Episode 1 Sport Relief's Top Dog

72 dogs...

24 celebrity team captains...

..and one big tournament to find...

Sport Relief's Top Dog.

CHEERING

On tonight's show - Team Ainsley.

Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott and his Labrador retriever, Bobby,

are joined by dog trainer Joe Nutkins, from Essex,

with Taylor, a Norwich Terrier, working as a Pets As Therapy dog.

And veterinary nurse Fiona Gomm,

from East Sussex, with her pet dog, Frazzle,

a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

They're taking on Team Jules.

TV presenter Jules Hudson

and his pet Labrador Iolo

are teaming up with Karen Hampson,

a retired council worker from Hampshire,

with Jazzy, a Blue Merle Border collie

working as a therapy dog.

And Jim Christian, a site foreman from Yorkshire,

with Rhea, his six-year-old pet Labrador retriever.

It's time for our two teams to go head to head -

it's Sport Relief's Top Dog.

Woof-woof!

# Woof, woof, woof

# Woof, woof, woof

# Woof, Woof, woof

# Woof, woof, woof

# Woof, woof, woof

# Woof, woof, woof

# Woof! #

APPLAUSE

'Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Gaby Roslin!'

Hello, and welcome to Sport Relief's Top Dog,

our pet project in which we celebrate

our four-legged faithful friends.

Over the course of the next three weeks, Britain's most talented dogs

will be going head to tail

in games that will see them leaping, running,

jumping, swimming,

and generally enjoying themselves,

all in aid of Sport Relief.

So, without further ado, let's meet tonight's first team.

APPLAUSE

-It's lovely to see you, Ainsley.

-Hello, Gaby.

-Tell us all about Bobby, then.

-Well, Bobby's 19 months old.

-Yeah.

I got him from a friend of mine,

and he sent out this text

with a beautiful picture of this little one.

And is he a bit like you? Because you're quite competitive.

-He can shake a little bit, Gab, yeah.

-The competitive thing.

He likes to be competitive,

whether he's disciplined in that competitive area or not,

-I don't know.

-Are you?

-I can be!

Ainsley Harriott and Bobby, everyone!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

-Hello, Joe.

-Hello.

Oh, look! I'm sorry,

you're like a cartoon dog... Hello!

Right, now, tell me all about him.

This is Taylor, he's a therapy dog,

and what that means is

he goes round to old people's homes,

he goes round to schools and things like that

and he actually helps with people that have perhaps been ill

or that have had a dog and can't have a dog any more,

it gives them something to look forward to.

So they get to stroke them, have a pat - do what you've just been doing, really.

Well, very best of luck. Thank you very much!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Right. Hello, Fiona. Now, introduce us to your beautiful dog.

This is Frazzle, and he's a very versatile dog,

he's done several dog sports. Agility and flyball as well.

And have you ever been in the fastest team?

He has won at the British Flyball Championships with our team.

I think that deserves a round of applause.

APPLAUSE

That was Ainsley, very happy that you're on his team. Wonderful.

-Ainsley's team, everyone! Good luck.

-Thank you!

APPLAUSE

Now, more competitors.

-Team Jules and, obviously, the captain, Jules.

-Lovely to see you.

Now, tell me all about your beautiful boy here.

Well, this is Iolo,

-he's a two-and-a-half-year-old black Labrador and we...

-Up here, come on.

We got him when we were living in Wales, where I spent most of my life,

so we called him Iolo - it means handsome prince in Welsh.

-So there he is.

-Oh, look at you. He is very handsome.

-Tell me what he's like.

-He is your classic sort of cartoon dog.

You know, chases cats, chews beef bones, chases pheasants,

but he is such a lovely little fella.

He's utterly ruined, but occasionally he does what he's told.

I hope he does tonight. Look at him, give him a round of applause.

-APPLAUSE

-Look at him.

-OK. Hello, Karen.

-Hello, Gaby.

