Doggone it, I want to dance!

GRAEME HALL has become famous thanks to Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly which has just returned to Channel 5 for a fifth series, but he insists: ‘The dogs are the stars.’

Yorkshireman Hall, 56, who cuts a distinctive figure in brogues and a cravat, tells me: ‘When I started out in telly I had no idea if a show about dogs and their problems would work or not.

‘The secret of its success is that there’s a bit of “there but for the grace of God” for the dog owners who are watching. We all still remember that Fenton video from a few years ago. Watching it as a dog owner you think: “Oh, that’s funny!” People are a bit proud of their dogs when they are mischievous. But when the problem is worse, then people enjoy seeing what on earth is happening — and then seeing it being solved.’

This time around there are a number of unusual issues, including a dog who ‘goes bananas’ if he sees a dog poo bin. ‘He barks like mad, hoping to chase it away, but that never happens,’ Hall says.

‘I used to worry about running out of problems, that we would end up repeating the same issues over and over, but that hasn’t happened. Just when you think you have seen it all, along comes something else.’

Away from dogs, Hall has a passion for ballroom dancing. He took part in an amateur competition in 2012 as a total novice, and found he loved it.

‘I started practising and practising and got to the point of being rubbish in bigger competitions. At that level, you aren’t allowed to do lifts, which is probably why my dance partner is still alive.’

Hall gave up the hobby in 2019, due to lack of time, but credits it with curing a slight stoop (he is 6ft 2ins) and would love to do Strictly. ‘Yes, I’m waiting for a call,’ he joked.