Lincs Pride FEB 223.qxp 05/01/2021 16:12 Page 19
SHERIDAN SMITH’S POOCH PERFECT
SHERIDAN’S
GROOM WITH A VIEW This month you can expect some dramatic trans-fur-mations as Lincolnshire actress Sheridan Smith fronts a new TV series dedicated to showing off the most magnificent makeovers for scruffy pups. Carefully curated canines strut their stuff in style on the show’s catwalk... well, on the dogwalk, more accurately... Words: Rob Davis.
SHERIDAN SMITH IS EXCEPTIONAL. With a CV that covers TV, radio, theatre and film. The actress, from Epworth, near Scunthorpe, has also released two albums and can barely move in her house for tripping over her awards... Classic BRIT; Laurence Oliver; Bafta; Emmy; TV Choice; National Television Awards. There’s one respect, though, in which Sheridan, who celebrates her 40th this summer, is rather more normal. Like the rest of us, she’s a dog-lover. Over 25% of the UK population has a dog, according to the charity PDSA, with many more of us coveting a canine but being unable to commit because of our lifestyles. Undoubtedly we’re a nation of dog-lovers, from lippy terriers with too much bravado to sedate labradors who won’t leave your side, to spaniels with boundless energy. In all shapes and sizes, dogs are incredible company and they remain our best friends. Accordingly, the dog grooming market has boomed. Things are a bit more sophisticated these days, and have moved on significantly from when I hosed down my thick-as-mince Boxer dog, who used to find dead birds or cow pats to roll in during a country dog walk. These days a cursory glance at one groomer and you’ll see dog shampoos with eucalyptus and lemongrass; dog nose and paw balm; herbal ear cleaner and the obligatory dog cologne (Issey M’Yappie was my favourite pun during a brief search). It’s a far cry from the Fairy liquid and outside rinse-down treatment my foul-smelling Boxer received, and it’s this keenness that forms the basis of Sheridan’s new show, Pooch Perfect, which airs as Pride goes to press, an eight part series with each programme 60 minutes in duration. “We’re finely tuned to the needs of our four-legged furry friends,” says Sheridan, who has six dogs at home. “From winter coats to car seats, doggy daycare to dietary needs, we all prioritise our pets’ care, comfort and wellbeing. As a result, the dog-grooming industry is booming, so man’s (and woman’s) best friend has never been so well pampered.” The TV executives at Seven Studios UK thought it’d be a great idea for find the UK’s best dog groomer, and when Sheridan was approached to front the show, it proved too tempting a proposition to resist. “Pooch Perfect will feature ten pairs of professional dog stylists from around the country, taking part in a series of themed challenges to create epic transformations of beloved pets, as they compete to be crowned the UK’s Top Dog Stylist,” she says. >>
Main: Sheridan Smith is from Epworth, Scunthorpe and this month fronts her first TV series, Pooch Perfect, which aims to find Britain’s best dog stylist!
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