-And who...

Come on, show everybody your beautiful eyes. Go on, turn round.

There you go. Look at these eyes on this dog.

Now, tell us all about your beautiful dog.

Jasmine, or Jazzy, is the same as a therapy dog.

-Same thing?

-We go to a local school in Portsmouth

and she sits and listens to children read to her.

And we also go to a local hospital and two local nursing homes.

-Do you see a big difference with your patients?

-Definitely.

Their eyes light up and they wait for it every week.

-Good luck to you as well. Good luck.

-Thanks, Gaby. Thank you.

APPLAUSE

Right, tell me all about...

-This is Rhea.

-Hello, Rhea.

She's a six-year-old retriever, she's my second-favourite blonde.

Who's your first? Oh, he says all the right things.

And the winner tonight - Team Jules! Yeah!

-APPLAUSE

-I wouldn't go that far.

So what's she like at home?

Oh, well, she's an angel, really.

She's never any trouble, all she wants to do is please.

You'll see through the show, she just keeps staring into my eyes.

-Really?

-She's... Well, she's lovely. Kiss me. Look.

CHEERING

-All right, good luck to Team Jules!

-Thank you very much.

Now, introductions over,

we're ready for our first game of the evening.

It's time for a spot of tennis now,

but instead of using a court,

we're off to our swimming pool.

In this game, it's all about balls.

Our owners have to throw,

or should I say serve, a tennis ball into the pool

as far as they can.

Their dogs must then swim out to collect the ball

and then bring it back to them so they can put it into the basket.

And they keep on going until their time is up.

The team with the most balls in the basket wins the game,

it's that simple.

-I think I'm safe in saying that both dogs like water.

-They like water.

Phew, that's lucky. OK.

Now we flipped a coin to see who's going to go first and second.

So, Frazzle, you ready? Very excited to go.

Off you go and get yourselves ready. There we go.

Now, our water expert Ellie is standing in the pool

to make sure everything goes swimmingly.

Give it some welly, Ellie.

CHEERING

Thank you very much, Ellie. OK, good luck, Frazzle. Are you ready?

Ready.

On your barks, get set, go.

HE BARKS

So, welcome to the competition, I'm Matt.

Off with our first game of the series,

it's called New Balls Please.

Now, here on Top Dog,

we make sure that each challenge is suited to the dogs taking part.

Frazzle is a Duck Tolling Retriever,

a breed that loves retrieving and water -

a perfect combination for this game.

Good lad!

-Two balls in the basket.

-Go.

CHEERING

Good boy!

He's smiling.

Good boy.

CHEERING

Ainsley's getting very excited.

Ainsley's loving this.

CHEERING Good boy!

Now, to win this game,

Frazzle is going to have to bring back the most balls

within the time limit.

If you get one more, you've got about ten seconds left.

Ready, ready, ready? You have to get it in the basket, remember.

Quickly, now, Frazzle!

CHEERING

BUZZER

Now I'm not sure he got that ball back in time,

we're going to have to wait to find out.

A really determined effort from pet dog Frazzle there,

with some exceptionally fast retrievals -

he didn't miss a single ball.

He's certainly going to be a tough act to follow.

Congratulations, you collected four balls. Well done!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

I think, there's no doubt about it, Jazzy's ready.

On your barks, get set, go.

Go boy!

Don't forget, long throws, please.

Ready? Get it, Jazza.

Come on, Jazzy!

Now, as a therapy dog,

Jazzy's more used to being read stories than swimming,

but it seems the Collie in her can't wait to round up those balls.

Come on, then!

Go on, Jazza! Quick. Good girl!

Do you want to go back?

-Come on, Jazz!

-Come on!

Wow, just look at those eyes!

She didn't take them off the ball for a second,

she goes in for ball number three.

Oh, no, Jazzy's dropped the ball.

She's going to have to go back and get it

for Karen to put it in the basket,

or they're not going to get a point.

