It was filmed on location at the Glen Afric Country Lodge, a 1500-acre game reserve and sanctuary that is home to a host of African wildlife, including lions, giraffes, elephants and cheetahs. Glen Afric is located in Broederstroom, North West Province, South Africa. A large set called 'Leopards Den' was built on the property specifically for the production. Producer Ann Harrison-Baxter said: "We literally walked every inch of the reserve to find the best place to build the house, and then it was all created from scratch and aged to look like it had been there for more than a century in just 10 weeks!"[1] Leopards Den was significant as a symbolic character in its own right throughout the show's seven years. It served as the backdrop against which the family struggled to carve out a new life for themselves, and ultimately to survive and remain together.

The primary cast included Stephen Tompkinson as Danny Trevanion; Amanda Holden as Danny's wife Sarah (died in Series 3); Lucy-Jo Hudson as Danny's daughter Rosie; Deon Stewardson as the Trevanions' business partner Anders DuPlessis ('Dup'); Hayley Mills as Caroline DuPlessis; Luke Ward-Wilkinson as Danny's stepson Evan; Olivia Scott-Taylor as Danny's step-daughter Olivia; Nomsa Xaba as Nomsa – Leopard Den's cook and housekeeper; and Thapelo Mokoena Mara manager, Cedric Fatani, Martinus Van der Berg as town barman and Rosie’s husband, Max; Dawn Steele appeared regularly in Series 4–6 as Alice Collins (later Trevanion), but took maternity leave for all but one episode of Series 7, returning for the Christmas finale. Tarryn Faye Brummage played Alice's daughter Charlotte, and Atandwa Kani appeared in Series 6–7.

Wild at Heart was immensely popular in the UK, with ratings peaking at approximately 10 million viewers and never averaging less than 7.5 million over any series (see below). However, the show faced strong competition during Series 7 and speculation appeared in British online newspaper articles in February 2012 that Wild at Heart would be axed after Series 7.[2] In April 2012, similar statements appeared, but ITV did not publish a formal press release confirming that the show was cancelled.

The two-hour finale special was filmed at Leopards Den in September 2012 and aired on 30 December 2012 on ITV. ITV's Head of Drama Series Steve November said: "Wild at Heart will end on a high thanks to the fantastic cast, crew and writing team who produce the drama. We couldn't wish for a better script to celebrate an immensely successful series for ITV."[3] The finale special was followed on 31 December 2012, by a one-hour documentary titled Wild at Heart: Filming With Animals (see below).

In a BBC Radio 2 interview with Simon Mayo on 24 October 2012, Stephen Tompkinson said, "We got back [from South Africa] about three weeks ago [after filming the finale special]. It was very sad to say 'goodbye'...We are ending it in a way that will let you know it's really the end. We're not sort-of loosely hanging on to go try and get a Christmas Special or a Valentine's Day Special out of it. This is it. It ends with a lovely wedding; I'm not going to say who." (Note: BBC Radio 2 makes their interviews available via iPlayer for only a brief period and this interview is no longer available.)

Wild at Heart aired as a simulcast on TV3 Ireland.[4] The pilot episode was remade for an American audience, with a predominantly American cast, different characters and a loosely similar plot line. It succeeded enough for a first full series to be commissioned with the title Life Is Wild. It aired on The CW Television Network in the US, the Hallmark Channel in the United Kingdom, Skai TV in Greece and Warner Channel in South Africa. However, ratings were low and the show was cancelled after Series 1.

The animal action was monitored by the Animal Anti-Cruelty League.

