The BGT dog stunt double scandal has left me hot under the collar

Jules O’Dwyer’s critics haven’t got a leg to stand on unlike Matisse.

It was a bit of a dog’s breakfast when the winner of Britain’s Got Talent appeared on my show the morning after her triumph.

Dog trainer Jules O’Dwyer won over the viewers with her remarkable act, scooping a quarter of a million pounds and the chance to perform for the Queen at the Royal Variety Show.

Jules, however, unwittingly caused a bit of a storm when she told me on air that her incredible dog Matisse actually had a stunt double to do an impressive tightrope trick in her act.

Jules has been very open about using more than one dog in her performances, and in the BGT semi-final it was made very clear that other animals were involved.

In fact, before she turned up to appear on the show with Matisse and little three-legged Skippy, she asked if she could also bring another dog, Chase, who was the one who actually performed the tightrope stunt.

It was a bit of a tight squeeze on the sofa, but we were very happy to agree to her request.

She just wanted all of her dogs to have their moment of glory. She told me Matisse is afraid of heights and that’s why Chase takes over for those sorts of stunts. I thought it was actually very clever of her.

During the act, Matisse appeared for the first part and then went off camera. Chase took over to perform the highlight of the performance with his tightrope walk.

Jules was open about how it was all put together, and wasn’t prepared for the outcry that followed. She said she just wanted to “create magic” and never set out to deceive anyone.

Jules is a lovely woman who clearly adores all of the nine dogs she owns, and she does an incredible amount to help animals who have been abandoned and need re-homed. I think the backlash was very unfair on her.

Perhaps the act should have been called “Jules, Matisse and friends” or maybe Chase should have come on at the end, but there was never any intention to deceive in any way.

It’s a shame this has tarnished what was, by any standards, a completely remarkable dog act that must have had previous BGT winner Pudsey covering his eyes and wondering how he can up his game.