-Go on, Jasmine, get the ball! Quick!

-Come on, Jazzy!

Quick, Jazzy!

Yes!

Oh, Team Jules really getting behind Jazzy and Karen there.

BUZZER

So, after a speedy start,

Jazzy suffered a set back there

when she dropped the ball back down the ramp.

She eventually got it back,

but the ball has to be back in the basket to count.

Now, Fiona and Frazzle collected four balls.

Karen and Jazzy collected...

-three balls.

-AUDIENCE: Aw!

It's just that one at the end of the nose!

Which means the winner of tonight's first game is Team Ainsley!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

So, while the four of them go off for a towel-down and a blow-dry,

let's watch something that I cannot wait to see -

let's enjoy Frazzle and Jazzy doing the wet-dog, shaggy shake.

# Shake your groove thing Shake your groove thing, yeah, yeah

# Show 'em how to do it now

# Shake your groove thing Shake your groove thing, yeah, yeah

# Show 'em how to do it now. #

Now, we want to make sure

all the dogs on this show are safe and happy,

so let's meet five experts who will help us do just that.

Reena Patel is our resident vet

and senior clinician at her local practice.

Roy Dyer is our canine consultant,

he's been training dogs for over 50 years.

Kristina Glover is a veterinary-approved

pet behaviour counsellor.

David Pugh trains dogs to swim and save lives

and, alongside him,

is his apprentice Ellie Bedford.

OK, it's time now for our team captains

to battle it out in our second game.

So, Jules has got his dog, Iolo, and Ainsley has got his dog, Bobby.

-THE DOGS BARK

-Now, the rules are extremely simple!

-Go on, you tell him, Bob!

-I'm going to keep going!

Each owner has to knock down

-as many coconuts as possible...

-DOG BARKS

..within the time limit.

However, they will only be given one ball each.

Thank you.

Take your balls, gentlemen. So the number of throws

depends on how quickly the dog retrieves it.

-Are you ready?

-I'm ready.

-You're going first, aren't you?

-As we'll ever be.

-Let's play Canine Coconuts.

APPLAUSE

On your barks, get set, go!

Sit!

-Come on, Iolo, here, here, here.

-One coconut down.

-Good boy, good boy.

Here.

CHEERING

Now, Jules was worried that Iolo wouldn't do as he was told,

but so far, so good.

Good boy! CHEERING

Get on, yellow.

Ah, right, looks like I might have spoken too soon.

Make sure you stay behind this line.

Good boy, good boy, here!

CHEERING

Ainsley's trying to put him off.

Ooh, a bit of cheating from Ainsley there!

Steady now!

Now, they only get one ball, so the faster Iolo brings it back,

the more coconuts Jules can knock down to score big.

Do those count?

I don't know, that wouldn't happen in the funfair.

-BUZZER

-Your time's up. Well done!

A very solid performance there from Iolo,

our two-and-a-half-year-old handsome prince.

He needed a bit of encouragement at times,

but I think Jules is going to be very happy with that.

-Well done, you got six!

-CHEERING

Well done, Iolo, well done, Iolo. Brilliant.

OK, Ainsley.

You've got six to beat, Bob.

-Good luck.

-SHE LAUGHS

OK, are you ready?

On your barks, get set, go.

Well, Bobby's really quick off the mark there -

this could be a great round for Ainsley.

Bobby, come on, come on.

-Come on.

-Here, Bobby, here, Bobby!

Young Bobby's only 18 months old,

so he could be a little unpredictable

and, by the looks of it, hard to control.

Bobby! Come on, Bobby! This way.

-Yes!

-Right, we're back in action. Come on, Bobby!

Come on, Bobby, come on.

No, not the coconut!

Bobby, no!

Bobby's more interested in the coconuts!

He does live with a chef, so I suppose that's to be expected.

Oh, no, I think Ainsley's getting a bit frustrated now.

-Yes!

