25/05/07

Television is a very strange, young world. As a producer I have been pitched some crazy ideas by some mad people. I have been lucky enough - I think - to end up working with the cream of them so it came as no surprise when a walking, talking hamster asking me to record his obsessive missions to save animals in distress and put them onto the small screen.

Hang on a minute… No surprise? This was a hamster talking to me, and he was standing on two legs dressed in a blue uniform! Was I dreaming? Did I have a severe vitamin deficiency? Maybe I had been transported to a parallel universe in my sleep? (it can happen - ever seen Dr Who?) I walked out of the room. Waited a few seconds and walked back into the room. He was still there.

He declared himself to be called Maclean and thrust a paw of greeting in my direction. I was shaking that paw with my hand – what on earth was I doing!

“Now listen up, you! It’s all your fault the place is in such a mess,” exclaimed this gruff character with bushy eyebrows and a fierce expression on his face. “Yes, it’s you humans! Cutting down trees, plundering the seas, destroying the environment. Don’t you realise I have to go out and save the animals who used to live there? Well you can jolly well help me do something about it!”

Before I could utter a word in response he barked an instruction towards the fireplace. Amazingly, more hamsters wandered into the room, one by one. Then, this Maclean started to introduce me to his “team” of hairy accomplices. …. (to be continued….)