Ashleigh and Pudsey at the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 2012.
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.[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.
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 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.[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]
On 11 October 2012, Pudsey's "official" autobiography, Pudsey: My Autobidography (ISBN978-0751550870), 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]
