Jemima Harrison interview

Do you remember her documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed on BBC1 (you can find it online here if you want to see it again: https://vimeo.com/33444270) . It's hard to believe that it was 2008, it still seems quite recent somehow. Certainly some dog breeders are still really prickly if you mention it. Before PDE there were only a few people banging on about health and dogs, I was of course! (Both at the time I worked at the Kennel Club and ever after.)

But a big prime-time documentary on the subject certainly made the public sit up and take notice. Jemima doesn't mess about. Her documentaries take years to make and she really, really drills down. She had already produced some very big hitting science related documentaries, and she'd cut her teeth (canines?) on Panorama. And, as you will find out, her love of dogs is unquestionable. This was a passion project.

A tsunami of hate hit the Kennel Club, Crufts and dog breeders generally. Crufts was dropped by the BBC. Crisis PR was brought it to deal with it. Somehow they hadn't seen it coming, they'd ignored their critics for so long they were blindsided.

Lots of things changed, but ad hominem attacks on Jem were astonishing. If shooting the messenger were a sport, dog people would win all the medals.

Jem's latest documentary was the hugely critically acclaimed Parkinson's Drug Trial: A miracle cure. It was the result of very many years of work culminating in unique access to a pioneering drug trial. She had to win the trust of the scientists and the patients. It was exceptional TV and the BBC were very proud of it. It has won huge accolades already. Jem is an exceptional person and just an exceptionally honest person too. I believe she will always do the right thing and to see her attacked for bravery has been hard. Really looking forward to catching up with her and hopefully dog lovers who may have preconceptions about her will watch and realise that we're all on the same side.