First pets: CBeebies presenters share their memories

AlexDid you have pets growing up? If so, what were they and what were their names?

We had goldfish – Draper, Taylor and Sammy. Sammy lived forever – about 12 years! And we also had Joey the budgie.



What’s your saddest memory of your childhood pet?

My sister and I were once taken to France for the day by my aunty and uncle (which was the first time we left the country) – and when we returned, Sammy was dead.



And I’ll never forget Joey the budgie – he just keeled over one day and died right in front of my dad and me as we were eating breakfast. He just fell backwards off his perch.



My Dad and I later noticed that a book leaning against his cage had been nibbled right through. Ironically, the book was called “The Road to Perfection.”



What’s the most memorable animal you’ve worked with as a presenter?

Shelley, the Blue Peter tortoise! I love her. We had her in studio for We Love Pets Week, and I’ve always wanted a tortoise so it was amazing having her in the CBeebies House!



Aneta

Did you have pets growing up?

I had cats and a dog growing up. My first beloved cat was called Maciuś. He was black and white, and he loved sleeping on the windowsill. He was later joined by Edie, Nikita and Duszek.



My dog was called Bachus - he was a Belgian Shepherd who was often mistaken for a bear because of his big fluffy fur!



What’s your favourite memory of your childhood pet?

It must have been when my brother brought Bachus home. He was a very excitable, happy puppy and he made us laugh all the time.



What’s the most memorable animal you’ve worked with as a presenter?

It was definitely Betsy Boo, the rabbit who visited the CBeebies House recently. She was adorable! She was so cuddly, soft and very sociable, too.



Andy

Did you have pets growing up? If so, what were they and what were their names?

I had a rabbit called Floppy and two guinea pigs - Itch and Scratch.



What’s your saddest memory of your childhood pet?

We gave our rabbit away as it didn't get on very well with the guinea pigs! I was sad about that - Floppy was a strong, mischievous rabbit, but he just had to go to a new home!



What’s the most memorable animal you’ve worked with as a presenter?

I've worked with plenty of animals on Andy's Wild Adventures. The most memorable were a porcupine and a llama. The llama spat at me in defence - llamas do that! It didn't hit me though. And the porcupine turned its back so that the spines were pointing at me – that’s also a defence mechanism.



Not all the animals I've met have been defensive when they saw me, though! I also met some Coatis - they look like racoons, but with a longer nose – which come from South America. They were very nice indeed.

Katy

Did you have pets growing up? If so, what were they and what were their names?

I had Ellie – my Golden Retriever. She was my only pet. 



What’s your best memory of your childhood pet?

I was sitting at the top of a hill and the sun was setting, I looked at my dog and said “I love you, Ellie”, and she looked back at me and gave me a lick. It was as if she’d understood me.



What’s the most memorable animal you’ve worked with as a presenter?

We had a very funny horse on I Can Cook. It was always misbehaving – wandering around in circles when it was supposed to be standing still.



Cat

Did you have any pets growing up? If so, what were they, and what were their names?

I had a gorgeous grey lop-eared bunny rabbit called Busta. I had him for 8 years and loved him to pieces!



What’s your saddest memory of your childhood pet?

I spent a lot of time trying to catch Busta when he was young, as he used to dig his way under the fence out of our garden and eat next door’s plants!



The saddest memory is the day he died. It was a beautiful summer’s day and I was so excited to play with him. I thought he was asleep and when I came out to get him, he didn't move. It broke my heart



What’s the most memorable animal you’ve worked with as a presenter?

I’ve worked with so many funny animals! Hasukienan, the reindeer I met in Lapland last year, was brilliant. He kept trying to nuzzle into me and I nearly fell over every time we went for a take. Star, a week-old donkey was also hilarious. She was so fast – every time I let her go she sprinted off into the distance and it took us ages to get her back and start all over again.



Cerrie

Did you have any pets growing up? If so, what were they, and what were their names?

My first pet was a snowy white cat called Sparkle. She was so white that her paws were almost pink, and she had a tiny black smudge between her ears which made her look like she'd just poked her head into a chimney pot.



She was beautiful and elegant but also a little bit feral. That was the thing I loved most about her – the way she could be so utterly sweet and snuggle in the crook of my knees as I slept, but then suddenly awaken and become wild. We began calling her Sparky because she would nip our ankles then vanish from sight in a blur of white. I loved her and she soon became the centre of my world. Sometimes I thought she was magical but she wasn't. She died just before her first birthday. Our neighbour found her curled up in the woods as if she was sleeping. I didn't want to bury her because I didn't want it to be true. But it was, and we did. For a few days I thought my heart was breaking and even though many years have passed, there’s still a tiny tear in it. A scratch from a snowy white paw.



What’s the most memorable animal you’ve worked with as a presenter?

Alex, Andy and Sid!



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