-Well, as long as he can try and remember to stay calm

and speak with plenty of authority, he should be OK.

Cheat, Ainsley!

-Bobby! Bobby, come on.

-Oh, no! He's dropped the ball again.

That dog just can't resist a coconut.

LAUGHTER

BUZZER

So Bobby didn't quite get the hang of that,

but I think I can safely say he's got some great footwork

and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Well done, mate.

APPLAUSE

Fancy a football-playing dog.

Ah, well done! You've got four coconuts!

Yay! Come on! Bobby! Four coconuts! Yeah!

-OK, so you scored six.

-We have.

You scored four, so it's 1-1 as we stand.

All still to play for.

-Well done, Iolo!

-Cheers, mate.

Now, all of tonight's contestants are here to support Sport Relief

which aims to get as many of us as possible up on our feet

and raising money for people who really need our help

both here in the UK and across the world's poorest communities.

And this year's Big Weekend is just around the corner.

The first ever Sport Relief Games

take place from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd March.

There are hundreds of running, swimming

and cycling events right across the UK.

And with plenty of different distances,

there's something for everyone.

We ran the Sport Relief Mile! Whoo!

What's more, lots of mile events are officially dog-friendly,

so you and your pooch can get sponsored to take part.

DOG HOWLS

To enter an event and join the fun and games, visit...

APPLAUSE

Please do get involved and help change lives,

all over the world for the better.

So, with one apiece, it's all to play for in our next game.

CHEERING

Now, this game is called Hot Spot Hound,

and it's a test of understanding and obedience.

The dog has to move around the floor and sit on the spot

as suggested by the owner.

Each spot has a different value

and the winner will be the dog racking up the most points.

I'm a good dog. I just scored 25 points.

Now, the spot only counts once, so if a dog returns to the same spot,

no additional points will be awarded.

So let's get ready now for Hot Spot Hound!

APPLAUSE

OK, Joe, Taylor, you ready?

-Yeah.

-On your barks, get set, go!

MUSIC: "The Pink Panther Theme" by Henry Mancini

So, here goes Taylor, one of our therapy dogs.

On the red. Go back...

Now, he's stopped just shy of the mat there. Let's have another go.

Ready? Come on, let's go.

-Good boy. Wait.

-He just needs to stay there, and they'll get 40 points.

BELL CHIMES

-Well done, Taylor!

-Well done!

Now, Taylor spends his working life in care homes, being cuddled,

which doesn't sound like a bad way to spend the day!

Right, now, can he do it again?

-On that bed.

-Not quite getting the hang of this, are you, Taylor?

Quick, quick, quick! Move on!

-You can go across if you want to take her.

-Yes, stop!

Right, he's on the mat. No, he's off again. Oh, he's just on.

Great. That's another 20 points.

-Good effort there from therapy dog, Taylor.

-Oh, well done!

BEEPING

APPLAUSE

OK, Jim now for Team Jules.

You've got 60 points to beat.

-Are you ready?

-I'm ready.

On your barks, get set, go!

Now, this is six-year-old Rhea, who is Jim's pet Labrador Retriever.

Now, of course, most dogs aren't allowed

to sit on the rugs at home, so maybe she's getting a bit confused.

Jim choosing to take Rhea over to the mat himself this time.

Now, if she can stay, that's 35 points. Well done, Rhea.

Jim's using the same tactic. Will it work again this time?

Now, stay, stay.

Yes, this seems to be a winning formula for the pair.

Rhea's off on her own this time.

She seems to have got the hang of it now.

Sit! Good girl, on there, sit. Sit! Sit!

Stay!

CHIME

That's another 30 points and a very happy Rhea.

APPLAUSE

Thank you, Rhea.

Well played.

Well done, Jim and Rhea. You scored 105 points.

Well done! Good girl, eh?

And Joe and Taylor scored 60, which is still good.