Cast and characters

CharacterSeries
1234567Finale
Danny TrevanionStephen Tompkinson
Sarah TrevanionAmanda Holden
Anders Du PlessisDeon Stewardson
Nomsa NguniNomsa Xaba
Rosie TrevanionLucy-Jo HudsonLucy-Jo Hudson
Evan AdamsLuke Ward-Wilkinson
Olivia AdamsRafaella HutchinsonOlivia Scott-Taylor
Caroline Du PlessisHayley Mills
Cedric FataniThapelo Mokoena
Max GiftholdMartinus Van Der Berg
Amy KrielJessie Wallace
Alice TrevanionDawn Steele
Charlotte CollinsMegan MartellTarryn Faye Brummage
Georgina BlackJuliet Mills
Rowan CollinsCal MacAnich
VanessaMary Anne Barlow
ThaboAtandwa Kani
Christian Peeters (S6-S7)
Luke Peeters (S7)
David Butler
Ed LynchRobert Bathurst
Fiona LynchJill Halfpenny
ActorCharacterDurationEpisodesNotes
Primary Characters
Danny Trevanion2006–12 1x01-7x11
Alice Trevanion 2009–12 4x03-7x01, 7x11
Rosie (Trevanion) Gifthold 2006–09, 2012 1x01-4x06, 7x04-7x11
Olivia Scott-Taylor Olivia Adams 2006–2008, 2010–12 1x01-3x08, 5x04-7x11 Rafaella Hutchinson (2006–08)
Tarryn Faye Brummage Charlotte Collins 2009–12 4x03-7x11 Megan Martell (2009–10)
Anders "Dup" Du Plessis 2006–12 1x01-7x11 Died 2017
Caroline Du Plessis 2007–12 2x06-3x08, 4x10-7x11
Nomsa Xaba Nomsa Nguni 2006–12 1x01-7x11
Cedric Fatani 2007–12 2x02-7x11
Bailey the Cheetah Cassidy 2012
Past Characters
Ed Lynch 2012 7x01-7x10
Fiona Lynch 2012 7x08-7x10
Thabo 2010–12 5x08, 6x01-7x07 Also in Life is Wild
David Butler (actor)David Butler Christian Peeters
Luke Peeters
2011–12 6x05-7x02
7x05
Also in Life is Wild
Niama McLean Buhle 2010–11 5x03-6x10 Mentioned in series 7
Kagiso LegoadiCashile 2010–11 5x03-5x04, 5x10-6x02, 6x07-6x10
Sithokomele Majola Junior Fatani 2011
Bovril Jana the Cheetah 2006–11
Vanessa 2009–11 4x02-6x06
Hamley Hamley the Giraffe 2006–11
Rowan Collins 2009–10 4x08-5x10 Mentioned in series 7
Mr Ekotto 2007–10 Recurring
Evan Adams 2006–09 1x01-4x10 Mentioned in series 5 & 6
Georgina Black 2009 4x01-4x04, 4x07-4x10 Mentioned in series 5, 6 & 7
Shana Burton Grace 20094x02-4x10
Martinus Van Der Berg Max Gifthold 2007–09 2x01-4x06 Mentioned in series 5 & 7
Wayne Van Rooyen Kirk Du Plessis 2007–09 2x03, 2x09, 3x03, 4x06 Mentioned in series 5
Kim Cloete Neema Du Plessis 2008–09 3x03, 4x06
Unnamed actor Amber Du Plessis 2008–09 3x03, 4x06
Amy Kriel 2008 3x05-3x08
Craig Gardner Elliot Kriel 2008 3x03-3x08
Busi Lurayi Thandi Nguni 2007–08 2x02-2x10
Mbongeni Nhlapo Regal 2006–08
Sarah Trevanion 2006–08 1x01-3x08 Mentioned in series 4–7
Gary Lawson Alex Tate 2006–07 1x02-2x01
Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe Themba Khumalo 2006 1x03-1x06
Guest Characters
Dylan 2012 7x11 Finale Special 2012
Martin Stillman 2012 7x11 Finale Special 2012
Danny Keogh Piet Stillman 2012 7x11 Finale Special 2012
Beth 2012 Series 7
Bryan Van Niekerk Jonas Rittman 2011
Robert Trevanion 2011 6x01
Camilla Waldman Hannah 2010
Gene 2010
Judith 2008
Elaine 2008
Gerald 2007 2x08 Mentioned in series 3
Tessa 2007 2x02
Bill 2007 2x02
Dora 2007 2x02
Simon Adams 2006–07 1x03, 2x07 Mentioned in series 3–5

