BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT IS ANIMAL CRACKERS. MARION McMULLEN UNLEASHES THE PET STARS
1 READY FOR SOME DOG YOGA?
ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent is back to liven up Saturday nights and is already putting pets in the spotlight. Mahny and her dog Robbie showed Simon Cowell and Co as well as presenters Ant and Dec how to do dog yoga. It all went well until one naughty doggie relieved himself over David Walliams’ shoes.
2 ARE YOU FEELING SLEEPY?
SIMON fell under the hypnotic spell of a five-year-old German Spitz called Princess. Owner Krystyna Lennon claimed her pet was the world’s first hypnodog, but it wasn’t enough for the act to make it through to the live shows in 2015.
3 WHO WAS A PAWS PLEASER?
ASHLEIGH Butler and pet dog Pudsey won the hearts of viewers and the Britain’s Got Talent judges in 2012. They were the first dog trick act to win the TV competition and went on to star in their own movie with David Walliams as the voice of Pudsey. Ashleigh was just 17 when she appeared on the show and she and Pudsey beat Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli to win the BGT competition.
4 WHO DID NOT GIVE A HOOT?
ANDREW Charlton turned up at the Birmingham auditions in 2014 with his owl Ricky. Hoops and obstacle courses were set up around the stage for the feathered star’s act, but he didn’t give a hoot. He refused to perform any tricks and left his owner in a flap. Simon Cowell was the first to press the red buzzer to send Ricky home.
5 DO YOU WANT TO AUDITION FOR STRICTLY COME DANCING?
AMERICAN Kimberly Unger took to the London Palladium stage with a dancing raccoon during the 2013 auditions. Three-year-old raccoon Melanie’s dance moves and bike-riding talents failed to win over the judges though.
6 WHO WAS NO OIL PAINTING?
STAGEFRIGHT got the better of Patty the donkey in 2013 when she turned up to do a spot of painting. She ended up leaving droppings backstage before facing the judges, but her artistic talents failed to go beyond a few brushstrokes on the canvas.
7 DID YOU PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS?
TINY canine star Trip Hazard proved a favourite last year. The dancing Maltese-Pomeranian cross and her owner Lucy Heath were one of the Wild Card acts put through to the live final and they performed to Be Our Guest from Beauty And The Beast. Simon said he thought the talented pooch was “the most adorable little thing”.
8 WHO HAD IT WOOF?
FRENCH ventriloquist Marc Metral ran into trouble in 2015 when he appeared with his dog Miss Wendy. The “talking” dog act sparked dozens of complaints from viewers worried about the fake mouth device used. However, the act won a standing ovation and got four yes votes from the judges.
9 WHO HAD IT WOOF?
ANIMAL-loving Simon has always had a soft spot for dog acts on the show and is a proud dog owner himself. Scooter-riding dog Millie also appeared at the 2015 auditions along with owner Imogen and showed the judges some skateboarding skills as well.
10 ARE YOU SEEING DOUBLE?
JULES O’DWYER and her dog Matisse were the 2015 winners, but the dog trainer’s triumph was overshadowed after it emerged she used a second pooch called Chase for a high-wire stunt in the winning routine. More than 1,000 viewers fans complained and ITV offered refunds to viewers as Ofcom found the show breached broadcasting rules.