Continuing this week the documentary series following the day-to-day lives of over 240 monkeys, chimps, orangutans and other animals that live in one of the largest primate rescue centres in the world.

Filmed over the course of a year at the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, the series follows the nail-biting rescue and rehabilitation stories of some of the most abused and neglected primates in the world. It also explores the unwavering hard work of Dr Alison Cronin MBE and her team in their ongoing mission to stop the illegal smuggling of these animals from the wild.

Displaced and abused animals from all over the world are brought together at the centre, where they are given the chance to spend the rest of their days being cared for in a safe, natural environment. From power struggles to bonds of friendship, family feuds to new arrivals, Monkey Life follows the daily dramas of some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet.

In this week’s first episode on Monday, work begins on the new gibbon rescue centre in Vietnam – and not a moment too soon, as the first primates are already arriving to begin their rehabilitation. Back on home soil, there is the patter of tiny feet in Paddy’s chimpanzee group, while members of the bachelor group fall out once again.

In Tuesday’s instalment, it is a day of tense introductions for the chimpanzees and the gibbons; and the team begins work on its biggest mission to date – the attempted rescue of almost 100 primates from Chile.

Wednesday’s programme sees the baby woolly monkey meet its own kind for the very first time. There is some growing up to be done as orangutan Aris graduates from the nursery and meets Gordon. And there is a surprise in the chimp nursery as the cheeky Seamus seems to have learned to control his wild side.

On Thursday, Seamus’s brief period of calm comes to an abrupt end. Elsewhere, chimp Susie takes her new baby outside for the first time; and there are problems with the travel arrangements for the Chile trip.

And rounding off the week’s programmes on Friday, it is a vet day at the park, as John Lewis checks up on the leg that chimp Jimmy nearly lost. Baby chimp Rodders, meanwhile, must have a tooth removed after sustaining an injury during a play session; and there is a serious problem with the park’s biggest-ever rescue mission.