Ratings

SeriesEpisodesAiredAverage Viewers (Millions)
1 6 29 January – 5 March 2006 9.67
2 10 14 January – 25 March 2007 7.94
3 8 13 January – 9 March 2008 8.16
4 10 11 January – 15 March 2009 7.99
5 10 10 January – 14 March 2010 7.71
6 10 9 January – 13 March 2011 8.09
7 10 8 January – 11 March 2012 7.53
Finale Special 1 30 December 2012 6.04
NOTE: All ratings retrieved from http://www.barb.co.uk and include ITV1 HD and ITV1 +1 for series 6 onwards. (BARB website does not allow capture of page URLs for specific rating sets.)

Series synopsis

See main article: List of Wild at Heart episodes.

SeriesSummary
Series 1 (2006) The Trevanion family is introduced at home in Bristol, where an abandoned vervet monkey is brought into Danny's veterinary surgery. His wife Sarah suggests a family holiday to Africa to rehabilitate it. Arriving at Leopards Den, they meet Anders Du Plessis ("Dup") whose family has owned the property for over 100 years. He persuades them to stay and enter into a business partnership to restore the property as a game reserve for wild animals. The Trevanions begin settling into life in the African bush, and Danny grows into his role as a gifted vet treating stray cheetahs, elephants, etc. They face many challenges, including a deadly snakebite, an anthrax outbreak that threatens the reserve's stock; starving lions; runaway children; uninvited guests; and competition from Mara, the larger game park next door whose owner, Alex Tate, doesn't share Danny's values and tries to make a move on Sarah.
Series 2 (2007) The Trevanions struggle financially and attempt to satisfy their first guests' desire for acceptable accommodations and game drives. Mara's owner is killed while illegally hunting a rhino, and the new manager Cedric Fatani seems even more intent on causing mayhem, as he diverts water from the shared spring, causing the death of many Leopards Den animals. A bitter inspector refuses to renew their permit to house wild animals; Sarah's difficult mother Caroline arrives; and a plane crashes nearby, exposing the family to the threat of deadly disease from a contraband chimpanzee. When Dup is nearly killed and Danny seriously injured in a lion attack, Danny's confidence is shattered, and Fatani takes advantage by trying to buy them out in a moment of weakness.
Series 3 (2008) The Trevanions attempt to build an animal hospital at Leopards Den – initially a friendly collaboration with Elliot Kriel, the new American owner of Mara. However, his cooperation turns to hostility when he thinks he's been betrayed. Sarah returns briefly to supply teaching at the local school. Tiger cubs go missing, and Rosie Trevanion gets engaged. The series ends with a spectacular drought- and wind-driven wildfire, which ruins Rosie's wedding day, and in the chaos Sarah dies trying to save the family's pet cheetah, Jana. Shocked and wracked with grief, it looks certain Danny will take Sarah's children back to their father in England – until they all agree they want to stay at Leopards Den, and the locals pitch in to help rebuild the fire-ravaged animal hospital.
Series 4 (2009) About a year after Sarah's tragic death, Danny battles for custody of stepson Evan. The court rules against them and Evan goes briefly back to England, but he convinces his father to let him return. Rosie marries Max and they move to Cape Town so Rosie can attend vet school. A rabies outbreak threatens to decimate the wild animal population, and a new vet, Alice Collins, arrives at Leopards Den. Vanessa, Mara's new owner, creates rivalry by falsely claiming to be in a relationship with Danny. Danny nearly dies due to an accident during a severe storm, and the series ends with Danny and Alice declaring their love for each other.
