Daktari

One of the funniest shows of the late 60s was intended to be a serious drama, but Daktari was little more than 'Carry On Up The Jungle' as Judy the chimpanzee and Clarence the cross-eyed lion continually managed to rescue their human masters. Not only were the animals more intelligent than the humans, but they were also considerably better actors.

The setting was the Wameru Study Centre in Africa, an animal-welfare compound run by Dr Marsh Tracy, played by Marshall Thompson, who received frequent visits from District Officer Hedley (Hedley Mattingly). Hedley, in particular, was an astonishing character - so wooden that he blended in perfectly with the trees, and with an upper lip so stiff that he looked as if he had swallowed a packet of starch.