The Chronicle

Looking for the top dog... but who’ll lead the way?

-

DOG lovers rejoice, everyone else run away. This is a whopping two-and-ahalf-hour dog-athon, which does exactly what it says on the tin – counts down the nation’s top 100 canines.

Like a furry beauty pageant, the pooches are paraded before us one by one as the list moves along and we hear the attributes of every breed.

There are currently 217 recognised breeds (plus thousands more cross-breeds), and a survey of 10,000 people has decided to pitch the best against the rest.

Dog lovers Sara Cox and Ben Fogle guide us through the barrage of mutt-related facts and figures. These will be illustrate­d with some snazzy slow-mo images of the dogs, skipping about as if they are in a Thomas Cook holiday advert.

To add some showbiz, producers have also roped in some celebrity pet-owners, including Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby, Simon Gregson, Gok Wan, James Martin and Gabby Logan, who all introduce us to their beloved canine friends.

Even Prince Harry makes an appearance.

And where else would you see Geri Halliwell kicking a ball about in a park with her Airedale Terrier Hugo as Spice Girls hit Viva Forever plays in the background?

Elsewhere, Louis Smith shows off his rollerblad­ing skills with energetic Husky Luna, and Michael Ball talks about the death of his pet Freddy.

There are also dozens of proud dog owners, all making their case for their own favourite, sharing stories of some extraordin­ary, talented and heroic hounds.

Other than perhaps Bake Off, never has there been a more British programme than this.

 ??  ?? James Martin with his dogs Ralph and Cooper Presenters Ben Fogle with his dog Storm and Sara Cox with her dogs Dolly and Beano Louis Smith with his beloved pets
James Martin with his dogs Ralph and Cooper Presenters Ben Fogle with his dog Storm and Sara Cox with her dogs Dolly and Beano Louis Smith with his beloved pets

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom