Behind the scenes: Recording Born Free’s Radio 4 Appeal
Our Creative Content Officer Rose Summers, a talented photographer and filmmaker, reports on Jenny Seagrove’s spear-heading of our vital new audio appeal for lions.
Jenny Seagrove at the Radio 4 studios (c) Rose Summers/Born Free
Last week, I was fascinated to join our Head of Communications, Amanda Poole-Connor, at the BBC’s studio in London for the recording of Born Free’s very first Radio 4 Charity Appeal by our wonderful Trustee, Jenny Seagrove.
Rose Summers
A much-loved and distinguished actor, Jenny is a long-term friend to Born Free and renowned animal activist. We met her in the BBC reception, where her warm and welcoming manner set the tone for the session.
Upstairs, we were introduced to the BBC producer Katy Takatsuki and shown into the control room – lined with screens, lit-up buttons and audio controls, and separated from a recording booth by a large glass window. I was there to photograph the session, and the hour that followed offered a glimpse into the intriguing world of national radio broadcasting, as Born Free prepared to share the story of our work for lions with a BBC Radio 4 audience.
Jenny moved into the recording booth, while we smiled encouragingly through the glass. I listened as Jenny, Katy and Amanda made final adjustments to the script – so much consideration going into each word and line. Then the room fell silent and Jenny’s beautiful melodious voice resounded through the studio – such presence!
An accomplished actor of both stage and screen, Jenny brought vast experience and a genuine connection to our appeal, which will raise funds to protect lions in Kenya. Her delivery, calm confidence, and remarkable ability shone through as she spoke – so natural and effortless. She gave our important appeal clarity and weight, conveying her love for animals and long-standing commitment to Born Free’s mission to help wild animals in need.
Lions in Meru National Park
The appeal centres on our work to protect the lions of Meru National Park, a landscape at the heart of our story – where Elsa the lioness was returned to the wild. Having had the incredible opportunity to visit our team in Meru just a month earlier on a filming trip, I could clearly picture the wildness of the landscape Jenny was urging listeners to help protect – despite being surrounded by screens, lights and controls.
Vivid in my mind was the image of a snare I’d seen, just the night before, at Born Free’s annual fundraising gala. A cruel loop of wire, set illegally to trap wildlife, it was simple in appearance but brutal and merciless to any animal caught in its grip. It made the urgency of the appeal feel especially real. Born Free’s vital work to remove deadly snares and protect lion prides must continue. We need to engage with people not least schools to raise awareness, support communities, and reduce conflict with wildlife.
Through Jenny’s delivery, telling the true story of Sahara the lioness – who was rescued as a cub after being pierced by an arrow in Meru, and has gone on to have cubs of her own, the recording brought home once again why Born Free’s work is so utterly essential to protecting future generations of wildlife in Meru.
Born Free’s Radio 4 Appeal will be broadcast on Sunday 12th April, at 7.54am and 9.25pm, and again on Thursday 16th April at 3.27pm. You can tune in live on Radio 4, or listen back on BBC Sounds.