UK company that provided animals for All Creatures collapses | UK | News
The animal talent agency behind hit TV shows such as Doc Martin and All Creatures Great and Small has collapsed into administration. First Choice Animals, run by Jill Clark, 66, and her son Dean, 43, from Lincolnshire, has been training two- and four-legged clients for shows including major TV series, films and long-running soaps since it was founded in 1987. The firm’s high-profile features include All Creatures Great and Small, ITV’s Doc Martin, the 2012 London Olympics and the 2003 Rowan Atkinson film Johnny. English.
It is described on its website as a “world-renowned animal talent agency” with offices in Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, France and South Africa, with a training philosophy of “positive reinforcement and reward-based techniques”. According to the London Gazette, a declaration of insolvency was filed on December 15, 2025, through a creditors’ voluntary liquidation process where administrators voluntarily choose to close a company.
Ms Clark spoke to the Express about her decision to adopt a Pekingese dog called Derek, whom she trained for Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small in 2020, and described her filming schedule and friendship with star Dame Diana Rigg.
“That’s a one-time thing, Derek,” he said. “He gets it right every time. He did all the takes. The actors say the only time they finished work early was when the animals were on set. We never stalled them.”
“A normal dog might take two years, but with Derek it was just six weeks,” he added. “He was born for television work. I don’t know how to explain his character but he’s just a guy! What a cracking little dog.”
First Choice Animals was similarly responsible for training a handful of dogs for the Channel 5 series, including a daschund, alsation, border collie and Yorkshire terrier.
His son also looked after larger animals for the series, including a massive bull named Jester, he told the Express.
In an interview published in Woman and Home magazine three days ago, Ms Clark said she decided to start the agency after training her own Border Collie dog for a Post Office advert and realizing she had a talent for it.
“I’ve trained everything from cats to dogs to parrots to budgies on Orientals,” he said. “I even trained pigeons for Paddington in Peru! The best part of being an animal trainer is helping animals develop into skilled performers. They really love to learn, which makes teaching them fun. It’s better than a nine-to-five job every day.”
Small business closures in the UK increased last year due to rising costs and reduced consumer spending, although the bankruptcy filing does not state the reasons behind the decision; Major retailers such as Poundland, WHSmith and New Look have also scaled back their portfolios in response to this trend.
The Express has reached out to Jill Clark for comment.
