Ashleigh and Pudsey was a musical canine freestyle 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.

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”.

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.

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.

In December 2012, Pudsey played the role of Duchess in David Walliams's TV film 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.

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

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

Pudsey the Dog: The Movie

In January 2013, it was announced that Simon Cowell would produce Pudsey: The Movie. 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.

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.

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.

Filmography

Television Year Title Role Reference(s)2012 Britain's Got Talent Contestants Top Dog Model Guest judges Mr Stink Duchess (Pudsey only) That Dog Can Dance! Judges 2013 Who Let the Dogs Out and About? Presenters and performers 2013–2014 Who Let the Dogs Out? Presenters 2014–2015 The Dog Ate My Homework Panelist (Ashleigh only) 6 episodes2019 America's Got Talent: The Champions Contestants (Ashleigh and Sully) Britain's Got Talent: The Champions Contestants (Ashleigh and Sully)

Guest appearances

Daybreak (12 April 2012, 14 May 2012, 13 August 2012, 18 December 2012, 30 July 2013, 18 February 2014) – Guests Lorraine (14 May 2012, 12 April 2013, 4 December 2014) – Guests This Morning (10 April 2012, 14 May 2012, 10 October 2012, 8 July 2014, 13 April 2015) – Guests Alan Carr: Chatty Man (18 May 2012) – Guests Good Morning America (4 June 2012) – Guests T4 on the Beach (1 July 2012) – Guests The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11 July 2012) – Performers America's Got Talent (18 July 2012) – Performers Red or Black? (1 September 2012) – Performers The Alan Titchmarsh Show (3 September 2012, 13 November 2013, 3 March 2014) – Guests Loose Women (24 October 2012) – Guests Children in Need (16 November 2012) – Performer (Pudsey Only) Royal Variety Performance (3 December 2012) – Performers (part of the BGT prize) Pet School (3–5 December 2012) – Guests Super Famous Animals (30 December 2012) – Contributors National Television Awards (23 January 2013) – Award presenters and performers Celebrity Juice (7 March 2013) – Guest panellists The British Animal Honours (18 April 2013) – Award presenters The British Soap Awards (19 May 2013) – Award presenters Britain's Got Talent (1 June 2013) – Guest performers Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up (16 August 2013) – Guests Britain's Got More Talent (26 May 2014) – Guests Good Morning Britain (7 July 2014) – Guests Weekend (12 July 2014) – Guests Celebrity Squares (17 September 2014) – Guest The Gadget Show (13 October 2014) – Guests Phillip's 24 Hour Marathon for Text Santa (1 December 2014) – Guests Pointless Celebrities (21 December 2014) – Contestants Reality Bites (12 February 2015) – Guest, Ashleigh only Crufts 2015 (8 March 2015) – Contestants in Dog agility Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (27 February 2016) – 'Who Shot Simon Cowell?' sketch The Saturday Show (5 March 2016) – Guests Celebrity First Dates (15 July 2016) – Participant, Ashleigh only Ultimate Brain (2016)

Film Year Title Role Release date 2014 Pudsey: The Movie Pudsey 18 July 2014

Theatre Year Title Role Location 2012–13Dick WhittingtonAlice Fitzwarren and her dog New Victoria Theatre, Woking 2013–14 Opera House, Manchester 2014–15 Bristol Hippodrome 2015 Wizard of Oz Dorothy and Toto Playhouse, Whitley Bay 2015–16 Cinderella Darlington Civic Theatre2016Jack and the BeanstalkPrincess ApricotRoyal & Derngate Northampton 2017Wycombe Swan Theatre2018Alice in WonderlandAliceRhyl Pavilion Theatre2020–21Once 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. The book formed part of a £100,000 publishing deal with Ashleigh Butler.

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

Pudsey's death and aftermath On 20 July 2017, Pudsey was euthanised as he had terminal leukaemia. Ashleigh announced Pudsey's death via her Instagram. 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.

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.

See also Kate and Gin Jules O'Dwyer & Matisse

References

External links