Local vets enjoying being on new TV series based in Caithness
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The TV series the Highland Vet is growing in popularity and proving to be enjoyable for those under the spotlight of the cameras.
Veterinary surgeons Tom Southall and David Mackay say they had found the 5Select documentary series to be a positive experience.
Vet Tom – who is known in the local practice, DS McGregor and Partners, as "the equine guy" – said: "It has come across very well, even though filmed in the depths of a Caithness winter. I think people up here have enjoyed seeing it."
Born in the Midlands, he has made his home in Caithness along with wife Scye, also a vet, and together they help run the family farm at Spittal.
David, who started at the Thurso-based practice in August 2018, said: "I was certainly very nervous about it beforehand – but the team were so professional and put us at ease."
In one of the first episodes practice director Guy Gordon was seen rushing home from a call to go dancing with his wife.
Tom joked: "I think a lot of people would like to see more of Guy's dancing. Guy himself was hoping to hear from Strictly!"
Tom was filmed on a call out to a young Clydesdale colt called Luther, who needed to be castrated, during one of the previously screened programmes. "That was a good day, it is always nice to work with Clydesdales and it went well," he said.
That day he was asked to try and get the phrase "it's great to work with the Rolls-Royce of the horse world" into the programme. Tom said he did manage to deliver the phrase at some point but it didn't make the final cut. "I obviously didn't get the line quite right," he quipped.
Perhaps he will get it right on his next call to a Clydesdale, which be coming up soon in one of the latest episodes.
The film crew have also found amusement in getting him to mention "back passages" when carrying out scanning for one of his clients. Last week's show featured some prenatal checks at a local stud where Tom was filmed carrying out an internal examination on a mare.
Tom explained that the family Shetland pony was on one of the first episodes. It was showing signs of laminitis at the time. "It is doing really well – a good success story," he said.
His son Magnus (4) is now riding the pony on the lead rein and has managed to enjoy a trip to the beach. Magnus is fairly nonplussed about seeing his father on TV, but quite excited about the fact he has featured in the show sliding down some bales on the farm.
Meanwhile, David has had some interesting experiences himself during the filming. Near the beginning of the series some rescued seals were brought in to the surgery for treatment.
"I had never dealt with seals before. To have to do it for the first time for the camera was quite daunting," he recalled.
David explained that although most people would consider seals quite cute creatures to look at, they might view them in a different light after seeing that episode. However, fellow vet Shondie Maclean was there to provide a helping hand.
"You have to have your wits about you – they give you plenty warning when they are not happy." he said.
In one episode he had the difficult task of fertility-testing a tup, saying: "That is definitely one to be on after the watershed."
In a couple of weeks' time David will be seen carrying out a tricky surgery on a cat which had previously had a bad reaction to anaesthetic. "I had to be very careful," he said.
Following the screening of the first programmes he felt he was being recognised more. "People who I do not know... it is quite strange," he said. "I am getting used to it."
On the subject of autograph requests since they attained TV fame, they both said while it might be mentioned no-one every asks for it unless it is on a vaccine card or something similar.
The Highland Vet is on Mondays at 9pm on 5Select.
