CHRISTMAS CUTIES 19 STRICTLY COME DANCING CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Christmas DAY, 4.40pm, BBC1

14 PAUL O’GRADY: FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS AT CHRISTMAS

boxing day, 6pm, ITV

Could there be a dog with a more seasonally appropriate name than Sprout? He’s one of the many adorable hounds featured in this year’s one-off special from Paul O’grady, For The Love Of Dogs At Christmas. If you’re after a festive show with the ‘aaah’ factor, look no further.

Paul, whose festive specials from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have become a Christmas fixture since the first in 2012, is busier than ever as he focuses on dogs with behavioural problems. There’s a crotchety Yorkshire terrier called Teddy who refuses to walk anywhere, and an American bulldog named Cindy who’s lost her joie de vivre after being bitten by another dog. There’s also tired mum Whisper the Staffie, who is struggling to wean her two puppies, and an Akita called Berry who can’t accept that her owners have left her. Thank goodness, then, for Sprout. ‘He was scruffy but he was the happiest dog in Battersea,’ says Paul. ‘He was a stray, so he couldn’t believe his luck to be in kennels. It was like The Ritz for him!’

But one of the most heartwarming stories in the show is that of Misty, a shy and retiring mongrel who won’t leave her kennel. ‘Misty was a lovely dog, but she was a recluse,’ says Paul. ‘She wouldn’t come out of her kennel because she missed her owner. None of our usual tricks to coax a dog out worked, so in desperation I had to talk to her in my best old lady voice in order to make her feel secure and encourage her out. I mean, the things you have to do...’

Strictly features more glitter and sparkle than the average Christmas tree every week, but it’s even glitzier than usual for this all-star seasonal show. Putting on their glad rags are former contestants Chizzy Akudolu, who’ll be dancing with Graziano Di Prima, Debbie Mcgee dancing with Kevin Clifton, Gemma Atkinson partnering her real-life boyfriend Gorka Márquez, Joe Sugg with his real-life girlfriend Dianne Buswell, Mark Wright who will be dancing with Janette Manrara and Richard Arnold paired with Luba Mushtuk.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are in tip-top festive form and Shirley

Ballas – who’ll be judging with Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse – has some useful advice for the celebrities taking part in the Christmas competition. ‘Trust in your professional!’ says Shirley. ‘Go in there open-minded and put your mobile phone in your bag. Give your professional your full-time focus and just trust in them. The more prepared you are, the less nervous you are – and you just might surprise yourself.’

Paul with a pal at Battersea, and (left) petting Whisper with a team member

Paul with Sprout

Janette Manrara with her celebrity partner Mark Wright, and Richard Arnold with his professional partner Luba Mushtuk