Johnny Morris OBE 1916-1999

Mr Animal Magic

by STEPHEN P. WOOLLARD Assistant Head of Education, Bristol Zoo Gardens

From his first day as Keeper Morris at Bristol Zoo Gardens for BBC TV's Animal Magic in 1962, Johnny built up a great rapport with animals, staff and millions of TV viewers. Over the years he became a great friend and supporter of our work, visiting the zoo regularly.

Although Animal Magic involved filming at several zoos, Bristol Zoo Gardens always featured strongly and many of our animals became stars in their own right, not least of these was Dotty the ring-tailed lemur, who was one of Johnny's favourites. During the 1960s and '70s many zoo staff were involved in helping with Animal Magic. Keepers such as Bert Jones and Don Packham regularly found themselves down at the BBC studios in Whiteladies Road working with Johnny on the programme.

Don Packham, retired Head Keeper, recalls many occasions in which he took animals for filming and remembers Johnny with affection and respect. "We rarely used the animals in rehearsals," Don says, "Johnny always considered the animals first and listened to our advice, no matter what the director and producer said. I remember one occasion in which I appeared with a young tapir, everything was fine until the live transmission started, the tapir tried to leave the stage and I dived down to hold it. Johnny, seeing my predicament, immediately joined me and the tapir on the floor and we did the interview right there. He was a true professional."

Johnny was not just a good story-teller and presenter, he became especially famous for his unique style and animal voices. This anthropomorphic approach appealed to children and adults alike, but ultimately this led to the demise of Animal Magic in 1983 when new BBC bosses considered it too "unscientific". Despite this, millions of children, myself included, were inspired and educated by Animal Magic and Johnny's unique approach.

In a retrospective of Johnny's life for HTV in 1997 I recalled one instance of the educational impact of Animal Magic, when the show featured a giant anteater. I learnt, as a young viewer, that these animals came from South America and have long tongues with sticky saliva to eat ants and termites, and I was inspired to find out more.

The fact that I remember this nearly thirty years later illustrates that Johnny's approach was effective. In the latter years of his life Johnny visited Bristol Zoo Gardens regularly, and in 1997 he was delighted to open the new enclosure for his old friend, Wendy the elephant. Wendy also approved, greeting him very affectionately, no doubt remembering the occasions Keeper Morris had give her a hosedown, and she had given him one too!

Walking around the zoo with Johnny was always a pleasure, and it was wonderful to hear voices saying, "It's him, it is ... it's Johnny Morris" and to see Johnny respond modestly and be prepared to stop and talk to everyone. My only regret is that I never asked for his autograph myself.

Johnny Morris was a unique man, able to educate and entertain at the same time. He will be remembered with affection by many of us who grew up with Animal Magic and by all of us at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

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