The Panther In My Kitchen

Brian Blessed has a lifelong love of animals and over the years has rescued cats and dogs, horses and ponies, and even a very ungrateful fighting cock. All were characters in their own right, such as Jessie, a dog left languishing for a year at the local RSPCA, who ruled the entire household with a rod of iron, when she wasn''t out harassing the local vicar. Then there was Bodger, an abused terrier cross breed, who was nursed back to health by Brian and his wife, and Peppone, a stray cat and notorious thief, who was responsible for a crime epidemic in the Bagshot area. Most of all there was Misty, a soul mate and the first Jack Russell Brian met who didn''t take an instant dislike to him. Over the years Brian has encountered more exotic animals too, from Kali the black panther who had free run of his kitchen and the gentle boa constrictor Bo Bo who went for walks with him in Richmond Park to the female gorillas who found him incredibly attractive. Written with all of Brian''s ebullience, The Panther in My Kitchen is a laugh-out-loud, life-affirming book about the joy animals bring and why we should care for them.

Auteur

Brian Blessed grew up in Goldthorpe, Yorkshire, and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His television appearances include Z-Cars, Boy Dominic, I, Claudius, Cold Comfort Farm,The Little World of Don Camillo, Blackadder, My Family and Other Animals,The History of Tom Jones and Peppa Pig. His films include The Trojan Women, Flash Gordon, Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, As You Like It, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Brian is also an explorer and mountaineer. He became the oldest man to reach the North Magnetic Pole on foot in 1999 and to reach 28,000 feet of Everest without oxygen. He lives in Surrey with his wife, Hildegard Neil. He is the author of several books, including his bestselling autobiography Absolute Pandemonium.

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'There was no way in the world I was going to start running away from a male chicken and so, as opposed to fleeing for my life while screaming "Hildegard, I'm being got at by a massive cock!", I used to stand there with a broomstick in my hands warding him off shouting, "I saved your life, you ungrateful feather duster." '

'One thing that isn't often said about female gorillas is that they are exceedingly sexual and if you ever sit next to some, like I have, and are the male of your particular species, you'll have a hell of a job keeping your trousers on.'

'On the few occasions when I had to leave Misty behind, she would sit by the door waiting for me to return. This would often have Hildegard in tears as she wouldn't budge for anything or anybody. On arriving home, Misty would leap up into my arms yelping with joy.'

'I sat in my chair feeling utterly captivated while Nyoka started telling me all about Daphne the lion, who was now roaming freely around my house. Something was niggling me though, and I couldn't for the life of me work out what. Just then, from the cellar there came a blood-curdling scream.'