BBC2 unveils vivisection series

BBC2 bosses are pressing ahead with a comedy about animals on the run from a vivisection lab, despite protests from animal rights protestors.

The animated series I Am Not An Animal, featuring the voices of Steve Coogan, Simon Pegg, is part of the channel's spring and summer line-up, unveiled yesterday.

Made by Coogan's production company Baby Cow, the show tells the story of the "only six talking animals in the world, whose cosseted existence in a vivisection unit is turned upside down when they are liberated by animal rights activists".

Written and directed by Peter Baynham , the show also features the voices of Kevin Eldon, Amelia Bulmore and Father Ted co-creator Arthur Mathews.

Characters include an ambitious right-wing sparrow, a bulldog obsessed with settling down, a horse with literary pretensions, a sex-crazed monkey in love with a slutty rat and a rabbit with as much of a man's brain that could be stuffed in its skull.

Campaigners accused the show of making jokes from the "hideous and appalling suffering" of animals, when details first emerged last year.

The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection's Wendy Higgins said: "To portray the lives of lab animals as anything other than a living torture would not only be deeply crass but also irresponsible.

"If he really is planning to do this project, the BUAV has strongly urged Steve to think again, terminate the project immediately and concentrate his considerable talents on a more worthy project."

Other comedy shows in the line-up include a relationship discussion series hosted by Rob Brydon's creation Keith Barrett, of Marion and Geoff fame, as previously reported on Chortle.

And QI and Coupling both return for new series.

Published: 18 Mar 2004