For the Love of Dogs Royal Special coming this Christmas starring this royal guest

Virgin Radio

18 Nov 2022, 12:00

Christmas has just got a lot cuter. Paul O'Grady is helping to celebrate 160 years of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home with a one-off special episode starring none other than The Queen Consort.

The festive episode will see the former Duchess of Cornwall Camilla - animal lover, patron and long-term advocate of the charity - hosting a garden party at Clarence House in honour of the prolific anniversary.

Based at Battersea’s Brands Hatch site, the hour-long TV special will see the much-loved TV presenter and his special royal friend come face-to-paw with some abandoned dogs who are unable to find forever homes and someone to look after them and their needs before Christmas.

Cue a blind Jack Russell, a giant Schnauzer with a life-threatening gastric problem and a determined puppy fighting to stay alive.

Opening its doors to animals in need in 1999, the charity helps dogs and cats suffering from stress or anxiety after trauma and is currently over-run with dogs unable to be re-homed because of old age, medical or behavioural issues.

Paul O’Grady says: “In the 11 years that I’ve been filming at Battersea, I’ve never known it so busy. What’s worrying is, there are a lot of dogs in here who would be classed as hard to home. Dogs with disabilities, blind dogs, you name it, we’ve got them in here at the moment.”

Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs – Royal Special will air over Christmas on ITV and ITVX.