News | UKLast PG Tips chimp dies aged 48Hannah Al-Othman22 April 2016The last of the PG Tips chimpanzees has died at the age of 48.Choppers, who was 48, played Ada in the TV adverts was put to sleep at Twycross Zoo.The famous chimps were seen on TV from the 1950s, when they were dressed up in clothes and dubbed with the voices of actors, including Peter Sellers and Bob Monkhouse.They also held messy tea parties on children's shows Tiswas and Blue Peter.The zoo stopped allowing the chimps to be used in advertising about 30 years ago, but the tea brand still used apes from abroad in its ads until 2003.Much-loved: Choppers the chimpanzee who has died at the age of 48Twycross Zoo/PA WireTwycross had raised money from the use of the chimps in the commercials, but has since admitted it was wrong. Choppers was deeply affected by her TV career and was left "mixed up" as a result.Read MoreZookeepers capture orangutan aping around and 'snapping selfies'Critically-endangered monkey born at ZSL London ZooLion's head and monkey skin among exotic animals parts seized by police in dawn raidIn 2014, the zoo told the BBC the use of apes on television had been wrong and Choppers was "mixed up" as a result. She needed years of treatment to teach her how to act like a chimp again.The zoo said the "much-loved" ape had signs of heart and liver failure and zoo staff decided to put her to sleep was made on Wednesday.MORE ABOUTApes
