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Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Animal Pride film discovers how gay penguin behaviour was 'hidden' from 1910
Presenter and wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell finds there is evidence of same-sex courtship in almost every animal species but behaviour by penguins was hidden A nature documentary is to show how animals enjoy same-sex relationships in the same way that humans do - but that they've been hidden from history for more than a century. In Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Out Story, British naturalist Connel Bradwell discovers that scientific research has found great swathes of species displaying homosexual behaviour including orca whales, barn owls, monkeys, geese, lions, elephants, giraffes, dragon flies, butterflies and giraffes - to name but a few. But he finds that the first scientific research into same sex behaviour, written about Adelie penguins in 1910 by polar explorer George Murray Levick was kept quiet. Bob Geldof tells why Live Aid's rock 'n' roll romance wouldn't work 40 years on Douglas Russell, senior curator at London's Natural History Museum, tells Connel that Levick spent an entire season watching the penguins in the Antarctic, having accompanied Captain Robert Scott on an expedition to the region. In an account read by Russell, Levick explains how he has observed two males copulating, with one on top of the other, and then repeating the process 'with the positions reversed'. Douglas explained that the detailed papers into the sexual habits of the Adelies were written up to be published but later marked 'not for publication', adding that the subject was something society at the time would have found "difficult.' He explained: 'I think they weren't published because it was very challenging and graphic content.' He finds it a great shame that this 'pivotal moment in the history of science' went un-recorded until the museum finally did publish the papers in 2012. After also observing video of same-sex behaviour in orca whales, Connel is told that 94 species of birds have been found to display behaviours including same sex parenting, pair-bonding and sexual activity. To explore this further, the presenter and wildlife conservationist travels to Hawaii, where he meets with avian conservationist biologist Dr Lindsay Young who has made the astonishing discovery that one third of the nesting albatross pairs in the region are both female. She says that these birds, who mate for life, are still being fertilised by males but then choosing to bring up their young with a female partner. Dr Young says her suspicions were aroused when many of the nests contained two eggs rather than the usual one, but she was stunned when her research found that 33% of the population was same sex. 'I thought I'd screwed up," she admitted. 'I ran the test four times.' Connel marvels: 'They've been here all along, we just never thought to look. It's pretty weird I've never seen this on a nature show before.' In the programme, made for PBS America and shown in the UK on YouTube, he also looks at how mature male horned sheep spend 10 months of the year apart from females, with the majority indulging in 'same-sex courtship' activities with other males. Connel then finds an expert to explain what is going on, because it is commonly assumed that copulation in nature is solely for the purpose of reproduction. Dr Carin Bonder, an animal sex biologist, reveals that non-procreative sex is widespread, citing male dolphins as an example of a group which does it to strengthen their bond. 'It is so arrogant of humans to assume all sex in the animal kingdom is for reproduction,' she declared. 'Homosexuality is absolutely everywhere. It plays such a major role in every landscape on the planet.' She agreed with Russell that these behaviours have been known about for over a century but have not been widely reported or examined on TV. 'Biologists have known about homosexuality in the animal kingdom since we started looking at animals. A lot of this information has been hidden.'
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Popular Freeview TV channel filled with beloved British shows warns millions of viewers over big change coming in DAYS
A TV channel dedicated to classic shows is set to make a big change to its Freeview service later this month. Rewind TV is a British free-to-air channel that showcases nostalgic series like Diff'rent Strokes, Wings and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. 1 It is now set to change the channel it is broadcast on for the second time this year on June 18. The content is set to remain the same, but from next Wednesday, Rewind TV will switch from Freeview channel 92 to channel 81 - which currently hosts Blaze+1. Depending on your TV model you may need to retune it after midday on the 18th. If you need help retuning your television, Freeview have put together a handy guide. Sky satellite viewers will be unaffected and can continue to watch on channel 182. Rewind TV's new channel means it will sit next to PBS America and archive film and television channel Talking Pictures, which the network's top brass believe will be a better fit and help to grow its audience. Jonathan Moore, co-founder of Rewind TV, added: 'We believe the Freeview EPG has been cluttered for too long, with shopping and religious channels mixed in among entertainment. "We're doing our bit to fix that by placing ourselves nearer to channels that make sense for our audience." Rewind TV says the new channel placement creates a natural hub for archive and heritage programming – a curated corner of the Freeview guide for audiences who love vintage drama, iconic films, and timeless documentaries. Current programming includes classic shows like Fantasy Island, In Loving Memory, Please Sir!, The Monkees and Married… With Children. Actor arrested on set of hit TV show Rivals in front of shocked crew moments after filming scene with star Danny Dyer Since launching on the Freeview platform last year, initially on channel 95, before moving to 92 in March, Rewind TV has become a favourite for audiences looking to reconnect with the programmes they grew up with. Jonathan Moore added: 'Moving to channel 81 is more than just a number change – it's a statement about the kind of company we keep. "Talking Pictures has done a phenomenal job showing the enduring power of classic film and television, and we're thrilled to be part of what viewers increasingly see as a go-to collection for quality archival content. "We believe in preserving the past and celebrating the television that helped shape generations. "This new slot puts us right where we belong – alongside those who share our passion. 'This isn't just about nostalgia – it's about access, relevance, and respect for storytelling that still resonates today. "We're not just looking back – we're shining a light on what made these programmes so special and why they still matter. "We believe the Freeview EPG has been cluttered for too long, with shopping and religious channels mixed in among entertainment. "We're doing our bit to fix that by placing ourselves nearer to channels that make sense for our audience.'
