Crufts returns to Channel 4, More4 and All 4 with wall-to-wall coverage

22 February 2023

The world’s most famous dog show returns to television screens with more than 16 hours of coverage on Channel 4 and More4.

Clare Balding will return this year with presenters Sophie Morgan, who made her Crufts debut in 2022, and Radzi Chinyanganya. Also returning is veterinary professional Dr Paul Manktelow, and famed dog trainer Ashleigh Butler who will also be competing in the show. Pet nutritionist and assistance dog advocate Chloé Fuller, who taught her dog Ted more than 100 commands to help her around the house and dog behaviourist Chirag Patel will be featuring in the coverage as well, along with two special guests.

This year’s Crufts will run from the 9th to the 12th of March and viewers will be able to follow the event across Channel 4 platforms, including on demand on All 4. Some 20,000 dogs will be at the NEC Birmingham as Crufts marks its 133rd year. This year’s coverage is set to include classic favourites such as live Flyball, Agility, Heelwork to Music, The Kennel Club Hero Dog award and of course, the infamous Best in Show title for which 222 different breeds can compete.

Clare Balding said: “Crufts is always a massive highlight of my year. There’s really nothing like it, the sights and sounds of the place, the agility, heelwork to music, flyball and judging every day, the people and of course the dogs! For a dog lover, there’s nothing like it and as a viewer there’s nowhere better to find expert tips, advice, and guidance on how best to look after your own dog, and basically just indulge your passion for all things canine.”

The coverage line-up also includes a spotlight on some of Britain’s fast disappearing native breeds, dog ownership in a cost-of-living crisis, canine communication, and expert advice on responsible dog ownership and care. Viewers will also be able to get involved from home across all of Channel 4’s social channels and via Whatsapp QR code. Organised and hosted by The Kennel Club, the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare, and training, it is the largest show of its kind in the world and has been broadcast by Channel 4 and produced by Sunset+Vine since 2010.

Antonia Howard-Taylor, Commissioning Executive, Channel 4, said: “There is no other event in existence that celebrates the nation’s love of dogs in the way that Crufts has since 1891. Once again, we are so proud to be able to bring dog lovers across the UK an exciting line-up of coverage from this iconic show, and to welcome back Sophie and Radzi to our stellar presenting team led by Clare.”

This year’s Crufts will be supporting the Stand Up To Cancer Walkies Challenge, in partnership between Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK. Starting in April, the challenge encourages people to get out walking with their dogs to raise money for the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, which brings the UK together to speed up progress in life-saving cancer research.

Ends

For further information:

Hope Hamilton/Corporate Press Officer/  hhamilton@channel4.co.uk

Notes to editors

How to watch

THURSDAY 9 MARCH

15.00-16.00 – Channel 4 

18.30-20.00 – More4  

20.00-21.00 – Channel 4

 

 FRIDAY 10 MARCH

15.00-16.00 – Channel 4 

18.30-19.30 – More4  

19.30-21.00 – Channel 4

 

 SATURDAY 11 MARCH

15.00-18.00 – Channel 4  

19.00-21.00 – Channel 4

 

 SUNDAY 12 MARCH

15.30-18.00 – Channel 4  

19.00-21.00 – Channel 4 Crufts 2022: Best In Show Live

 

About Channel 4

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

Through a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with around 300 creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.

In 2020, Channel 4 launched its Future4 strategy to become a digital-first public service media company and to continue to deliver significant impact for UK audiences and investment into the UK creative economy.

Across its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is turbocharging its efforts to find, nurture and develop talent across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills, Channel 4 is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people, and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions.

Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service, All 4, plus 11 television channels including: Channel 4, E4, E4 Extra, More4, Film4, 4Seven and The Box Plus Network. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 37 Oscar wins and 84 BAFTA wins in its history.

https://www.channel4.com/

 

About The Kennel Club

The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training. Its objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners. It runs the country’s largest registration database for both pedigree and crossbreed dogs and the Petlog database, which is one of the UK’s biggest reunification service for microchipped animals.

The Kennel Club is accredited by UKAS to certify members of its Assured Breeder Scheme, which is the only scheme in the UK that monitors breeders in order to protect the welfare of puppies and breeding bitches. It also runs the UK’s largest dog training programme, the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme and licenses shows and clubs across a wide range of activities, which help dog owners to bond and enjoy life with their dogs. The Kennel Club runs the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, and the Discover Dogs event at ExCeL London, which is a fun family day out that educates people about how to buy responsibly and care for their dog.

The Kennel Club invests in welfare campaigns, dog training and education programmes and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which supports research into dog diseases and dog welfare charities, including Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations that re-home dogs throughout the UK. The Kennel Club jointly runs health screening schemes with the British Veterinary Association and supports project work at the Kennel Club Canine Genetics Centre.