Ashleigh and Pudsey explained

Ashleigh and Pudsey was a British dog trick act, comprising trainer Ashleigh Jade Butler (born 7 February 1995) and Pudsey (28 December 2005 – 20 July 2017), a male Border Collie, Bichon Frise, and Chinese Crested powderpuff cross. They achieved prominence as contestants in the sixth series of the television talent show Britain's Got Talent, which they won on 12 May 2012, becoming the first dog trick act to win the competition.[1] [2]

On 21 July 2017, Butler announced that Pudsey had died. Following his death, Butler said that her other trained dog, Sully, would take over future events but would "never become Pudsey”.[3]

Career

Britain's Got Talent

Ashleigh and Pudsey were part of the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent. Their audition was held in Cardiff and aired on 7 April 2012. They danced to "Meet the Flintstones" by The B-52's. Although in 2012, four judges were introduced on the panel, on the day of recording Amanda Holden was not able to attend, therefore they performed to the remaining three. With a standing ovation from the audience and all three judges, they were put through to the next round. Simon Cowell said "Pudsey is one of the best dancing dogs I've ever seen".

They participated in the first semi-final on 6 May 2012, performing to "Peppy and George" from The Artist. They were later voted through to the final by the public.

The final was held on 12 May 2012, where they performed to "Theme from Mission: Impossible". The routine involved Pudsey walking across the judging panel and then climbing onto Ashleigh's back. Later that evening, Ashleigh and Pudsey won the 2012 series of Britain's Got Talent, beating classical duo Jonathan and Charlotte.

Post Britain's Got Talent

On 2 June 2012, Ashleigh and Pudsey performed at Epsom Downs Racecourse in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.[4]

In September 2012, Ashleigh and Pudsey were guest judges on ITV2's Top Dog Model.

As part of the prize for winning Britain's Got Talent, Ashleigh and Pudsey performed at the 84th Royal Variety Performance on 19 November 2012 in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, which aired on ITV on 3 December.[5]

In December 2012, Pudsey played the role of Duchess in David Walliams' TV adaptation of his children's book Mr Stink.

On Boxing Day 2012, Ashleigh and Pudsey were judges on ITV talent show That Dog Can Dance! hosted by Christine Bleakley.

In early 2013, Ashleigh and Pudsey were co-presenters on the CBBC programme Who Let the Dogs Out and About? which toured the UK throughout the summer of 2012. Since Autumn of 2013, Ashleigh and Pudsey have become presenters of the main show, Who Let the Dogs Out?. In April 2015, Ashleigh and Pudsey were guest presenters at the 10th Young Scot Awards.[6]

In July 2016, Ashleigh participated in Episode 2/4 of Celebrity First Dates on Channel 4 and decided against a second date.[7]

In March 2020, Ashleigh and Sully appeared on Crackerjack!.[8]

Pudsey the Dog: The Movie

See main article: Pudsey the Dog: The Movie. In January 2013, it was announced that Simon Cowell would produce . The film, which was released in the UK on 18 July 2014, follows Pudsey and three siblings Molly, George and Tommy as they move to the village of Chuffington-on-Sea with their mother Gail (Jessica Hynes) and set out to save the village from their landlord Mr Thorne (John Sessions) and his cat Faustus. Pudsey is voiced by comedian David Walliams.[9] [10]

Theatre

From December 2012 to January 2013, Ashleigh and Pudsey performed at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking in Dick Whittington opposite Stephen Mulhern. The deal is believed to have been worth around £150,000.[11]

From December 2013 to January 2014, Ashleigh and Pudsey performed in Dick Whittington opposite Jodie Prenger at the Opera House, Manchester.

From December 2014 to January 2015, Ashleigh and Pudsey starred in Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome.

They played the roles of Dorothy and Toto in the Easter pantomime of The Wizard of Oz at the Playhouse, Whitley Bay on 9 and 10 April 2015.[12]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRole Reference(s)
2012Britain's Got TalentContestants
Top Dog ModelGuest judges[13]
Mr StinkDuchess (Pudsey only)[14]
That Dog Can Dance!Judges[15]
2013Who Let the Dogs Out and About?Presenters and performers
2013–2014Who Let the Dogs Out?Presenters
2014–2015The Dog Ate My HomeworkPanelist (Ashleigh only)6 episodes
2019Contestants(Ashleigh and Sully)
Contestants(Ashleigh and Sully)
Guest appearances

Film

Theatre

YearTitleRoleLocation
2012–13Dick WhittingtonAlice Fitzwarren and her dogNew Victoria Theatre, Woking
2013–14Opera House, Manchester
2014–15Bristol Hippodrome
2015Wizard of OzDorothy and TotoPlayhouse, Whitley Bay
2015–16CinderellaDarlington Civic Theatre
2016Jack and the BeanstalkPrincess ApricotRoyal & Derngate Northampton
2017Wycombe Swan Theatre
2018Alice in WonderlandAliceRhyl Pavilion Theatre
2020–21Once Upon a PantoPrincess Aurora and Sully

Writing

On 11 October 2012, Pudsey's "official" autobiography, Pudsey: My Autobidography, was published by the Sphere imprint of Little, Brown and Company.[26] The book formed part of a £100,000 publishing deal with Ashleigh Butler.[27] [28]

Charity work and campaigns

In 2012, Ashleigh and Pudsey fronted a PETA campaign calling for a ban on cruelty to animals in circuses.[29] [30] In December 2012, Ashleigh and Pudsey launched a Christmas appeal alongside Vets4Pets to highlight the risks that pets face over the Christmas period.[31]

