Noel Fitzpatrick is an Irishveterinary surgeon, based in Eashing, Surrey who came to prominence through the television programmeThe Supervet. Originally from Ballyfin, in Laois, Ireland, he moved to Guildford, Surrey, in 1993, where he is director and managing clinician at Fitzpatrick Referrals. His veterinary practice includes two hospitals specialising in orthopaedics and neurosurgery in Eashing, Surrey, and another specialising in oncology and soft tissue surgery in Guildford. He is director of a number of biotechnology companies spun off from his practice.
In 2009, he became the first veterinary surgeon to successfully apply an amputation prosthesis to a cat named Oscar who had lost both hind feet in an accident. In 2014, Fitzpatrick was recognised by Guinness World Records for being the first veterinary surgeon to conduct that operation.
Television and radio
Fitzpatrick and his team at Fitzpatrick Referrals have been the subject of television series, including The Bionic Vet and The Supervet. Fitzpatrick has also appeared on The One Show, Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 show, Steve Wright in the Afternoon, and The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. In October 2018, Fitzpatrick was the subject of BBC Radio 4's The Life Scientific, discussing his life and work with the programme's presenter, Jim Al-Khalili.
''The Bionic Vet'' (2010)
The 2010 BBCdocumentary television seriesThe Bionic Vet followed the work of vet Fitzpatrick and his team at Fitzpatrick Referrals. The series saw Fitzpatrick develop new methods and techniques to help pets with unique problems.
''The Supervet'' (2014–present)
In 2014, Fitzpatrick and his practice became the subject of the Channel 4 television series The Supervet. It continues to run, and Series 12 was being broadcast in September 2018.
Performing arts
Fitzpatrick has starred in two episodes of ITV's Heartbeat as vet Andrew Lawrence, first broadcast in November 2002, and as sheep rustler Gabriel broadcast in January 2000. He appeared in an episode of the BBC medical drama Casualty, around the same time he appeared in the documentary TV seriesWildlife SOS, resulting in the BBC receiving complaints that the latter show included an actor who was pretending to be a vet. He has appeared in the ITV series London's Burning, and two episodes of ITV's The Bill. Fitzpatrick's first film appearance was in the horror filmThe Devil's Tattoo. He took the lead role in the film Live for the Moment in which he starred as Dr. David Fowler, and starred as Inspector Beckett in the film Framed.