BBC presenter remembered for ‘curiosity and creativity’

The TV star, who hosted the popular show Zoo Time, rose to fame in 1967 when his book The Naked Ape became an international bestseller.

He died on Sunday at the age of 98.

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His son Jason said: “His was a lifetime of exploration, curiosity and creativity.

uman behaviourist Desmond Morris gets a cuddle from Jamie, an Amazon parrot, at London Zoo, 1988 (Image: PA/PA Wire)

“A zoologist, manwatcher, author and artist, he was still writing and painting right up until his death.

“He was a great man and an even better father and grandfather.”

Mr Morris was formerly club director at Oxford United and he came up with the current ox-head symbol, based on a Minoan-style bull’s head, for the club’s badge.

The Wiltshire-born author joined the British Army in 1946 and fulfilled two years of national service, before later pursuing his interest in the arts and studying natural history.

Mr Morris began his academic career studying zoology at the University of Birmingham, and later completed a doctorate in animal behaviour at Oxford University, where he remained to study the reproductive behaviour of birds.

He became the face of ITV Granada’s hit nature series Zoo Time in 1956, which ran from 1956 until 1967 and featured animal experts and zoo staff and explored the behaviour of animals.

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Mr Morris also hosted many art exhibitions throughout his career, including one at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 1957 which combined his interest in both animals and painting, showcasing a series of works created by chimpanzees.

Desmond Morris at Regent’s Park, London, visiting Chia Chia the Panda, 1981 (Image: PA/PA Wire)

He also co-organised an exhibition titled The Lost Image in 1958 which compared images created by infants, human adults and apes and was on display at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Mr Morris became the Zoological Society’s curator of mammals at London Zoo in 1959, a post he held for eight years.

He started his career with the BBC in 1965, hosting its Life In The Animal World programme, and later went on to headline many documentaries for the corporation.

In 1967, Mr Morris penned his most popular book, The Naked Ape: A Zoologist’s Study Of The Human Animal, which led to his global recognition.

Following its success, he wrote many follow-up books including The Human Zoo (1969), Manwatching (1977) and The Naked Man (1977), and contributed to more than 90 titles in his decades-long career dedicated to the study of animals and zoology.

Desmond Morris at Regent’s Park, London, visiting Chia Chia the Panda, 1981 (Image: PA/PA Wire)

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During his tenure as a broadcaster, he hosted BBC documentaries including Manwatching (1977), TV And Natural History (1986) and The Human Animal (1994), and he had regular appearances on shows such as The Animals Roadshow and Friday Night And Saturday Morning.

In recent years, Mr Morris continued to dedicate his life to his academic endeavours and his work as a surrealist artist, having held many exhibitions showcasing his work.

The BBC also released a programme titled The Secret Surrealist in 2017 showcasing Mr Morris and his artwork as it examined his “double life” as a painter.