Series 5 (2010) The fifth series focuses on family relationships. Du Plessis finally marries Caroline, but extreme tension arises for everyone when Danny's deeply troubled step-daughter Olivia (Liv) turns up unannounced. Struggling to cope, Alice takes a job as vet at Mara and moves there with Charlotte when she and Danny can't resolve their differences. Danny is implicated in the death of a prize black leopard and gets struck off. Things look bleak on all fronts, until a surprise confession turns the tide. Danny and Alice become engaged, and Vanessa finds a way to solve her financial problems at Mara without help from her interfering father.
Series 6 (2011) On honeymoon in London, Danny and Alice see Danny's estranged father Robert (Warren Clarke). He returns with them to save their pride of lions from a deadly illness. However, Robert soon reveals he has brain cancer. His parting gift is a healthy pair of lions to give Danny a fresh start. Youth offender Thabo is hired for the lion-breeding project. Danny tries "to make a difference" against illegal wild animal trading, but the family faces extreme problems, and mining company AfriSpec managed by Christian Peeters poses the greatest threat yet to their livelihood – just as Alice reveals she's pregnant. Vanessa sells Mara to AfriSpec, and Peeters wins a High Court case to demolish Leopards Den to build a roadway. Caroline suffers a lion attack, and under great duress the family splits up – everyone but Danny and Dup leave for England. In the series cliffhanger Danny and Dup find a way to get AfriSpec to temporarily halt demolition.
Series 7 (2012) Danny and Dup are working for a new vet, Ed Lynch (Robert Bathurst) at nearby game reserve 'Big Five'. The family returns and tries to make a start at severely derelict Clearwater Farm, but they desperately want Leopards Den back. Alice is called back to the UK. Dup discovers Christian Peeters' dead body in the swimming pool and becomes obsessed with the notion that Danny murdered him in a rage. When AfriSpec withdraws from the mining project, the Trevanions try to buy back Leopards Den but can't afford it. Ed Lynch offers a partnership, and Danny agrees, but complications arise when Ed's estranged wife Fiona arrives unexpectedly. Danny goes briefly to jail but is exonerated. Rosie returns from Cape Town and reveals that she and Max have separated, while Danny makes an agonized decision to go to England to be with Alice when the baby is born. Meanwhile, Ed and Fiona are conniving to use Leopards Den for their own ends. As Danny tries to depart, his beloved elephant family blocks his path and it appears he will once again return to Leopards Den.
Finale Special (2012) It's one year later at Leopards Den. Ed Lynch and Fiona have since left Leopards Den and Alice is back, but work demands and caring for baby Robert lead to tensions with Danny. Martin, the new neighbor at Mara, has his eye on Alice. Liv and Fatani are struggling; nobody likes Rosie's fiancé Dylan; and Dup receives a frightening medical prognosis. The family's cheetah Cassidy is poached, and tensions are high. Dup decides to use his remaining time to fix his ailing family by proving to Danny that his future son-in-law is worthy. As the wedding approaches, Danny, Dup, Rosie and Dylan set out on one last adventure, but Rosie is forced to fly them away from danger and it appears Dup has hatched his last disastrous plan. The saga of the Trevanion family concludes as Dup slips quietly away during Danny's wedding tribute. He climbs the rocky outcrop overlooking his beloved South African bush, where years earlier he made the decision to invite the Trevanions to live at Leopards Den. With tears of love Caroline explains, "He'll always be here." Framed by the setting sun, Dup removes his hat and closes his eyes, bringing the end to an era.

