Two beluga whales who captured UK viewers' hearts in a series fronted by wildlife-loving comic John Bishop remain confined to a tiny pool six years after their rescue.
The duo dubbed Little Grey and Little White were transported 6,000 miles from a Chinese zoo to Iceland with the help of a British charity in a much-publicised mission celebrated in 2019 ITV programme John Bishop's Great Whale Rescue.
Supporters were promised they would enjoy the freedom of an unprecedented 'sea sanctuary at Klettsvik Bay, off the south coast of Iceland, amid picturesque scenery while no longer made to perform for audiences as they were in Shanghai.
Yet they have spent just 71 days of the past six years out in the open and are currently back in an indoor pool not much bigger than one for humans.
They are still on display, at the Beluga Whale Sanctuary - operated by the UK-based Sea Life Trust and backed by multinational leisure firm Merlin Entertainments.
