Jules O'Dwyer says there was no deception in her choice to use border collie Chase in the Britain's Got Talent final instead of star performer Matisse.
Jules O'Dwyer says there was no deception in her choice to use border collie Chase in the Britain's Got Talent final instead of star performer Matisse.
Spoiler alert: Fans of UK talent show ropable after discovering dog trainer’s sketch featured a stand-in
Britain's Got Talent champion Jules O'Dwyer is "shocked and surprised" by the public's reaction to her revelation that she used a stunt double dog for her winning sketch.
The guide dog trainer, who beat Welsh choir Cor Glanaethwy and magician Jamie Raven with a sketch involving a tightrope and stolen sausages, told Britain's Lorraine show that another border collie - Chase - walked the parallel ropes because Matisse was not keen on heights.
TV chief Peter Fincham said that "in hindsight" it should have been made more evident to viewers that more than one dog was being used in the finals, which drew an audience of more than 13 million.
Producers also apologised for not making it more evident that Matisse didn't perform the entire routine.
Annoyed fans expressed their irritation on Twitter, saying another dog had performed the trick which won them the show.
"I was surprised, I was shocked because I'm thinking 'Why?'" O'Dwyer said. "I spent so much time creating this lovely story - I wanted to make it exciting for the people watching. I wanted that 'wow' nail-biting element [where they're at] the edge of their seat - I wanted people to laugh so I wanted the comedy and the humour and then I wanted that 'awww'.
"I was disappointed when people said I allegedly hid Chase and I was trying to make it like Chase was Matisse. That's not so. I introduced Chase in the semifinal, and I said Chase is Matisse's best mate. Chase does the trick very well, Matisse prefers it lower but he's never been at that height. I have a choice - I have a dog that can do it at that height, or I have a dog I'd have to push in three days to achieve this.
"Why put the pressure on the dog, when I already have another dog who can perform it on television?"
The sketch, which starred O'Dwyer as a policewoman going after "sausage thief" Chase, also featured another of her pets, three-legged Skippy.
O'Dwyer added: "I know my dogs, and I know what they are comfortable with. I'm not hiding anything. Skippy was a secret - I wanted to keep him a secret because that was the emotional factor and we hadn't introduced him before."
The dog trainer, originally from Blackpool but now living in Belgium, also revealed that Matisse was enjoying the spotlight since they triumphed in the show. Their win includes a spot at this year's Royal Variety Performance.
"We can't walk anywhere without the dog seeing somebody and sitting by him, [almost to say], 'Selfie?'," she said. "But the dogs' welfare comes first. I won't let them be mobbed by 100 kids on one street. We do protect them, it's got to be realistic."
O'Dwyer, who said she has had no sleep since her win, added: "The dogs had some special treats. Ant and Dec gave them some new toys - they might have broken a couple of them as they were over-enthusiastic. They got a lot of toys and gifts from the crew members."
More than 13 million viewers watched O'Dwyer and Matisse become the second dog act to win Britain's Got Talent, following Ashleigh Butler and Pudsey in 2012, in the highest rating final since that year.
Outraged viewers claimed to be "misled" over Matisse on the tightrope stunt.
Rachel Louise wrote: "How can BGT allow a stunt double for the dog and try to hide it, shouldn't be allowed to be the winner!"
Vicky Simpson said: "Matisse had a stunt double the viewers didn't know about when they voted last night. BGT tricked viewers and are wrong not to inform them."
A spokesman for the producers of Britain's Got Talent said: "The audience had previously seen from Jules' semifinal routine that she works with a second dog Chase alongside Matisse.
"For the final performance, as Jules has said publicly herself, Chase completed the tight-rope walking section of the act.
"During the competition viewers have seen that Jules' act involves a team of dogs, including Chase and Skippy, alongside starring dog Matisse, to perform her unique mixture of dog agility and story telling."
Britain's Got Talent screens on TV2, Thursdays at 7.30pm.
