Alison Hammond is returning to front For The Love of Dogs, bringing her trademark warmth and wit as she helps expert staff and volunteers care for the new four-legged arrivals at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home.
Speaking ahead of her second series on the ITV fan-favourite show, the presenter, 50, said, ‘I feel like there's always a piece of every single dog I meet who's going to stay with me forever. Tina the Shar Pei is absolutely gorgeous. She came in with some problems with her eyes, they were quite infected. But she’s had her operation, and she looks fantastic and is loving life. She is an absolute darling.’
This Morning’s Alison took the helm of the show last year following predecessor Paul O’Grady’s sad death in 2023, but the recruitment didn’t go down favourably with some long-time fans. She was trolled for supposedly not being an out-and-out dog lover, and many questioned her ability to host the show when she doesn’t have a pooch herself. Opening up about the backlash, Alison admitted, ‘I was actually surprised with how much [trolling] I got for doing the show.
‘I could understand in the sense that Paul was so loved, but people were saying, “How can she do Love Of Dogs when she doesn’t have a dog? How does she love dogs when she doesn’t have a dog?” It’s like saying, “How can you love children when you haven’t got kids?” It’s such a flawed argument for me, and all I would say is, “If you don’t want to watch it, don’t watch it.”’
ITV’s decision to snap up the bubbly star for the wholesome series was well-received by others, though, with one writing, ‘Brilliant choice, can't wait. Paul will be deeply missed, but Alison will bring so much of the charm and warmth that makes the show great.’ Another called Alison’s appointment ‘perfect’ and said that her addition to the show would bring ‘peak dopamine’.
The upcoming six-part series will see Alison throw herself into walking, feeding and training the dogs, while viewers gain an understanding of the animals’ stories and rescue journeys. Alison said, ‘The dogs are everything. They're so kind. It's like therapy being here, to be honest with you. You get lots of hugs. It's emotional at times because some of the dogs come in really ill and they have to have operations. But ultimately, when you see a dog going from being really shy to getting its confidence, it is one of the most amazing feelings you could possibly feel ever.’
The Best Pooch Programming
The Dog House
Think a dating agency, but for rescue dogs and owners. That is essentially what The Dog House offers. It matches the pooches in its care with the perfect owner.
Dogs Behaving Badly
Dogfather Graeme Hall travels up and down the country to visit despairing dog owners who, for myriad reasons, need help getting a grip on their pets’ disobedient behaviour.
Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake
The TV star has plenty of credentials to his name, but Pete is most proud of his work at Dogs Trust Basildon, which was captured for cameras in this heartwarming series.
Bad Dog Academy
Rebranded to include the word ‘bad’ – and with the addition of host Nick Grimshaw - upcoming show Bad Dog Academy sets out to rehabilitate unruly canines and uncover their lovable sides.