Good news follows bad news in the finale

Good news follows bad news in the finale
Good news follows bad news in the finale

Medical and romantic matters of the heart fill the final episode of series five… Du Plessis’ recovery from his heart surgery is hindered by money worries and Danny makes plans for his future with Alice. A loved-up Danny and Alice are feeling indestructible; they’ve closed down a cruel zoo and Vanessa has agreed to take in all the native animals. Except… Vanessa’s father is now part-owner of Mara and doesn’t want to house charity cases. Caroline thinks she can rescue their plan with a plan of her own to buy land from a local farmer for her and DuP’s retirement. The animals can move on to the land with them, she says. Except…unknown to Caroline, DuP has given all their money to his son, Kirk. Meanwhile, Danny has decided it’s time to take the plunge and ask Alice to marry him. Except…the engagement ring he wants to use has been pawned by DuP to raise money for the land Caroline wants. The way things are going for DuP, he could have another heart attack! He’s dug a hole too deep to climb out of and the whole family learns of his lies. But they pull together to get the land and provide a home for the native animals. Their happiness is complete when Danny surprises Alice with his proposal of marriage.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.