Crufts host Peter Purves: 'It's a British institution'
HOW a dog can get its paws on the coveted Crufts Best in Show award is just one of the many tips presenter Peter Purves has picked up after 37 years at the event
“There is a strict criteria. Some say it’s a beauty contest and to some extent it is,” says the 76-year-old host. “Each breed will have a specialist judge and the more criteria the dog meets, the more points it will receive.”
The hunt for Best in Show begins on Channel 4 on Thursday, with 22,500 dogs descending on the NEC Birmingham hoping to win the coveted top dog award on Sunday, March 8.
Jim Rosenthal joins Peter, who will be part of the group judging commentary team for TV as well as the live YouTube stream, while Clare Balding returns to head up the presenting team.
“Clare is a great sports commentator,” says Peter. “I had 12 years as the main presenter and it’s a great job, but it can be very stressful. Clare makes it look easy and stress-free, but it’s not. You’ve got to be really on the ball. It’s very easy to make a mistake and say the wrong thing.”
Crufts is a British institution and that’s why people come
Clare herself was taken aback when she first realised the enormity of the canine competition, which she’s been presenting since 2010.
“When I first visited Crufts at the NEC, I couldn’t believe the size of it and how competitive it was,” says Clare, 44. “I’ve covered huge sporting events all over the world, including the OlympicGames, and Crufts is just the same in the dog world.”
“Crufts is a British institution and that’s why people come,” adds Peter, who describes it as the greatest show on Earth.
He believes the success of Crufts, which has been running since 1891, is due to the sheer excitement and unpredictability of who’s going to win.
“Last year we had a very striking standard poodle win and I hope a dog as magnificent as that wins this time around. It’s a wonderful four days.”
Crufts, From Thursday, times vary, More4 & channel 4