So Team Jules is the winner of Hot Spot Hound!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, that means that Team Jules are now in the lead

by two games to one, and that 2-1 lead of theirs will earn them

a very handy time advantage in our final, deciding game.

Yes, it's time for The Bark Off!

Now, in front of our teams, there's some classic British landmarks.

Each team must make their way from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Excuse me, I just have to step over Sherwood Forest.

This is a relay race.

The course will be completed, one dog at a time.

Now, if an obstacle is refused or incorrectly cleared,

then they'll hear this sound.

BUZZER

And they cannot move until they hear this sound.

CHIME

Thank you. The team that completes the course

in the fastest time will take overall victory

and be in with a chance of going through to the Grand Final.

Team Jules are in the lead,

which means that Team Ainsley have the pressure of going first.

And because they're lagging behind two games to one, they'll be

starting their run with 15 seconds already added to the clock.

It's now time to play The Bark Off.

-Good luck, Team Ainsley, OK? You ready?

-Yep.

On your barks, get set, go!

Now, 15 seconds already on the clock,

but Frazzle's off to a confident start,

racing across Tower Bridge

and now rushing headlong through Barking Tube.

On to the Magic Roundabout at Swindon

for the three-second sit and stay.

CHIME

On to Sherwood Forest.

Now, he's knocked a pole down there,

no penalties though, and both of them need

to go through the Train Tunnel.

A quick hike over Mount Snowdon and he moves on to weave his way

through the Royal County Down Golf Course.

And you can tell that Frazzle is seasoned in agility course work.

Some excellent weaving there.

Now, it's time for a boat ride on the Mersey.

He needs to stay put for the duration of the sail.

SHIP'S HORN

# So ferry, 'cross the Mersey

# Cos this land's the place I love... #

Beautifully done.

Nearly at the end. A leap over Hadrian's Wall.

Scale the Forth Bridge and on to John O'Groats.

Frazzle made that look pretty easy

and gets Team Ainsley off to a great start.

Next up is Taylor.

Come on, go under the bridge.

Bit of a slower amble over Tower Bridge there from Taylor,

but he is nine years old.

Go on, Taylor! Go on, darling.

Tiny Taylor fitting snugly under the Barking Tube sign

as he makes his way through the tunnel.

CHIME

Perfect sit and stay!

A little treat to say well done.

Taking this small fence at Sherwood Forest

and it's onto that place that I can't really say the name of.

Good boy! Come on!

Well, for such a little dog, he's making easy work of Mount Snowdon.

Whips through that golf course.

Come on, good boy! Yay!

CHEERING

Ah, now, looks like those little legs aren't enough

to get him on board the ferry.

Wait, Taylor.

# So ferry, 'cross the Mersey... #

Good boy. Good boy.

Nice, leisurely float across the Mersey for Taylor,

taking in the view.

Good boy.

What a good boy.

Yes!

Oh!

Now, one last little jump over a Taylor-sized Forth Bridge

and he's finished.

So, Ainsley and Bobby have got it all to play for,

as they take up the final leg.

Oi, oi, oi!

Interesting tactics there from Ainsley,

but Bobby seems to be falling for it.

Now, is he going to stay on this roundabout for three seconds?

Stay! Stay, Bob! Stay! Stay!

You're amazing!

-CHIME

-Yes! Good boy!

Come here, come here!

I'm not sure who's enjoying this course more, Ainsley or Bobby!

No, Bob, wait! No, Bob, don't lick me!

LAUGHTER

Up, up, up, up, up!

Ooh!

Right, time for the weave.

I don't think Bobby's attempted this before.

But he's doing a great job.

Come on. Come on, darling! Come on, darling, yes!

APPLAUSE

Come on!

In here! In, in, in!

Go on. In!

In! Get in the boat, Bob!

OK, helping hand there for Bobby. Now, is he going to stay on board?

BUZZER

That's once out. One more and he's going to have to move on.

Stay in the boat. Stay! Bobby!

