Idlicote camel shines in Disney+ blockbuster, Rival’s

A UK couple who specializes in camels has been getting a lot of attention lately after one of their camels starred in the Disney+ series Rivals. Joseph and Rebecca Fossett are the only licensed camel breeders in the UK, and they raise these humped animals on their farm in Idlicote, Warwickshire, right on the edge of the Cotswolds.

For years, Joseph, Rebecca, and their adult children Daisy and Leo have been working with camels, renting them out for events like parties and weddings. They even have a dairy on their farm where they produce camel milk. Their camels have become quite the celebrities, appearing in over 20 TV shows, movies, and even video games.

One of their camels had a starring role in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s book Rivals, where Irish actress Victoria Smurfit rode the camel in an extravagant party scene. The Fossett’s revealed that the iconic scene almost turned into a disaster when they realized the room was packed with people, but their experienced camel handled it with grace.

Their camels have also appeared in other films like Aladdin and Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile. They’ve even had encounters with celebrities like Jeremy Clarkson, David Cameron, and Michael Gove. And in a surprising turn of events, Jeremy Clarkson even rode one of their camels in a camel race.

Running their business, Joseph’s Amazing Camels, from their farm, the Fossett’s currently own a herd of 14 camels. While taking care of camels is similar to looking after horses, it can be costly due to the lack of insurance coverage. Despite the challenges, the Fossett’s are proud to be the only camel breeders in the UK and are dedicated to caring for these remarkable animals.