
The 2012 winner of Britain’s Got Talent, Ashleigh Butler, recently opened up about the death of her beloved dance partner, Pudsey the dog.
On Monday (July 24) Butler appeared on the U.K.’s This Morning and broke down in tears as she opened up about her relationship with Pudsey, who died at 11-years-old from acute leukemia on Friday (July 21).
In the sixth season of Britain’s Got Talent, Butler and her furry friend rose to fame with their choreographed dance routines, winning the hearts of millions of viewers and claiming the title at the series finale.
“I took him on Britain’s Got Talent to show how incredible he was. He gave me opportunities that I never thought I would ever have,” Butler said of her “best friend.”
Butler explained that Pudsey “wasn’t himself” last week and her family had to put him down. She said, “We took him to the vet on Tuesday and from the Tuesday to the Thursday he went downhill so quickly … the vet told us he had acute leukaemia and on Thursday it got to the point where he couldn’t lift his head.”
Butler said she will continue performing with her dog Sully, who has been consoling her in the wake of Pudsey’s death. She said, “There was always going to be a point when Sully would take over from Pudsey. I didn’t expect it to happen like this but just carrying on from what Pudsey started will help me.”
Watch a clip of the interview below.