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Series 10: The Big Cat Investigator

Builder by day and big cat investigator by night, Gary Ridley has spent the last 17 years on a quest to solve one of Britain's enduring mysteries: are big cats roaming freely in the countryside?\n\nAt his side is Corrinne, his second-in-command at Surrey Panther Watch. Their weekends are spent loading their van with wildlife cameras and heading into the Surrey hills to scan the fields after dark. \n\nFor Gary, this has never been just a hobby. Growing up, he had heard the tales of the Surrey Puma, dreaming of what might be walking across the landscape. Over time, Gary’s curiosity hardened into a need to know the truth. Corrinne's path was different. Her battle with cancer left her determined to seize life, and in the search she found purpose. There is no conclusive proof of big cats such as panthers and lynx living wild in England, but together they're certain big cats are out there. They want to prove it.\n\nIn 2026, the group pools resources for its biggest effort yet, concentrating everything on a single hotspot in the Midlands.\n\nAs the big day nears, Gary meets the people behind the sightings. One has captured footage he analyses on the spot. Another is a retired police officer who helps him trace how these creatures might have ended up on English soil. To bring science to the search, Gary meets Professor Robin Allaby of Warwick University – the scientist who DNA-tests samples from big cat enthusiasts.\n\nOn a Staffordshire farm, the team deploys a full arsenal: thermal drones, night-vision cameras, and for the first time, Gary's unique cat-calling device. \n\nNow Our Lives heads into the undergrowth with these investigators. Will Gary finally find what he has been searching for – or face another 17 years of waiting?

Source: BBC 2