Pudsey's death and aftermath

On 20 July 2017, Pudsey was euthanised as he had terminal leukaemia.[32] Ashleigh announced Pudsey's death via her Instagram.[33] The next day, Butlers's management announced that her trained dog, Sully, a Border Collie, Chinese Crested Powderpuff, and Poodle cross, would replace Pudsey in booked pantomime appearances and other future arrangements.[34]

In 2018 and 2019, Sully (full name Ag Ch. The Closet Monster of Ashpen), along with Butler, won the small breed agility competition at Crufts.[35]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Ashleigh and Pudsey become first dog trick act to win Britain's Got Talent. 13 May 2012. The Telegraph. 13 May 2012.
  2. News: Ashleigh and Pudsey win Britain's Got Talent. 13 May 2012. BBC News. 13 May 2012.
  3. Web site: Powell, Emma . Pudsey the dog death: Ashleigh breaks down on This Morning . Standard.co.uk . 24 July 2017 . 25 September 2017.
  4. News: Katherine Jenkins, Ashleigh and Pudsey all look gorgeous at Epsom racecourse. 25 June 2012. The Mirror. 2 June 2012.
  5. News: Pudsey waltzes away with the BGT crown. 13 May 2012. The Independent. 13 May 2012.
  6. Web site: Young Scots 2015: Emotional ovation for family as inspirational teen Jak Trueman is honoured with top award . Daily Record . 3 May 2015 . 18 October 2017.
  7. Web site: TV Guide - TVguide.co.uk . 2023-11-16 . www.tvguide.co.uk.
  8. Web site: CBBC - Crackerjack!, Series 1, Nine. BBC.
  9. Web site: 'Britain's Got Talent' Simon Cowell to produce Ashleigh and Pudsey film – Britain's Got Talent News – Reality TV . Digital Spy . 20 December 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  10. Web site: Kristen Stewart wanted for Simon Cowell's Ashleigh and Pudsey movie – TV News . Digital Spy . 20 December 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  11. Web site: New Victoria Theatre . Dick Whittington Woking Tickets – New Victoria Theatre Panto 2012 . Atgtickets.com . 25 January 2013.
  12. Web site: Britain's Got Talent's Ashleigh and Pudsey to star in Whitley Bay Easter pantomime. Gordon. Barr. 3 September 2014. 28 October 2016.
  13. Web site: Ashleigh & Pudsey to star in 'Top Dog Model' on ITV2 – TV News . Digital Spy . 9 July 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  14. Web site: 'Britain's Got Talent' Pudsey makes TV acting debut in 'Mr Stink' – TV News . Digital Spy . 8 October 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  15. Web site: Simon Cowell 'launching dog talent show Take The Lead' – TV News . Digital Spy . 11 October 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  16. Web site: Ashleigh and Pudsey | Showbiz| Daybreak ITV1 . Itv.com . 25 January 2013.
  17. Web site: Ashleigh and Pudsey | Showbiz | Lorraine . ITV . 27 May 2011 . 13 April 2013 . dead . https://archive.today/20130629134302/http://www.itv.com/lorraine/showbiz/ashleigh-and-pudsey/ . 29 June 2013 .
  18. Web site: 'America's Got Talent' 2012 recap: Props ablaze and 'A big ol' Nicki Minaj'. 18 July 2012. 28 October 2016.
  19. Web site: Pudsey and Pudsey – Children in Need 2012 – BBC One . YouTube . 16 November 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  20. Web site: The Royal Variety Performance 2012. 3 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121201091533/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/theroyalvarietyperformance2012/default.html . 1 December 2012 .
  21. Web site: Super Famous Animals . ITV Studios. 25 January 2013.
  22. http://www.itv.com/presscentre/superfamousanimals/week01/default.html
  23. Web site: 'Britain's Got Talent' Pudsey to dance 'Gangnam Style' at NTAs . Digital Spy . 17 January 2013 . 25 January 2013.
  24. Web site: Celebrity Juice Episode 2 . itv.com . 7 March 2013 . 13 April 2013.
  25. Web site: Celebrity Squares Episode 2. itv.com. 28 October 2016.
  26. News: L,B acquires Pudsey 'autobidography'. 15 October 2012. The Bookseller. 5 July 2012.
  27. Web site: BGT's Ashley and Pudsey celebrate book launch | News | Britains Got Talent | Reality TV | What's on TV . Whatsontv.co.uk . 25 January 2013.
  28. Web site: Pudsey gets his paws on a book deal! – Britain's Got Talent – Article . Talent.itv.com . 6 July 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  29. News: Ashleigh and Pudsey front new PETA campaign. 25 June 2012. STV. 22 June 2012.
  30. News: Ashleigh and Pudsey front new PETA campaign. 25 June 2012. London Evening Standard. 22 June 2012.
  31. Web site: Ashleigh and Pudsey back Christmas pet campaign | Anglia – ITV News . Itv.com . 18 December 2012 . 25 January 2013.
  32. Web site: Pudsey's death 'was hardest decision of my life'. Sky News. 29 December 2018.
  33. News: Britain's Got Talent champion dog Pudsey dies. 21 July 2017. BBC News. 22 July 2017.
  34. News: Ashleigh Butler will continue performing with dog Sully following Pudsey's death. Westbrook. Caroline. 22 July 2017. Metro. 22 July 2017.
  35. Web site: Britain's Got Talent star Ashleigh Butler wins at Crufts with new dog Sully. Smooth. 12 March 2019.

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