Sheridan shines in dog mess
If we are to believe that everyone’s a critic, there was no misreading the feelings of a lively young fella named Stanley at the final of Pooch last night.
Perfect
Stepping out of the limo with his co-host Sheridan Smith, Stanley paused for a second and curled one out on the red carpet. Sheridan dutifully scooped the poop and popped it in a bag for safe disposal – and the BBC must now decide whether to do the same with this dog grooming contest.
On the plus side, it’s cheap to make (at least, it very much looks like it is) and it has attracted steady, if unspectacular, ratings in a tricky slot.
On the minus side, it has stoked animal rights activists who have loudly concluded that it promotes dog cruelty and that a nation of children will be digging out hairspray and paint pens to give Rover a makeover when Mum and Dad aren’t looking.
That may be slightly overestimating our children’s capacity for cruelty and mischief. It may also be overplaying the suggestive powers of television. My kids have managed to watch snippets of Ru
Paul’s Drag Race without attempting to force me into a taffeta ballgown and six-inch stilettos. (Still time, mind.)
The BBC may decide another series of Pooch Perfect is not worth the aggro. You can only issue so many mandatory disclaimers and health and safety clarifications before the joy of seeing a poodle done up like Cher begins to lose its sparkle. Poor Sheridan had to pull on the imaginary hi-vis bib and take out her imaginary clipboard far too often last night. I’m really not sure we needed to be told: “The dogs are given regular comfort breaks and play time away from the cameras” – I believe a similar rule already applies to the talent in the Match of the Day studio. My favourite pandering to the activists was her explanation during the hairspraying segment that “all the dogs have been gently introduced to aerosols”. (In my experience, being introduced to aerosols, gently or otherwise, is an occupational hazard in the TV industry.)
Sheridan handled it all with impressive grace and has confirmed she has enough warmth and ready wit to host any light entertainment show.
I’m not suggesting anyone is leaving Strictly Come Dancing any time soon. But, y’know, if they were…