'India Is Wonderful'

Paul O’Grady tells TV Times about his animal encounters, saving elephants and NOT going to Australia.

- Emma Bullimore

Life is always a bit brighter when Paul O’Grady is around. The irrepressible presenter and the nation’s favourite animal lover has popped up to London from his farm in Kent to catch up with TV Times over a cup of tea before he records his Sunday afternoon show for Radio 2.

Paul, 61, is full of stories and anecdotes from his recent trip to India for new ITV series, Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Animals, which sees him travel up and down the vibrant country meeting the diverse residents of various animal sanctuaries. Not surprisingly, he’s smitten with the animals – but also the country and its people.

So Paul, is it true you didn’t want to travel to India at first?

Well, initially they wanted me to go to Australia. I said ‘koala bears are boring and I had an incident there with a kangaroo once, so I’m not going back’. It took a shine to me and pinned me down with its paws on my chest – I was screaming!

Then they suggested India, but I said ‘I’d rather not go because I don’t want to get a bad stomach and I’ll get upset seeing the kids’. They talked me into it and by God I’m glad I went, I can’t believe I’ve missed out on it for so long, it’s the best place I’ve ever been to! I’m a devotee of Indian food since the trip as well. I wouldn’t touch it before because I had a bad meal in Bradford once that looked like the inside of a colostomy bag. Now I’m cooking curries twice a week!

You’re meeting animals who’ve suffered horrendous abuse in the past. Was it a tough show to film?