Watch
  • BBC One

One by One

  • 1984 – 1987
  • Ended
  • Drama
  • ~50m / ep
  • 3 seasons
  • 7.0/10

One By One is a British television series made by the BBC between 1984 and 1987. The series, created by Anthony Read, followed the career of international veterinarian David Taylor and his work caring for exotic animals at zoos in Britain, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Each series was set during a different decade, with exteriors filmed at Dudley Zoo, Chester Zoo and Knowsley Safari Park. Thirty-two episodes were made in total. Rob Heyland starred as Turner, while other major cast members included James Ellis, Sonia Graham, Peter Gilmore, Heather James, Catherine Schell, Peter Jeffrey, Andrew Robertson and Christina Nagy.

Latest: Season 3 · 1987

View all seasons
  1. E1. Changing Places

    Feb 28, 1987 · 50m

    Donald and Paddy escort an orang-utan to a zoo, which later turns into a raging menace. Meanwhile a young eland with a tooth abscess attacks and kills it's keeper, and Donald comes under pressure from the press to put it down. Elsewhere a blind lady donates a mynah bird to the Bellington Zoo, where it is stolen by an underpriviledged boy from a nearby school.

  2. E2. Remember the Humble Guinea-Pig

    Mar 7, 1987 · 50m

    A number of animals are killed at the Bellington Zoo and suspicions point to a keeper being responsible, it later transpires to be the work of a suspended prison officer who once worked at the zoo. Paddy is offered the post of head keeper at the Bellington and Liz masterminds an education centre at the zoo. Meanwhile Donald fights tooth and nail to prevent Challon using dubious methods to make money using the dolphins at Manford Safari Park.

  3. E3. First Things First

    Mar 14, 1987 · 50m

  4. E4. Tiger, Tiger

    Mar 21, 1987 · 50m

    Teddy Haslam accidentally shoots one of his hawks, while it is being stolen and takes it to Donald to save it, unfortunately Donald is not there and Ethel lends a hand, until Donald arrives. The education centre opens. A thief in the zoo turns out to be a young boy stealing money from the zoo pools and a pair of squirrels! Donald is called to see a miniature horse which has become the companion of a Llama, which unfortunately dies. Meanwhile at Manford Safari Park the tigers come down with a mysterious ailment which 'drowns' them. and needs all Donald's ingenuity to sort out. Which result in Donald and Challon being hunted through the enclosure by the big cats.

  5. E5. The Monkey in Between

    Mar 28, 1987 · 50m

    Whilst walking her dog across some wasteland, a young girl finds an abandoned orang-utan, which later is diagnosed as having hepatitis. Elsewhere there is an egg bound emu, escaped onagers and a heated exchange between a disreputable pet shop owner who sold the orang, and an angry Donald.

  6. E6. Dangerous Games

    Apr 4, 1987 · 50m

+4 more episodes — open all seasons to browse every episode.

One by One | Watch