Grumpy tortoise gave Jean Johansson the runaround on Animal Park TV show

Jean Johansson with an African Spurred Tortoise (BBC/Endemol Shine UK/Joff Wilson)

IT was one of TV’s best-loved and most enduring nature documentary series.

For the best part of a decade, Animal Park’s look behind the scenes at Longleat Safari Park was a real winner with viewers.

Now long-standing presenters Ben Fogle and Kate Humble are back for Animal Park Summer Special, a week of programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of the Wiltshire favourite.

And they’re joined by Scot Jean Johansson, who is becoming an ever-more familiar face thanks to her roving reporter role on The One Show.

“For Kate and Ben it’s a real look back at the shows they’ve done before, including some archive footage,” said Jean, who’s married to former Rangers and Finland striker Jonatan Johansson.

“They’ve been catching up with animals that they saw being born 10 years ago.

“And they’ve met up with the keepers that they worked with over the years.

“My role is to provide a new set of eyes on the park, seeing new animals and really getting my hands dirty.

“I used to watch the original series, which was such good family fun and a great insight into what it takes to make a somewhere like that run.”

With the grand house as the backdrop, Jean says the heritage of the place is evident.

And looking back at the half-century of the safari park was quite an eye-opener.

“There was an exhibition with loads of old black and white photos and it was fascinating to see how things used to be.

“Health and safety wasn’t as vigorous as it is these days and visitors would stop their cars and get out and have picnics among the giraffes.

“You just wouldn’t be in the same enclosure now.

“I got to feed the lions and safety really was the first concern.

“I was very happy to be in a locked cage but apparently 50 years ago someone would just be throwing chunks of meat off of the back of a Land Rover.”

Port Glasgow-born Jean, 35, was more than happy to get stuck into the sorts of roles Kate and Ben used to do.

And she admits the animals really captured her heart.

“I gave a tortoise a bath, which sounds an easy task but weirdly tortoises aren’t as slow as I thought they would be,” she laughs.

“She was a really grumpy tortoise called Michelle and she didn’t like water at all, so it reminded me of trying to give my son Junior a bath!

“But it’s lovely to be with creatures like that.

“The rhinos come down at the end of the day and I got to put one to bed by giving her a little tummy rub.

“She keeled over on her side and went to sleep and it was a real magical moment.”

It’s just the latest role in a hugely varied career for model-turned-presenter Jean, who lives in Skelmorlie with Jonatan and Junior, who’s five.

Her first TV job was at BBC Scotland, plucked as an 18-year-old from hundreds of teens at an open audition for a kids’ show that was a summer replacement for Blue Peter.

“It was a hell of a break and it so rarely happens these days that it just gets opened up to someone with no TV experience at all,” says Jean.

“It wasn’t ex-reality stars. They were just looking for people they could mould and give a chance to.

“I’m so grateful for that opportunity.”

Jean subsequently spent several years on CBBC, then became as a Disney presenter and also had a spell as an STV weather girl.

She did her first report for The One Show in February and her talent and bubbly personality saw her land the Animal Park role.

“I don’t think you can ever have a plan in this business,” says Jean.

“But my dream would be to have a daily live show, sat on a sofa.

“Lorraine Kelly is a real idol of mine.

“I watch what she does so well and maybe one day in the future, well, you never know.”

Animal Park Summer Special, BBC 1, weekdays, at 9.15am.

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