Documentary

A behind-the-scenes documentary titled Wild at Heart – Filming with Animals aired on ITV on 31 December 2012, the evening following the Finale Special. Narrator Stephen Tompkinson, who played the central character, Danny Trevanion, throughout Wild at Heart, introduces the animals and their handlers and gives an insider's view of how some of the show's biggest animal stunts were achieved. It features previously unseen footage and reveals how real-life emergencies are dealt with in the unpredictable world of filming with animals. The documentary was viewed by 3.19 million viewers. Additional behind-the-scenes clips and special features are available on the DVDs.

Soundtrack

The music for Wild at Heart was composed by Tristin Norwell and Nick Green. The soundtrack is available from iTunes as a download distributed by AWAL.[5] All profits from its sale are donated to Water Aid.

Offscreen

On 9 November 2010, cast and crew returned to the Glen Afric reserve to find that Hamley, a very friendly giraffe that had appeared regularly in the series, had been killed by a lightning strike during a thunderstorm.[6] Stephen Tompkinson said, "There was a giraffe called Hamley. He was an amazing creature. I spent hours with him – usually every morning outside my dressing room. He used to come up and put his head by the first-floor window to have his ears and horns scratched. He was struck by lightning...I’d just introduced him to some friends who had come to visit and two hours later I got a call saying he was dead. It was very shocking. It was like losing a human cast member – he was such a part of the show. It just reminds you when your number's up there's nothing you can do about it, so enjoy it while you can."[7]

When asked how Wild at Heart affected the local area in South Africa where it was filmed, Stephen Tompkinson replied: "A few years ago we opened up a community centre in Brazzaville, which is the local township. We also donated money to sort out the water system there and provide more tanks so people didn't have to walk miles to get water every day. It was lovely to be able to give something back....I’m very, very proud of what we all achieved together on Wild at Heart."[8]

DVD release

DVDRelease Date
The Complete First Series (2 discs)3 April 2006[9]
The Complete Second Series (3 discs)18 February 2008[10]
The Complete Third Series (3 discs)2 February 2009[11]
The Complete Fourth Series (3 discs)1 February 2010[12]
The Complete Fifth Series (3 discs)7 February 2011[13]
The Complete Sixth Series (3 discs)6 February 2012[14]
The Complete Seventh Series (3 discs) 20 August 2012[15]
The Finale Special (1 disc) 4 March 2013 (Amazon.co.uk)
Wild at Heart Series 1–8 Complete Boxed Set (21 discs) 8 April 2013 (Amazon.co.uk)
Note: All distributed by Acorn Media UK in Region 2 (PAL) format. Only two series have been released in Region 1 format, both are available from Amazon.com.[16] [17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ..: WILD AT HEART :... britishdrama.org.uk. 22 June 2015.
  2. http://metro.co.uk/2012/02/22/hit-itv-series-wild-at-heart-set-for-axe-after-ratings-dip-331291/ Hit ITV series Wild at Heart 'set for axe after ratings dip'
  3. Web site: Shows. STV Shows. 22 June 2015.
  4. http://www.tv3.ie/shows.php?request=wildatheart Wild at Heart on 3Player
  5. Web site: iTunes Music – Coming Home (Soundtrack to the TV Series "Wild at Heart") by Norwell and Green. January 2006 . iTunes Store. 22 June 2015.
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11718785 BBC News Entertainment & Arts: Lightning bolt kills Wild At Heart giraffe, 11 September 2010
  7. http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/916558-stephen-tompkinson-id-love-to-be-the-baddie-in-the-next-james-bond-film Stephen Tompkinson: I'd love to be the baddie in the next James Bond film
  8. http://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/interviewextra/stephen-tompkinson-dawn-steele-wild-heart Interview Extra: Stephen Tompkinson and Dawn Steele on Wild at Heart
  9. Web site: Buy Wild at Heart Series 1 (2 Discs) (TV) online at Play.com and read reviews. Free delivery to UK and Europe! . Play.com . 27 September 2012.
  10. Web site: Buy Wild at Heart: Series 2 (3 Discs) online at Play.com and read reviews. Free delivery to UK and Europe! . Play.com . 27 September 2012.
  11. Web site: Wild at Heart: Series 3 (3 Discs) – DVDs at Play.com (UK) . Play.com . 27 March 2009 . 27 September 2012.
  12. Web site: wild at heart series 4: Film & TV . Amazon.com . 10 May 2012 . 27 September 2012.
  13. Web site: Wild at Heart Series Five [DVD]]. Amazon UK . 7 February 2011 . 22 June 2015.
  14. Web site: Wild at Heart Series Six [DVD]]. Amazon UK . 6 February 2012 . 22 June 2015.
  15. Web site: Wild at Heart Series Seven [DVD]]. Amazon UK . 20 August 2012 . 22 June 2015.
  16. Web site: Amazon.com: WILD AT HEART, SERIES ONE: Stephen Tompkinson: Movies & TV. Amazon . 10 February 2009 . 22 June 2015.
  17. Web site: Amazon.com: Wild at Heart, Series 2. Amazon . 16 April 2012 . 22 June 2015.