One Night In... London Zoo (Channel 4)

[Crowthorne]

For those in the UK, the latest episode of One Night In... was set in ZSL London Zoo, with Josh Widdecombe (also a ZSL Silver membership holder), Alex Brooker, Desiree Burch and Guz Khan.

One Night In... - All 4

I did have issue with the African Pygmy Mongoose in Land of the Lions being described as 'Asian' and 'the size of a cat'

 

[Ned]

"I did have issue with the African Pygmy Mongoose in Land of the Lions being described as 'Asian' and 'the size of a cat'

Apparently they can kill a King Cobra!

 

[Pacu]

For those in the UK, the latest episode of One Night In... was set in ZSL London Zoo, with Josh Widdecombe (also a ZSL Silver membership holder), Alex Brooker, Desiree Burch and Guz Khan.

One Night In... - All 4

I did have issue with the African Pygmy Mongoose in Land of the Lions being described as 'Asian' and 'the size of a cat'

Agreed but that aside I thought the zoo was presented positively and some of the best points highighted to the public.

 

[Regent]

Agreed but that aside I thought the zoo was presented positively and some of the best points highighted to the public.

I watched this programme and found it embarrassing, smutty language to gain cheap laughs, childish behaviour and a lack of zoo information. Josh mentioned he had a Silver membership card, no mention of cost.

 

[oflory]

For those in the UK, the latest episode of One Night In... was set in ZSL London Zoo, with Josh Widdecombe (also a ZSL Silver membership holder), Alex Brooker, Desiree Burch and Guz Khan.

One Night In... - All 4

I did have issue with the African Pygmy Mongoose in Land of the Lions being described as 'Asian' and 'the size of a cat'

The most egregious was in the Natural History Museum episode, in which a Komodo dragon in formaldehyde is described as a Chinese giant salamander...

 

[Crowthorne]

The most egregious was in the Natural History Museum episode, in which a Komodo dragon in formaldehyde is described as a Chinese giant salamander...

Yes, that was a bit of a shocker, but the label on that tank does say 'Chinese Giant Salamander' (I tried to screenshot but not able to on mobile), with 'Komodo Dragon' just visible underneath, so that might be a case of unclear labeling.

 

[littleRedPanda]

These shows are obviously not targeting yourselves, so maybe just chill out about them

 

[Pacu]

I watched this programme and found it embarrassing, smutty language to gain cheap laughs, childish behaviour and a lack of zoo information. Josh mentioned he had a Silver membership card, no mention of cost.

That's a shame. I wonder what you were expecting and if you had watched the rest of the series. For the most part I found the voice over positive and engaging with a good level of promotional zoo information. The whole point of being locked in somewhere at night with your friends is silly; it could have been much worse and I appreciated that they did stop completely for 'night', resuming early morning, unlike in the other programmes.

 

[Regent]

Firstly, I had advised family groups to watch One Night at The Zoo and I had to apologise to a number of families who were appalled at the comedians language and behaviour.
Secondly, complete wrong info regarding the dwarf mongoose
Thirdly, the closeness to the squirrel monkeys was questionable since all the signs suggest these monkeys bite and lastly, the teasing of the camels with browse was again something that should not have been shown

 

[Pacu]

Firstly, I had advised family groups to watch One Night at The Zoo and I had to apologise to a number of families who were appalled at the comedians language and behaviour.
Secondly, complete wrong info regarding the dwarf mongoose
Thirdly, the closeness to the squirrel monkeys was questionable since all the signs suggest these monkeys bite and lastly, the teasing of the camels with browse was again something that should not have been shown

