Crowd Network is launching its first animal-focused comedy podcast, Abi Clarke: Zookeeper in Training.
Stand-up comedian Abi hosts the show, which is recorded in partnership with Chester Zoo.
Launching this week, the six-part series follows Abi as she learns what it takes to care for some of the world’s most endangered species at one of the UK’s most popular zoos.
In each episode, she gets up close with animals like rare giraffes, giant otters and a flock of more than one hundred flamingos, with behind-the-scenes commentary recorded both on-site and in the studio.
Abi, who has over two million social media followers thanks to her viral comedy sketches, described the show as a dream job.
“I’m having the best time hosting the podcast. As an animal lover, it’s a privilege to have such unique access to Chester Zoo and meet so many rare and precious animals, as you’ll hear, I really get stuck in!” she said.
The collaboration aims to attract a younger audience and support Chester Zoo’s mission to inspire future conservationists.
Vicky Ashdown, AV Production and Talent Manager at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re thrilled to team up with Abi and Crowd to give a whole new insight into the workings of this extraordinary place and the incredibly passionate people who make it tick.
“This is a very different kind of zoo audio documentary, and we can’t wait for people to hear it.”
Vicky Wright, Producer at Crowd, highlighted the unusual recording conditions: “We’re recording face to face with a sloth, just a few steps away from a crocodile, and surrounded by hundreds of birds: navigating these unpredictable animals has been one of my most fun challenges since starting in podcasting.”
