TV Pick Of The Week CRUFTS 2024

Thursday, Channel 4, 7.30pm

THERE’S no need to sit up and beg if you want to see action from the world’s most famous dog show – it’s back on our screens once again thanks to Channel 4 and More4 which, between them, will be broadcasting 16 hours of coverage.

Presenter Clare Balding once again helms the show, and is a perfect choice as both a fantastic sports anchor and a well-known dog lover.

She’s joined by Sophie Morgan to kick off the live coverage from the NEC in Birmingham with the flyball heats – a fast-paced event packed with speed and excitement.

Among the competitors are the brilliantly named Belgian team Road Runners Beep Beep, who are returning in their bid to win the title for a third year in a row. This is the team that set a new national record last year with 14.27 seconds, so there should be fireworks this time around.

Vanessa Mcalpine, Crufts Show Manager, said of their previous win: “Road Runners Beep Beep put on an incredible show in the ring for all the crowd and a massive congratulations to all of the dogs and owners in Road Runners Beep Beep for securing their win.

“Their teamwork and passion for flyball was evident throughout and we want to wish them the best of luck in following competitions and future Crufts to come!”

For the uninitiated, flyball is a relay event in which teams of four dogs must negotiate a line of hurdles, press a paddle to release a tennis ball, which must then be caught and returned to the owner before the next dog can begin.

Reporter Radzi Chinyanganya leads coverage of that contest, while commentators Jim Rosenthal and Graham Partridge are on hand to make sure we don’t miss any of the action.

Other disciplines in contention will include obedience, agility and heelwork to music, while the main event, so to speak, is the battle for the coveted Best in Show title.