Noel Fitzpatrick’s Channel 4 series, The Supervet, has made him the nation’s favourite animal doctor.
Noel Fitzpatrick’s compassion towards the animals in his care and his willingness to push the boundaries of veterinary surgery have made him a TV star. Away from the small screen, the modern-day Dr Doolittle is founder and clinical director of specialist veterinary practice, Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey, which he opened in 2005. It’s one of the UK’s pre-eminent independent small-animal orthopaedic and neurosurgical facilities.
A veterinary surgeon with 35 years’ experience, he’s also a speaker advocating for advancements in veterinary care and animal welfare, and an author. His most recent publication is the moving picture book, ‘Over the Rainbow Bridge’, about a young child, Sam, who has to face the loss of his beloved dog. Noel wrote it in the wake of the death of his own ‘best friend’, Border Terrier Keira.
Boyhood Ambition
Growing up on a farm in County Laois, Ireland, Noel spent much of his time caring for cattle and sheep. Led Zeppelin fan Noel recently revealed: “I remember losing a lamb as a young child. I lay on the grass, looked up to heaven and wished I’d been better. When I got into Led Zeppelin, I imagined there was an actual stairway to heaven. I built a superhero in my head called Vet Man, who would save the world, and set about getting myself educated.” He was ten.
After qualifying as a veterinary surgeon, Noel, 58, trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, because he wanted to learn to communicate. His credits include horror film, ‘The Devil’s Tattoo’, drama ‘Live for the Moment’ and small screen series such as ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘The Bill’.
In early 2020 Noel was on the receiving end of medical attention himself after breaking his neck falling down a flight of stairs at night while half asleep. Fortunately, he was able to avoid surgery but ended up with a neck brace.
Spreading The Word
Noel has now taken his show, ‘Supervet ER’, to YouTube and, in September, he will be kicking off a UK tour, Medicine & Music, with his rock band Fitzpatrick. (Visit www.awaywithmedia.com/tours/noel-fitzpatrick for more information.)
Noel’s pioneering surgeries have made him one of the world’s foremost animal doctors. In 2009, he was recognised by Guinness World Records for becoming the first veterinary surgeon to successfully apply an amputation prosthesis to a cat that had lost both hind feet.
“If I have one function on planet earth, it’s to act as a conduit for more kindness to animals,” he says. “Don’t be arrogant. Don’t be an a-hole. Be somebody who gives a damn about this world we live in. Animals have as much right to it as we do.”
