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Britain’s Got Talent judges pay tribute to former winner Pudsey

Amanda Holden and David Walliams posted lovely words. Warning: may cause small sobs

There are a lot of celebrities whose deaths we mourn on social media like they were friends of ours – but not all that many with four legs.

But when it was announced that BGT star Pudsey had died after a battle with acute leukemia last night, the tributes that followed showed just how much people adored him.

Owner and dance partner Ashleigh announced the sad news on Instagram, saying: “I can’t honestly believe I am writing these words. My handsome man has gone, and I don’t know what to do without him.

“My heart is broken, and I don’t know how I’m going to get through this. It hurts so much, that my handsome, incredible Pudsey Bear will never be by my side, where he belongs, again.

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“We only had 11 years together, but they were the best years ever. He was my one in a billion dog that will never be replaced.

“I don’t need to write all of his endless accomplishments on here to prove how incredible he was for me.

“Sleep tight my handsome man, I love you lots xxxx”

And the news was quickly followed by posts from Amanda Holden and David Walliams, who worked with Pudsey on BGT.

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Amanda wrote: “My thoughts go out to Ashley and this little talented ‘human with fur’ RIPPudsey.”

Wrong spelling of Ashleigh, Amanda, but we’ll let that go this once.

David added: “Farewell to a very special dog that the nation fell in love with. # Pudsey # BGT .”

Pudsey’s fellow BGT alumni George Sampson posted a picture of him with the dog alongside his own little tribute.

Ashleigh is going to continue performing with a new dog named Sully, who came from the same breeder as Pudsey.

Sully has got star form already, winning the small dogs agility round at Crufts – basically BGT with less Simon Cowell, we’re going to presume – earlier this year.

And Sully will even take Pudsey’s name so the Ashleigh and Pudsey act can carry on, joining Ashleigh in panto this year.

He’s got a lot to live up to though – Pudsey won Britain’s Got Talent with Ashleigh in 2012, released an autobiography and even had a movie made about him with Olivia bloody Coleman.

No pressure, Sully, no pressure.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor