NEVER forget

Conservationist TOM TAYLOR on when the late Paul O'Grady met the elephants in his care

- CAREN CLARK

PAUL O'GRADY'S GREAT ELEPHANT ADVENTURE NEW EASTER SUN, 8PM, ITV1 FACTUAL

Paul O'Grady's love of animals, particularly those who were most in need, was always heart-warming to watch. So it is poignant that Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure, the last TV show he made before his sudden passing in March 2023, saw him bond with some of the world's most beautiful but endangered creatures.

For ITV's two-part series, starting this week, the much missed presenter travelled to Thailand and Laos to highlight the challenges faced by Asian elephants, whose numbers are dwindling and who are often forced to carry out gruelling work, while he also learnt about incredible conservation projects that rescue and care for them.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Lancashire-born Tom Taylor, who is operations manager at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT)*, one of several sanctuaries that Paul visited, shares his story with TV Times...