HE is only on his first film, but millionaire mutt Pudsey is rapidly turning
into the dog world’s very own Michael Jackson.
Since winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 the incredible dancing dog has
become both a bit of a diva AND a recluse.
With his entourage afraid to take him for walkies in the streets near his home
for fear of DOGNAPPERS, he heads out alone in his own private field.
Or he stays in and dreams of chasing sticks while pounding his personal doggie
treadmill.
Meanwhile, on the set of his debut film, Pudsey The Dog: The Movie, his team —
headed by devoted owner Ashleigh Butler — are on hand to cater to the cute
crossbreed’s every whim.
And at the moment that means lots of carrots in his dog bowl.
It seems wealth and celebrity are turning Pudsey’s life into the sort of
barking circus more familiar to a Hollywood icon or pop star.
His BGT winning dance partner Ashleigh is certainly far more
security-conscious than ever about her eight-year-old pet.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, 19-year-old Ashleigh, from
Wellingborough, Northants, says: “Because security is our main thing for
him, Pudsey can’t always go out for normal walks.
“We do have a private field he can go out in. And he can have a run there. He
does have a doggie treadmill as well.
“Quite a lot of people know where we are. We are worried about something like
Pudsey being dognapped, but we haven’t gone as far as bodyguards — yet.”
Pudsey is certainly worth a bob or two. Since winning BGT, he and Ashleigh
have bagged £1.5million.
They pocketed £500,000 in prize money, earned around £400,000 in panto (Dick
Whittington in Woking in 2012), have appeared on TV (including ITV’s Top Dog
Model and That Dog Can Dance) and signed a £100,000 book deal.
And now Pudsey is the star of his very own big-budget film.
Pudsey The Dog: The Movie, which is out on July 18, also stars Bafta-winning
Olivia Colman and John Sessions, with David Walliams providing Pudsey’s
voice.
The Sun was the only newspaper invited on set to watch Pudsey’s
acting skills and get a glimpse into his movie star life.
And it couldn’t be further from the mundane doggie world of barking at cats
and rolling in mud.
On set Pudsey really is top dog. He is referred to as “number one”, has his
own portable fabric kennel, and a special rider listing all his favourite
treats.
Ashleigh says: “He has his crate and his grooming bag and toys. He has this
one toy, a red tuggy, which he absolutely loves. He has various other
things, some dog food treats — he really likes carrots at the moment.
“We’ve tried to keep things as normal as possible, but he knows things have
changed.
“When he’s at home he is still our pet and sleeps most of the day.”
Asleep is how I find Pudsey when I arrive on set at the famous Elstree
Studios in Hertfordshire.
The Border Collie, Bichon Frise and Chinese Crested powderpuff cross is in
doggie dreamland in his luxurious portable kennel.
Pudsey is a sound sleeper. He does not even twitch a whisker when a carpenter
starts drilling in screws right above his head.
In Pudsey The Dog: The Movie he and his younger friends, Molly, George and
Tommy, go to live in the sleepy village of Chuffington, where our hero takes
on a wicked landlord and his evil cat, Faustus.
Simon Cowell, whose company Syco is behind the movie, once predicted Pudsey
would win an Oscar. I am here to see if that could be true.
Under hot lights, first assistant director Marcia Gay shouts: “Let’s bring on
number one”. Suddenly Pudsey is on set. Ashleigh just lifts her hand and he
is up on his hind legs.
But then he knocks over the leading man who falls into an actress.
Has the dog, ahem, messed up?
No, it was a perfect performance. It is all part of the script.
Director Nick Moore, who also made Horrid Henry: The Movie, says: “Pudsey is
easier to work with than the human actors. He’s astonishing — what he can do
takes my breath away.”
Ashleigh adds: “We weren’t sure how he was going to be making a film, but he’s
absolutely loved it. He’s been brilliant. He’s done everything we asked him
to. He doesn’t get nervous at all.
“Film and TV work is quite different from performing because he has to go off
with other people and I have to help him out with sign language.
“Pudsey has also done a couple of stunts, jumping out of a stationary car,
pushing people out of the way, rolling off bales of hay.”
Ashleigh’s main worry was Pudsey’s scenes with Faustus the cat.
She says: “He is all right with cats as long as he meets them and gets it out
of his system. It wouldn’t go down too well if he attacked the co-star!”
The hope is that if the movie is a box office hit, more acting offers will
roll in. At least attending premieres is something Pudsey would enjoy.
Ashleigh says: “He loves a good red carpet and all the photographers.
“He likes the limelight because he’s a bit of a show-off.”
But how long before Pudsey stops doing his amazing tricks, puts his paws up
and retires from his glittering showbiz career?
Ashleigh says: “When he gets to 11 he will have to stop walking on his back
legs as much and jumping.
“I think he’s got at least three more years.”
Time enough to win that Oscar.
His earnings
BGT £500k
TV £500k
Pantos £400k
Book £100k
Total: £1.5m
The BGT winners
2007 – Paul Potts
OPERA singer had a No1 album and a film made about his life, One Chance.
2008 – George Sampson
DANCER has since starred in TV shows Waterloo Road and The Dumping Ground.
2009 – Diversity
THE dance troupe who beat favourite Susan Boyle are never short of bookings.
2010 – Spellbound
GYMNASTIC troupe performed at the London Olympics’ closing ceremony.
2011 – Jai McDowall
SCOTTISH singer had his record deal cancelled after just one album.
2012 – Pudsey
2013 – Attraction
SHADOW theatre group can currently be seen in a TV advert for Swinton
Insurance.