No, Bobby's not playing ball.

That will cost him a bit of time.

And this one, no, no, no, come here, Bobby. Come on!

Over we go.

Well done, Bobby!

BEEPING

Well done, Team Ainsley. You did that in five minutes and 32 seconds.

Well done, guys! Whoo-whoo!

OK, so, Team Jules, you know what you have to beat.

-Five minutes 32 seconds. Are you ready?

-I'm ready.

-OK.

On your barks, get set, go!

Now, as the blue team were in the lead

going into this round,

they start with no time penalty on the clock.

Very confident first jump over Stonehenge

by six-year-old Lab, Rhea.

Followed by a nice stroll over the bridge.

Up, up!

Sit, stay.

Look at her!

CHIME

Beautifully patient sit and stay there,

followed by a quick leap over Sherwood Forest.

Good speed through the train tunnel

and the longest name in the UK.

Oh, good time!

Rhea conquered Mount Snowdon with real ease.

Get in.

Off to Liverpool now.

How is she going to fare on a sail across the Mersey?

Stay...

# So ferry, 'cross the Mersey

# Cos this land's... #

Come on, then, Rhea.

Get over!

Last two jumps now.

Get over. Good girl! Rhea!

Get through, go on!

And she's finished.

Rhea, no trouble at all crossing the Forth Bridge.

Now, it's therapy dog Jazzy's turn.

Seems to know exactly where she's going

as she speeds off without Karen!

Jazzy! Come on. Up there, wait! Sit!

Good girl! Wait.

CHIME

CHEERING

Through the tunnel and she's off again.

Karen needs to speed up!

Oh, she's coming back to get you.

Let's do some weaving. Ready, through here. Come on.

Yes!

Weaving like an absolute pro!

Jazzy's really pushing forward for Team Jules!

Stay, stay! Ready?

# So ferry, 'cross the Mersey... #

Ah, pretty quick ferry ride there.

She's taking a bit of Hadrian's Wall with her.

But she's through the finish.

A great round for Jazzy and Karen.

Let's hope that Jules and Iolo can keep it up.

Oh, dear. Not the best start from Iolo.

He misses Land's End!

Here, here. Up, come on, here, good boy! Good boy!

Picking up the pace, now.

Here, here, up, up, up, Good boy. Sit.

Sit. Good boy. Sit.

Great sit and stay from Iolo.

CHIME

Good work!

On to Sherwood Forest and Iolo's missed it!

But Jules has jumped it!

Good boy.

So, some valuable time lost at Sherwood Forest,

as Jules brought Iolo back for a second attempt.

They've still got some way to go.

This is jump number six out of 13 and Iolo needs to pick up the pace.

Ah, now, Jules cleverly hiding Iolo's ball.

Tricking him into staying on board. Will it work?

BUZZER

That's one dip in the river.

One more and he has to move on.

Sit, sit, sit! Sit!

BUZZER

-Oh, dear.

-Come on, then.

Over the last two jumps, then.

And he's made it.

BLEEPING

Well done. It's all over. Now, you gave it your best shot, didn't you?

We did. That was frantic.

You know what the time that you had to beat was?

It was five minutes 32 seconds.

-Would you like me to tell you your time?

-I don't think we've done it.

You did it in...

Four minutes and ten seconds.

CHEERING

Well done, guys! Really pleased!

So, huge congratulations to Team Jules for winning tonight's show,

but was it fast enough to win a place in the semifinals?

Only the fastest four winners will make it to the next round.

For now, we'll have to wait and see.

Now, remember, if you want to take part in the fun and games,

this Sport Relief, please sign up for an event near you.

And you can also do your bit by getting the special Sport Relief

dog toy, which is available now online or in store,

with all the profit going to Sport Relief.

You can find all the details at...

Thanks to all our dogs and their owners for taking part

and thank you so much for watching. We'll see you tomorrow. Good night.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE