Peter Egan: Viva! Champion and Leading the Charge for Change
Juliette Gellatley, founder and director of Viva!, sits down with esteemed actor Peter Egan to discuss some of Viva!’s provocative campaigns, including the impactful dog roast stunt at Henley Regatta and its reception. Peter, who once faced questions about eating dogs before his transition to veganism, reflects on the stark hypocrisy he observed in animal lovers who still consume animal products. He recounts how watching the documentary Earthlings left him speechless and led to his immediate switch to veganism, as it exposed the brutal realities of animal slaughter. Peter also discusses his own film on the subject, his disheartening experiences with documenting animal cruelty, and his ongoing efforts to prevent the import of elephant feet and tusks into the UK through parliamentary lobbying. Live from 2024's Vegan Camp Out, Juliette sits down to chat about: The impact of Viva!’s dog roast stunt and public reaction Peter's journey from questioning to embracing veganism The influence of Earthlings on his decision to go vegan His film on animal slaughter and the emotional toll of documenting cruelty Efforts to combat the import of wildlife trophies and legislative advocacy Caging animals from hamsters and rabbits and the start of a disconnection from compassion rooted in childhood The evils of dressage