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Strictly's Pete Wicks fronts new 'dog-umentary'

UKTV/Sam Taylor A man, reality star Pete Wicks, holds a newborn puppy aloft while wearing protective plastic gloves. He has long hair and a beard and is looking thoughfully at the dog, which is white with a black head and ears.UKTV/Sam Taylor
Pete Wicks, who said dogs were "central" to his life, helped staff at Dogs Trust Basildon with weighing newborn puppies

A dog rehoming centre is set to take centre stage in a new TV show fronted by star of Strictly Come Dancing and The Only Way is Essex, Pete Wicks.

Filming took place at the Dogs Trust in Basildon, Essex, and sees the reality show favourite learn about the rehoming process, as well as getting involved with weighing newborn puppies, witnessing life-saving surgery and looking after volunteers.

"Dogs are central to my life, and I am incredibly passionate about animal welfare," Wicks said.

"I hope the viewers get a real insight to the life and stories of these wonderful dogs, and the heroes and volunteers who care for them day in day out."

The dog-umentary is due to be broadcast on the free-to-air channel U&W, and U, from 7 January.

UKTV/Olly Courtney A man, Pete Wicks, stands next to a canine hydrotherapy unit in which a large dog is standing in water up to its belly. A woman wearing a thick apron stands next to the tank as well.UKTV/Olly Courtney
The TV personality got involved with all elements of life during filming, including helping with canine hydrotherapy

As well as Basildon, the Dog's Trust ambassador visited the charity's sites at Harefield in West London, Leeds, and Ballymena in Northern Ireland, during the course of the four-episode series.

Wicks, who also presents the Staying Relevant podcast with his friend Sam Thompson, adopted his first rescue dog when he was 19.

One of his French Bulldogs, Eric, came from the Dogs Trust in Basildon in 2016.

UKTV/Olly Courtney Pete Wicks, wearing a black gilet, white long-sleeved shirt and dark trousers, crouches down to stroke a chocolate-brown Labrador who gazes up at him with its tongue lolling outUKTV/Olly Courtney
Wicks, pictured here with Twist, visited numerous Dogs Trust sites as part of the four-episode series

Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust, said Wicks had gone "above and beyond" to champion the charity's work.

"We have no doubt that this fantastic TV show will result in more people rehoming the dogs in our care," he added.

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