Man’s best friend

WE are a nation of animal lovers so perhaps it wasn’t surprising that a primetime series about Battersea Dogs and Cats home would attract viewers in their millions.

Nor was it a surprise that one of our best-loved entertainers and, more to the point, most publicised dog-lovers had signed himself up to present it.

So when Paul O’Grady picked up a National TV award for most popular factual entertainment earlier this year, at least four million regular viewers were in agreement.

O’Grady has spent 25 years honing his career and emerging as a sort of Jack-ofall- trades, but this must be the favourite of all his projects.

He is under no illusions as to the reasons for the show’s success. “All the family can watch and kids just love it,” he says.

“The familiar cry from people in the street is, ‘you made me cry last night,’ but basically it’s a feelgood show. It also shows you the work that goes on here – it lets the public know what goes on behind the doors of Battersea.”

It’s definitely a world away from the glitz and glamour of chatting to the celebrities on his other shows.

“I blend the two, although I’m sort of known now for animals. I used to drop hints on my teatime chat show when I’d have an owl on my head, a chicken on the desk and a dog under my arm.

“I was basically saying, ‘please hire me for an animal show because it’s something I’d really like to do’.”

It would seem dog whisperer O’Grady is the perfect addition to the team at Battersea.

“There was a dog here who had not eaten for three days and I managed to persuade her to eat,” he says.

“Another dog wouldn’t go upstairs so I had a word and up she went, and a lovely golden retriever called Skye was so upset she couldn’t sleep. I laid down on the floor next to her and ten minutes later she was unconscious. You just have to spend a bit of time with them. I just wish I was as good with humans.”

This week, he meets inseparable mother and daughter Staffies, whose owner has become too ill to look after them.

However, vet Phil is adamant they be re-homed together because of their strong bond.

We also meet three mastiff pups who have been raised by a homeless man in a garage, and a terrified Jack Russell who is distraught after being separated from her owner.

MENTION Operation Chastise, and probably only a handful of people will know what you are talking about. But say Dam Busters, and the reaction is somewhat different.

Thanks to Michael Anderson’s stirring 1955 movie starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave, many are familiar with Barnes Wallis’ bouncing bomb and its use by the 617 Squadron during the Second World War to destroy strategically important dams on the River Ruhr.

It is 70 years to the day since 19 Lancaster Bombers left RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire for their targets in Germany.

The live broadcast The Dambusters: 70 Years On comes from RAF Scampton, where a sunset ceremony will take place.

The RAF College Cranwell Band and Queen’s Colour Squadron are involved, but the most dramatic and moving moments will undoubtedly involve a flypast and landing by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster and Spitfires, and Tornadoes piloted by today’s 617 Squadron.

THE Murder Workers focuses on the people who help those after a loved one has been murdered.

The people dealing with their loss more than likely will not be able to face making practical decisions or organising certain aspects of their lives – and that is where the so-called Murder Workers come in.

This dedicated group work for Victim Support’s national homicide team, and provide invaluable support for families who have been bereaved by murder or manslaughter.

They are there to offer advice about police procedures and to help them start putting their lives back together.