Channel 4 returns to Jimmy Doherty’s Big Bear Rescue with Red Sky Productions

Channel 4 has acquired a second series from Glasgow based Red Sky Productions following Jimmy Doherty and his team rescuing animals urgently in need of a new home. In series 1 farmer and conservationist Jimmy Doherty rescued polar bears, brown bears and an entire pack of arctic wolves. But new challenges await the team as more calls come in.

They are on a mission to save moon bears in South Korea who have been left with nowhere to go. Moon Bears are kept on farms and their bile is harvested for traditional medicine. South Korea has made this farming illegal and now over 200 bears need to find somewhere to go. Jimmy and the team travel to South Korea and are desperate to help 5 bears find a new forever home on his award winning wildlife park in East Suffolk.

And the rescues don’t stop there: Lions, Tiger, a baby Lemur and an alligator all arrive at the park where Ewa the polar bear celebrates her 20th birthday and the team go to exceptional lengths to help their brown bears, Diego and Brunhilda, become friends.

Jimmy’s rescue mission extends its efforts to Europe and helping a unique bear sanctuary in Romania which raises wild baby brown bears in a way that allows them to be returned to the wild.

Expect amazing animals, seemingly impossible challenges and an uplifting series of rescues by a team who never give up.

Twenty-five years ago, we started with a handful of pigs and a dream. I never imagined that journey would lead us to rescuing and caring for a polar bear, brown bears, an entire pack of Arctic wolves, and so many other animals in desperate need of a second chance. The calls keep coming – lions, a tiger, more bears, and so many animals who are the last chancers, the no hopers, the ones who’ve got nowhere to go. When we saw the plight of the moon bears in South Korea, there was never any question that we would help. It’s simply who we are. The team here just can’t walk away from an animal in need.

Jimmy Doherty

The work Jimmy and his team does is truly remarkable. Every animal whether it’s a moon bear, a lion, a tiger or a baby lemur has a story which touches your heart. We’re so proud to be working with Jimmy and his team again to bring these amazing animals to viewers.

Jane Rogerson, MD of Red Sky Productions

Red Sky Productions has once again delivered a hugely ambitious, emotionally engaging series with real scale and heart. Jimmy Doherty’s Big Bear Rescue brings together extraordinary animal rescue stories with the craft and care of a talented Glasgow based production team, creating the kind of distinctive factual television that resonates with audiences at home and internationally. Screen Scotland is proud to support the series through our Broadcast Content Fund, and we look forward to seeing these remarkable stories reach Channel 4 viewers.

Dani Carlaw, Head of Unscripted at Screen Scotland