Spies in disguise

Spy in the Wild gets closer than ever to a menagerie of animals around the globe

By hiding cameras inside realistic-looking animatronic creatures, natural-history series Spy in the Wild allows viewers to get closer to nature than ever before as memorable interactions take place between the real and fake animals.

This week, the series returns for a new four-part run, showcasing a dazzling array of wildlife. Here, the show’s creative director, John Downer, previews the first episode, themed around the tropics…

SPY GORILLA

‘Everyone remembers Sir David Attenborough encountering mountain gorillas, but these days film-makers and tourists have to keep their distance. There’s real magic when the gorillas are introduced to Spy Gorilla. As well as getting an iconic image of them all staring inquisitively at Spy Gorilla, it’s about what that interaction leads to.’