GROOM WITH A VIEW

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. >>

Sheridan Smith with partner Jamie Horn prior to the birth of her son Billy in May. The actress spoke openly about being pregnant in lockdown in the ITV documentary Becoming Mum. Also in shot are two of the couple’s six dogs.

>> “Each week, the teams will reveal their creations on The Dogwalk, where the judges will deliberate over the week’s canine contenders, and their owners are given the chance to see their newly transformed dogs for the first time.”

Alongside breathtaking reveals, celebrity guest judges and the cutest cast of canines, the doggy stars will be in seventh heaven in the show’s specially built ‘Pooch Palace’ designed to cater for their every need. Pooch Perfect is packed with heart and joy, warm and funny for the whole family, leaving viewers begging for more.

“As well as amazing ‘trans-fur-mations’, the show will also be packed full of useful information for dog lovers and owners, delivering top tips on responsible ownership, fun facts about dog breeds and a guide to at-home pooch pampering techniques.”

Sheridan began her career after attending South Axholme Comprehensive School and John Leggott College, also studying dance at the Joyce Mason School of Dancing in Scunthorpe. Eschewing formal study at a drama school she instead joined the National Youth Music Theatre.

The actress is most often seen on our TV, though. Typically Sheridan portrays an avowedly working class young girl, from Emma in the Royle Family; Janet in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps; and Rudi – Smithy’s younger sister – in Gavin & Stacey. That’s not to say, though, that Sheridan’s range is limited. Sheridan has also performed on stage in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Nöel Coward and has worked at the London Palladium narrating Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

In 2018 Sheridan was nominated as Female Artist of the Year and for an Album of the Year award by radio’s Classic FM for her eponymous album. That year she also released an album of Northern Soul standards.

Sheridan is also known for her portrayal of Cilla Black in the 2014 mini-series of the Liverpudlian singer, and also portrayed cancer patient Lisa Lynch in 2015.

Away from work, Sheridan also has a son Billy, who is now eight months old, and partner Jamie Horn. Sheridan has spoken openly about her experiences with anxiety and the pressure of being in the industry and how her strength – and her family, including her animals – have helped her to overcome the intensity of being in the modern media.

“To combine my love of dogs with a brand new job presenting for the BBC was a match made in heaven! Everyone who knows me will understand that animals – and especially dogs – are very special to me.”

“I live at home with six dogs, so presenting a show dedicated to our four-legged best friends didn’t take much consideration! I’m used to being on set with lots of actors, this time I can’t wait to hang out all day with dozens of dogs. It’s my dream job!” n

NATURE in the FRAME

For Lincolnshire’s Kay Johns, home is where the heart is… or rather, where the art is. From her studio in the village of Threekingham, Kay and husband David delight in taking their work on the road, even if 2020 was a little bit different…

Words: Rob Davis.

“I’M REALLY OBSESSED,” Says Kay Johns. “Honestly, I’d go crazy if I didn’t paint every day.” We’re in her studio on the first floor of her Threekingham farmhouse, equidistant from Sleaford, Boston Bourne and Grantham.

It’s a misty old morning, but that lovely flat diffused light is ideal for painting… which is why husband David and I have to drag Kay, kicking and screaming, from her easel to have a chat!

Prior to my untimely interruption Kay was face-to-face with a mouse… not in the house, thankfully, but on the canvas. Kay’s work almost entirely consists of the kind of British wildlife we know and love; hares, foxes, pheasants, mice… though the odd jungle animal has wandered past Threekingham in recent years, affording Kay the chance to paint elephants and giraffes as they graze the Serengeti-like landscape of Sempringham fen. Her work is utterly magical, absolutely full of character and an unequivocal joy to look at. I’m no expert and I’m certainly no artist but I have spent a good deal of time puzzling over what makes Kay’s work so instantly likeable. All I can conclude is that quite beyond the technical quality of her work, Kay has an uncanny knack of understanding the subject anatomically and appreciating each animal’s character. “Any artist that tells you they don’t research an animal’s physiology online is probably a fibber,” says Kay. “But the best source material for an artist is observing an animal for yourself in its natural habitat. We go on lots of country walks, and I find myself just watching each creature’s mannerism.” “I don’t work from a photograph, I take a creature and imagine it in a setting, giving each one an expression that’s commensurate with its character. If something about an animal’s position or expression isn’t right, you’ll know it. You might not necessarily see what’s wrong, but you’ll know that something isn’t quite right.” “Even subjects like dogs are so different from breed to breed that it’s important to observe and understand their character. A Spaniel might look explosive; a Labrador might look faithful; a Dachshund might look highly strung.” >>