The nation’s favourite dog event, Crufts, is to be televised on Channel 4 across three nights for the first time ever this year. Both the Saturday and Sunday of the show, plus an hour and a half of Friday’s coverage, will broadcast on the channel, with Thursday and the rest of Friday’s show airing on More4.
With Clare Balding at the helm, Channel 4 and More4 will broadcast the main action from Crufts 2014 at the following times:
Thursday, March 6: More4, 18.30-21.00
Friday, March 7: More4, 18.30-19.30; Channel 4, 19.30-21.00
Saturday, March 8 & Sunday, March 9: Channel 4, 19.00-21.00
Clare Balding will host daily highlights of the world's biggest dog event live from the NEC in Birmingham, whilst Liza Tarbuck will look after presenting duties for Thursday’s programme and will join Clare for Friday’s More4 show. The exciting climax of Crufts, Best in Show, will be judged at 20.30 on Sunday and will be shown live on Channel 4.
There will be extensive coverage on More4 and Channel 4 of the events in the main arena, including the agility and flyball competitions that are so popular with dog lovers, and the judging of the Group finalists.
Coverage will feature discussion on the serious topics of how to buy a puppy and initiatives to ensure healthy breeding. Vet, Nick Blayney, will return to give his views on dog health, along with other experts and dog owners. Reporter Sonali Shah will explore the stories around the show and Kate Beavan will be joining the team as health and welfare reporter.
The Scruffts competition will also return and coverage will include features on all the Scruffts finalists as they prepare for the event. Plus, there is the much loved Friends for Life competition, which will see viewers vote via phone for one of five hero dog finalists and owner which they feel should be crowned 2014 Friends for Life.
Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, says: “Millions of people will be able to watch the grand finale of the world’s greatest dog event on Channel 4’s Sunday night programme. Crufts is one of the most exciting events in any dog lover’s calendar and the past few years of More4’s coverage, and last year’s Channel 4 coverage of Best in Show, really captured the special relationship between humans and our dogs, and showcased this to millions of dog-loving viewers.
“The coverage on More4 and Channel 4 means that Crufts will continue to be essential viewing, whether people are looking for information on choosing, caring for and enjoying life with their dog or simply want to watch dogs of all shapes and sizes showing off a range of special talents.”
David Sayer, Commissioning and Development Editor for Channel 4, said: “This year Channel 4 will be showing more coverage of Crufts than ever before, reflecting both its popularity and the passions of its loyal dog-loving audience. Coverage on More4 and Channel 4 will explore a diverse range of issues – from dog welfare and breeding to training and buying as well as reporting on the wins from the show ring and agility arenas. Scruffts, the competition for crossbreed dogs, will also receive lots of coverage this year.”
Sunday night’s programme on Channel 4 will include highlights from throughout the day and the final Arena programme, which will include live coverage of the moving dog heroes competition, Friends for Life, an exciting heelwork to music display and the live Best in Show competition.
Crufts coverage for More4 and Channel 4 will be produced by Sunset + Vine. Visit www.crufts.org.uk for more information on this year's event.
