Paul on cloud canine again

TV’S Doctor Dolittle is back for an eighth series helping out down-andout pups at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

This popular show has been quite the career coup for veteran comedian Paul O’Grady, who freely admits he’s always preferred animals to humans.

For dog lovers, there’s not much to dislike here as Paul helps more abandoned and stray mutts and meets a few canine heroes.

Over the series, there’s a terrier that had been saved from drowning in the Thames, and a dog that was found riddled with gun pellets.

This first episode is designed to pull at the heartstrings, with seven abandoned Staffie pups in need of a babysitter. But they are a raucous bunch.

“Arghh! No fighting gang, listen, do you know, I’ve been in pub fights like this. I don’t think I’ve ever come across such naughty pups,” admonishes Paul.

He also meets a more senior resident at Battersea – a mongrel who has just been brought into Lost and Found after being seen wandering the streets of North London in a bad condition.

Over at the Brands Hatch site, little nine-year-old Jack Russell-cross Archie has been looking for a home for over a year after his previous owners’ circumstances changed and they were unable to keep him.

And Paul also meets children trying to overcome their fear of dogs, with the help of some of the more well-behaved pooches.

It’s more of the same, but a heartwarming show for anyone whose best friend is of the four-legged variety.