Wild At Heart : Complete Series Four

Review by David Woodward

For fans of British "feel-good" television, Series Four of Wild at Heart is manna from heaven as it brings together the stars of two previously famous TV series Ballykissangel (Stephen Tompkinson) and Monarch of the Glen (Dawn Steele).

Wild at Heart is a very successful TV television drama series about a British vet and his family relocating to South Africa who establish (and fight to retain) a game park.

The show originally started in the UK in 2006 and, although only four of the five series filmed so far have aired in Australia on free-to-air television, it has proved to be a winner!

Stephen Tompkinson and Amanda Holden were the mainstays of the first three series. Holden quit Wild at Heart in the penultimate episode of the third series with her character tragically dying. Holden was replaced in the fourth series by Scottish actress Dawn Steele as a female vet and love interest for Tompkinson.

For me, another added attraction from a casting perspective was the introduction of Hayley Mills in Series Two as Amanda Holden’s mother. Hayley appeared for the majority of the second and remaining three series although, interestingly, in Series Four (the subject of this review) Hayley was replaced by her real-life sister Juliet Mills. 

This was a master stroke of good fortune as Juliet has always been a great actress and she was able to generate a sense of continuity, enabling Hayley to return in Series Five.

Series Four sees newly-widowed Tompkinson struggling to keep his family and business together after the death of his wife. Early episodes deal with the threat of his stepson having to go back to his father in Britain, and his daughter having to decide on her potential future as a vet and as a wife. 

In Episode Three, Dawn Steele makes her first appearance as the determined replacement vet bringing another youngster into the mix with her young daughter.  It takes several episodes before a romantic relationship blossoms but it is worth the wait as she joins the family to deal with a variety of dramas revolving around the game park and the veterinary practice.

The interaction between Juliet Mills and the regular characters is great to watch in Series Four although it is hard not to notice the gap left by Hayley.  Thankfully, Hayley makes a belated appearance in the last episode setting up her full-time return in Series Five.

Despite everything I’ve said about the human actors in Wild at Heart, the real stars of this show are the African scenery and wildlife with lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos and buffaloes stealing every scene they are in. 

The show was filmed at a game reserve outside Johannesburg, South Africa, and there are some stunning sequences in which the African bush and wildlife are shown at their very best.  In a way, each episode is a travel advertisement for South Africa.

This is a must-buy DVD for lovers of good drama, scenery and family entertainment.

DVD Special Features

Although at least one previous DVD release of Wild at Heart has included behind-the-scenes footage as a Special Feature, sadly this particular DVD release does not.

However, the quality of the 10 episodes themselves make up for this shortfall.

Conclusion: Episodes 95% Extras: N/A