It's never wise to advise family groups to watch commedians you are not familair with, and there should have been no surprises in content given the programmes in the series that had already been shown, and the broadcast time. Trailers also gave a reasonable indication of the programmes content. Whilst incorrect information about the specific species of mongoose was unfortunate, the society has placed an African species in an Asian display and although the information was incorrect I do not think it will cause great harm. Conversations of that type are almost certainly common amongst visitors. Adults working in consultation with the zoo and production company were in a position to make their own decision with regard to the squirrel monkeys; their situation is not the same as a paying member of the public. Fair point about the camel and browse, not okay but not a major crime either. There will be many people who have not visited the zoo, or not visited for a log time who will have been prompted to do so by much of what was shown and for me, that outweighs some minor issues; worse has been said and done in other broadcasts. It's a shame you didn't think the programme was appropriate but my feeling is that it will have done far more good than harm and I was pleased with the content given its target audience.

 

[Regent]

The programme was billed as what the animals do at the zoo at night time. Nothing mentioned that there would be adult conversation of a dubious nature. I’ve stayed in the lodges at the zoo on 2 occasions and none of the adults in those groups behaved in a childish manner.

 

[Maguari]

The programme was billed as what the animals do at the zoo at night time.

The series as a whole has been clearly marketed as 'bunch of comedians stuck somewhere overnight being silly'. I'm not sure how you came to be expecting something other than that - I'm guessing maybe by only seeing a written synopsis of this one episode?

Other than trailers I've only seen one short clip (of them riding Oblivion at Alton Towers) but it seems a reasonably entertaining show on the face of it.

 

[Regent]

The information in newspaper certainly didn’t lead me to believe that the bunch of comedians would use the zoo as a platform for their trip. I want to encourage families to visit the zoo and I was stupid enough to suggest that this programme would give them an idea to visit the zoo

 

[Rajang21]

This is the Radio Times write-up of the programme. It was broadcast on Channel 4 at 9PM. It played exactly as expected and promoted. I don’t think it would in any way stop people wanting to visit? There wasn’t a shred of anti-zoo content, and Josh Widdecombe definitely portrayed it positively referring to his visits with his daughter.

 

[Regent]

View attachment 524206

This is the Radio Times write-up of the programme. It was broadcast on Channel 4 at 9PM. It played exactly as expected and promoted. I don’t think it would in any way stop people wanting to visit? There wasn’t a shred of anti-zoo content, and Josh Widdecombe definitely portrayed it positively referring to his visits with his daughter.

The opening sentence in this Radio Times article is why I suggested to families to watch the programme. One Mum texted me to say that her 9 year old son asked her “ what is shagging”

 

[pipaluk]

The opening sentence in this Radio Times article is why I suggested to families to watch the programme. One Mum texted me to say that her 9 year old son asked her “ what is shagging”

Comedians after 9pm? It was never going to be aimed at 9 year olds I'm afraid!

 

[Maguari]

The opening sentence in this Radio Times article is why I suggested to families to watch the programme. One Mum texted me to say that her 9 year old son asked her “ what is shagging”

The phrase 'it's all about the banter' was a clue here, I think..!

And yes, comedians on C4 after 9pm are unlikely to be being child-friendly. Still, they've got to learn those words some time.

 

[Chlidonias]

The opening sentence in this Radio Times article is why I suggested to families to watch the programme. One Mum texted me to say that her 9 year old son asked her “ what is shagging”

The blurb from The Radio Times is only three sentences long. If you stopped reading after the first sentence then that's entirely on your own head!

 

[Simon Hampel]

Comedians not being family friendly? Who would have thought!?

Anyone who knows Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker will know that their level of humour is puerile at best and they are far from sophisticated.

... and if you didn't know them, then why the heck would you let a child watch their show? Because it is about a zoo and because zoos are only for kids? Okay then.

 

[Zoofan15]

Firstly, I had advised family groups to watch One Night at The Zoo and I had to apologise to a number of families who were appalled at the comedians language and behaviour.

Families were appalled? People are too easily offended. Kids have heard most of these words by the time they start school these days and anything else probably went over their heads.

Before making recommendations to people, it might pay to do some research. As a starting point, the hosts and time it screened were an indication of the content to follow.