Who is Buster the Boxer? Meet Biff, the John Lewis 2016 Christmas advert star
HE IS the adorable red and white boxer that features in this year's heartwarming John Lewis Christmas advert, but who exactly is Biff the dog?
The high end department store has made stars of a range of characters, including a penguin, a snowman and the man on the moon, and this year is no exception.
Five-year-old Biff steals the show and captures the nations hearts in this year's £7 million advert.
Biff was scouted for his breakthrough role when the advert's production team visited a training club in search of a 'very handsome dog'.
He plays the lovable role of Buster the dog, who rushes out on Christmas morning to jump on his family's new trampoline - before their young daughter has the chance to.
The advert shows Buster watching the young girl bounce on her bed on Christmas even, then a series of wild animals on the trampoline later that night - clearly jealous of their fun.
When it comes time to show the young girl her Christmas present, Buster just cannot contain his excitement.
When he is not on set, Biff lives in a family home in Bedfordshire with his owners Jan Patten and Mick Howe, and fellow boxers Darcey and Betty.
He has been trained in obedience and agility but has never starred in a film role before.
He was called to a casting in London and landed the role out of 11 other boxers.
The key skill the producer was looking for was an ability to look up and down on command - as if watching something jumping up and down.
Biff was more than happy to oblige, following a ball on the end of a pole when it moved.
But looking up and down is not his only skill, he also runs and stops on his mark, barks on cue, walks backwards, bows and balances things on his nose.
His owners said he is obsessed with his ball and loves running in the woods near his home.
Perhaps unusually for a dog, his favourite food is baked tuna cake.
And like any A-list star, he likes being pampered and is more than happy to volunteer for a bath.
Biff does have a rather unusual habit though, he often sleeps on his back with his legs in the air while snoring.
Julie Tottman, who was Biff's handler, told the : "Biff is an absolute superstar. He's a natural born actor and was extremely professional considering this was his first job.
"Biff would do anything for attention and a ball, and definitely enjoyed being the star of the show.
"Everyone that meets Biff agrees that he's a complete gent, and we're sure that his new found fame won't go to his head."
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