Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs | |
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Genre | Documentary |
Presented by | Paul O'Grady |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 5 |
No. of episodes | 49 (including specials) |
Production | |
Running time | 30 minutes (Series) 60 minutes (Specials) |
Production company(s) | Shiver Productions |
Distributor | ITV Studios |
Release | |
Original network | ITV, STV, UTV |
Picture format |
576i (PAL) 1080i (HDTV) |
Original release | 3 September 2012 | – present
Chronology | |
Related shows |
The British Animal Honours The Dog Rescuers |
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs is a multi-award winning British reality documentary television series set at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and presented by Paul O'Grady.
Throughout the series, Paul meets members of the Battersea staff to talk about the dogs in their care, including head vet Shaun Opperman and head of canine welfare training Ali Taylor. In each episode, Paul meets a few of the dogs who come to Battersea as strays or because their owners can't look after them anymore, and follows each dog's progress through the home.
O'Grady commented that he had wanted to do such a show for years and that he took to it with an "enthusiasm that surprised everyone except me". Although scheduled to initially film at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home for six days, he stayed as a volunteer for six months. At the end of the first series, O'Grady was invited to become an ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
The show is made by Shiver Productions and premiered on ITV on 3 September 2012.
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs has won a number of awards. The show has won two consecutive National Television Awards for 'Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme' in 2013 and 2014.
On 14 October 2014, it was revealed that For the Love of Dogs had been nominated for a third National Television Award, this time under the category 'Most Popular Factual Programme'. But it lost out to Gogglebox.
The show was also nominated for a BAFTA for 'Best Features Programme' in 2013.
The seven episodes in the first series were sponsored by pet product company Bob Martin Petcare, however the Christmas special in 2012 was sponsored by Animal Friends Pet Insurance. The second series in 2013 was sponsored by Pedigree. The 2013 Christmas special was sponsored by Scs Sofas and Carpets. The third, fourth and fifth series were sponsored by Pets at Home stores. The Christmas episodes since 2014 have also been sponsored by Pets at Home.