Product Details

• Actors: Stephen Tompkinson
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: February 10, 2009
• Run Time: 276 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001JXPC0K
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,471 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

In this hit British drama series, a newly blended family finds common ground in the African bush

The Trevanions are middle-aged newlyweds who fell in love after Danny (Stephen Tompkinson, Brassed Off, Ballykissangel) lost his first wife to cancer and Sarah (Amanda Holden, The Grimleys) lost hers “to a nineteen-year-old.” But all is not well in the new household. Trouble simmers between Sarah and stepdaughter Rosie, still hurting from her mother’s death. Danny, a suburban vet, has a better way with animals than he does with stepson Evan. And Sarah’s daughter Olivia, the peacemaking third child, insists on calling Danny “Mr. Trevanion.”

Tired of treating pampered pets and seeking escape from domestic woes, Danny takes the family on a trip to Africa. Vacation turns to vocation, however, when they decide to restore a rundown game reserve deep in the African bush. As the Trevanions help the wild animals around them, they begin to heal their own wounds as well.

DVD FEATURES INCLUDE production notes and photo gallery.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRITISH FAMILY DRAMA CREATED ON THE UPPER LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE LIKE A DISNEY, May 16, 2009

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Wild at Heart: Series One (DVD)

Beautiful! Excellent! Arresting! It's like taking the "Swiss Family Robinson" and reinventing them in the African bush. 5-stars only because 6 isn't an option.

Second marriage of Vet. Danny Trevanion (Stephen Tomkinson) and Sarah (Amanda Holden) also unites their previous-marriage kids. One happy family? Not always. The Dr's girl, Rosie (Lucy-Jo Hudson), missing her deceased real mom, often conflicts with her step-mom. She blends better with Sarah's children brought into the family group, Evan (Luke Ward-Wilkinson) and Olivia (Rafaella Hutchinson). Sweet Olivia is reminiscent of Drew Barrymore's child role in "ET."

The family takes a holiday to South Africa with the purpose of returning a rescued pet vervet monkey, Valentine, to the wild. Danny is offered a veterinarian position on a dilapidated bush farm owned by Anders Du Plessis, Afrikaner (Deon Stewardson). Danny & Sarah make a decision. That's episode one, and it just gets better and better with each episode. Every episode is just shy of 50 minutes.

Throughout the DVD set, you will encounter wild animals and South African vistas that are enchanting. The story is relationship drama with plenty of action and suspense. The visual aspect of the setting is comparable to the best of African bush documentaries. What a fantastic combination, to say nothing of the background African music.
Disney could have done no better.

Episode 2: Wendy, a cheetah with a broken leg, is saved by Evan and then by Danny, followed by Danny saving Olivia's life. The 3 family girls meet Alex Tate (Gary Lawson), a neighbor with a game/resort farm which really does look like a Disneyland in Africa. And you'll meet Miranda, a baby lion.
#3: Sarah's ex-husband Simon (Vincent Regan) visits Africa demanding his children, Evan & Olivia. Ruby Robson (Stacey Roca), young lover causing the divorce, tags along, and all family members deal with past torn-family relationships and face decisions.
#4 Evan & Olivia run away, a semi-drugged lion is on the run, everyone is looking for someone, but who will find what, first? Rosie finds Themba (Siyabonga Shibe), finds him quite nice.
#5 The Trevanion females, elephants, naked massage, zebras, Tate, paying guests, and diesel fuel all become a part of the current problems.
#6 Poachers arrive with other unexplained animal death that threatens all life at Leopard's Den. Is it Anthrax? Malaria?
"No one who is loved, ever really dies."

This DVD set was largely selected by me because the cover photo looked like good family viewing. IT IS THAT! Highly recommended even though it has no subtitles or closed captioning. I rarely needs it. What it offers makes up for any shortcoming--WITH ONE EXCEPTION. This is the first of several years of "Wild at Heart" TV production. Please, please, Acorn Media, give us another Series.

Bonus stuff includes production notes and more fabulous photography in gallery format. The only thing better to do than buying this DVD set is to travel in person to South Africa.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little Rock, April 6, 2009

By 

Jerry J. Cobb - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wild at Heart: Series One (DVD)

Great family show. Beautiful photography and interesting stories. About an English vet and his family who move to Africa. Can watch again and again without getting tired of it. Good acting by all the cast. Like the music and the animals, of course. Feel-good show with lots of humor and issues. Quality production.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Family Viewing, November 15, 2009

By 

LuvJaneAusten "Marie M." (Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wild at Heart: Series One (DVD)

I found this series by accident, but I'm glad I did. This series is wonderful for families to watch. It stars Stephen Tompkinson, whom some might remember from the series "BallyKissangel". The animals and scenery are beautiful. The characters are believable and the acting superb. With all the medical, CSI & Reality TV on the air, it's nice to sit down to a well made family drama. I can't wait for Amazon to sell seasons 2 & 3 which are available in the UK, but not the US.