Ashleigh Butler and Pudsey are one of Britain's Got Talent's most iconic competitors.
The dog act shot to stardom on season six of the popular ITV programme in 2012. The adorable pair won over the judges with their routine to Meet the Flinstones by The B-52s.
Ashleigh was 16 years old at the time of her audition and received a standing ovation as she and Pudsey progressed through to the live shows. Simon Cowell said: "I love a dancing dog and Pudsey is one of the best dancing dogs I've ever seen."
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Asheigh and Pudsey sailed through to the final and fought off tough competition from classical singers Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli to be crowned winners. The triumph meant Ashleigh and Pudsey were awarded the £500,000 prize and had the chance to perform at the prestigious Royal Variety Show.
The Britain's Got Talent win was only the start of their successful career in showbiz as she signed a book deal and appeared on stage in pantomimes alongside stars such as Stephen Mulhern. However, she said in 2014 that people are more likely to recognise her Pudsey
She said: "If I’m on my own, people will look at me and kind of know they recognise me from somewhere, but they’re not sure. But if I’m with Pudsey, then yes, they recognise us."
Ashley said the partnership came under strain when she started dating acrobat Zac Smith in 2016. She told Mirror Celebs : “I always said I’d never date someone in this industry, but Zac’s sweet. He does back flips and has a great body.
"There was meeting the parents and then there’s meeting Pudsey. My parents like him, but Pudsey hasn’t warmed to him just yet, I think he’s a little bit jealous. I hope they’ll warm to each other.”
Ashleigh and Pudsey continued to perform in dog shows until 2017 when Ashleigh announced she was heartbroken after Pudsey had died aged 11. She told her social media followers: "I can't honestly believe I am writing these words. My handsome man has gone, and I don't know what to do without him.
"My heart is broken, and I don't know how I'm going to get through this. It hurts so much, that my handsome, incredible Pudsey Bear will never be by my side, where he belongs, again. We only had 11 years together, but they were the best years ever. He was my one in a billion dog that will never be replaced. I don't need to write all of his endless accomplishments on here to prove how incredible he was for me. Sleep tight my handsome man, I love you lots xxxx."
The devastated dog owner appeared on This Morning shortly after his death and said Pudsey's health quickly spiralled. She told Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford: "I was actually at a dogs' show with him last weekend, then on the Monday he just wasn't himself.
"He was sleeping a lot so we took him to the vet on Tuesday. From Tuesday to Thursday, he went downhill so quickly. The vet told us he had acute leukaemia, then on the Thursday, it got to the point where he couldn't lift his head.
"It was so sad anyway but because it was so quick... It still hasn't sunk in." Ashleigh broke down in tears during the interview as she shared clips from the first time she met Pudsey on her 11th birthday.
She added: "He gave me an opportunity I never thought I'd ever have." Ashleigh still performs at dog shows alongside her new four-legged companion, Sully.
Ashleigh entered Sully into a special champions edition of Britain's Got Talent in 2019 - and finished third place in her heat. She said: "It was [emotional], and like I say nerve wracking because people had seen what I’d done with Pudsey and how amazing he was, so then going back with a completely different dog was scary, but I think Sully did his best. He loved it."
Ashleigh still shares regular updates from her happy life on Instagram. Her bio reveals she works as a dog trainer and is also active in showbiz as a presenter.
Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV every Saturday at 8pm.
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