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S1 • E1
In 1930 George Mottershead, still tormented by memories of the Great War, where his brother died, is collecting supplies from Liverpool docks for his father Albert's shop when he sees an abandoned monkey and parrot, which he brings home. He plans to sell Mortimer, the monkey, to a circus but instead ends up rescuing an elderly camel. Younger daughter June is thrilled by the menagerie in the backyard, other family members less so. Then George accidentally comes across the dilapidated Oakfield Manor in the village of Upton, which is up for auction. Encouraged by friendly aristocrat Lady Katherine Longmore George secures a bank loan and, assisted by Albert, who sells his shop, buys the manor with a view to turning it into a zoo without bars. The family moves into the manor but, despite support from his wife Lizzie, George's sour mother Lucy and elder daughter Muriel, are not impressed and matters are not helped when Mortimer escapes and creates havoc in the village store.
S1 • E2
George receives more animals for his zoo as well as rescuing a fox from a hunt led by vicar Aaron Webb. Muriel is befriended by Lady Katherine whilst Lucy is still negative about the move. Lizzie goes to the council to get a business licence and is overwhelmed by the paper-work involved but finally triumphs to George's delight. George himself rescues two bears from a cave in Matlock and, helped by brother-in-law Billy, brings them to the zoo. One of the bears is sick but the village doctor sees her and appears to be an ally . Webb on the other hand, whilst charming Lizzie, is leading the villagers' opposition to the zoo, getting information from the unsuspecting June to present to the council .
S1 • E3
Whilst the family nurses Eve the bear back to full health, Webb and shopkeeper Camilla Radler hold a community meeting with the intention of getting the zoo closed. George sees this as an opportunity to win over the opposition by pitching his vision of the zoo to them, but he is shouted down. He is, however, cheered when a journalist named Gascoigne from the "Chester Herald" comes to write an article on the zoo; but this too fails, as the visit is less than successful and the finished piece portrays George as inept and unrealistic. On the positive side Muriel, previously opposed to her father's plans, becomes more sympathetic as she sees how much the project means to him; and Billy brings in a batch of new arrivals to charm the enemy - a dozen penguins.
S1 • E4
Adam, the male bear, escapes and although George and Billy manage to retrieve him before he reaches the village, George is injured in June's sight and confined to bed. He knows he must finish the bears' enclosure but the bank will not supply any more funds. Fortunately he meets Lady Katherine's friend Lady Goodwin, an eccentric aristocrat who supports him and who stages a glamorous benefit evening at Selbourne Hall, hosted by Lady Katherine and to which Camilla Radler's postman son Archie escorts Muriel. The evening goes well until one of the guests accuses Katherine of being an adulteress. Furthermore Mrs Radler and the duplicitous Webb are gathering signatures to close the zoo, leading to planning permission being denied and a confrontation between Webb and George.
S1 • E5
Frankie, a council secretary dating Billy, shows George that Camilla Radler lied in order to get her petition signed to stop the zoo and he confronts her but, even with the money from the fund raising event, finances are at an all-time low and George has to sell Adam to Belle Vue zoo on the promise of retrieving him in better days. Following her disgrace Katherine is hiding away but on discovering that her nephew Aldous works for Sir Arthur Addison, the deputy minister of health, who approves planning permission appeals, George persuades her to go to London with him where they button-hole Sir Arthur, resulting in permission for a public hearing. Back at the zoo Muriel's efforts to get work as a typist, helped by Archie, whom she encourages to stand up to his mother, are more successful than June's idea to give the villagers camel rides whilst Eve gives birth to two cubs.
S1 • E6
The hearing to determine whether the zoo may operate results in some surprises, but does not settle the matter. The next day, the judge and public tour the zoo. Eventually, the verdict arrives in the post.
George Mottershead
Lizzie Mottershead
Lucy Mottershead
June Mottershead
Albert Mottershead
Muriel Mottershead
Billy Atkinson
Reverend Aaron Webb
Lady Katherine Longmore
Camilla Radler