For Dogs’ Sake! Pete Wicks is back on U&W

Tissues at the ready! Reality star Pete Wicks is back to tug on our heart strings with a second outing of his pawsome series Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake. The award-winning show takes viewers behind the scenes of Britain’s largest dog rehoming charity Dogs Trust and follows their hardworking team as they help furry residents find their forever families. We’re not crying, you are!

Packed with powerful stories, the heartwarming series shines a light on the important work of rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs across the country, and the first series won the Best Popular Factual Programme at this year's Broadcast Digital Awards. In the second series, dog lover Wicks will once again be throwing himself into this world to meet a new set of canine companions who need round-the-clock care, from litters of newborn puppies to elderly strays.

Research from the Dogs Trust itself shows that since the first series aired, there has been an amazing 30% surge in adoption applications. Aw! Speaking about the enormous impact of his show, Wicks said: “It’s incredible. I’ve been doing TV for a decade and never had a response like that, which makes me so happy. For me, the most important thing was the difference it made to the Dogs Trust.”

As for the upcoming series, he said, “It’s a deeper dive into what Dogs Trust do than the first series. We’ve touched on what goes on at the centres, but this time we delve more into the heartbreak, the joy – everything.” Consider us seated.

Don’t miss the new series of Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake beginning on Monday 13 October from 9pm in U&W HD (CH 125). If you can’t wait another moment to have some adorable pups on your screen, then keep reading.

The television world is full of four-legged stars. You’ve got your mononyms like Snoopy, Beethoven, Krypto and Marley. The Hollywood hot shots Rin Tin Tin, all 101 Dalmatians and Old Yeller (RIP). And who could forget all those adorable, domesticated underdogs: Come Outside’s multi-talented Pippin could fly a plane and help Aunt Mabel bring in the washing, while the porcine Babe was really a sheepdog at heart. Do we sound insane? Probably. But that’s what our love for dogs does to us.

Which leads us to our canine hall of fame for the goodest boys and girls that have bounded on to our screens and stolen our hearts over the years. From selfless heroic acts to staring competitions with humans and everything in between, go for walkies down memory lane to see where you can watch these stars on TV now.

Stream the Lassie film series in Apps > Prime Video now

This courageous Collie has performed hundreds of rescue missions across an impressive 571 TV episodes and 11 movies. Saving a town’s residents from certain death was just another day for Lassie, who would give a few barks to alert her human companions to danger with impressive accuracy. If dogs could be nominated for a Pride Of Britain award, she’d clean up in every category and probably rescue Carol Vorderman during the ceremony too.

Stream the Wallace & Gromit film series in Apps > BBC iPlayer now

It’s a description that gets thrown around all too often these days, but Gromit truly is a national treasure. He’s even celebrated every year on 12 February when a birthday greeting to the beagle is posted in The Daily Telegraph’s classified section. Responsible, resourceful and with a knack for spotting feathery foes long before his peers, the Dogwarts graduate is constantly getting his cheese-loving owner out of trouble and only wants a pat on the head for the trouble. Good work, lad.

Stream Homeward Bound in Apps > Disney+ now

If you looked up the definition of “man’s best friend” in the dictionary, you’d find a picture of Shadow smiling with adoration right back at you. There ain’t no mountain high, valley low or river wide enough to keep this Golden Retriever from reuniting with his kid owner, and his thrilling adventure home across the American wilderness with furry comrades Chance and Sassy never fails to give us with the warm and fuzzies.

Stream all series of Doctor Who in Apps > BBC iPlayer now

In a world full of remarkable creatures created by wildly imaginative telly geniuses, metal mutt K9 is one of the most memorable and remains the Whoniverse’s most faithful companion. The robot dog has stood beside multiple Doctors and characters across the series’ long-standing tenure, and nothing would stop K9 from following his master or mistress to the ends of the Earth and beyond. You can’t get more devoted than that!

Stream seasons 1-3 of Bluey in Apps > Disney+ now

Excellent dance moves aside (we dare you not to join in during the show’s opening credits), the way that Bluey views the world on her daily adventures is exactly how we’d imagine all canines see it: as a big, beautiful place that’s just waiting to be explored. Which serves as a great life lesson, really, and reminds us to find the extraordinary in the everyday. Who knew a six-year-old Blue Heeler could be so inspirational?

Stream The Wizard Of Oz in Sky Cinema on demand now

Dorothy’s companion Toto is proof that even if you’re the smallest in the room you can still make the biggest impact. Not only did the whip-smart Cairn Terrier expose the fraudulent Wizard of Oz but he also helped defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, and we’d happily follow that plucky pup down any yellow brick road. Plus, we can’t wait for his highly anticipated return to the silver screen next month in Wicked: For Good.

Stream seasons 1-11 of Frasier in Apps > Channel 4 and Apps > Disney+ now

This no-nonsense Parson Russell Terrier was the smartest member of the Crane household, staring down Frasier and the like to get exactly what he wanted while learning what the spelling of B-A-T-H meant. Clever boy. But Eddie also had a soft side to him, and we’re not just talking about that deliciously furry underbelly! Moose, the canine actor who played him, was one of the shrewdest mutts in the industry too, earning a huge $10,000 per episode (while probably getting the most fan mail too).

Stream seasons 1-8 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine in Apps > Netflix now

Turns out the Royal Family aren’t the only fans of Corgis. Raymond Holt’s adorable sidekick Cheddar was the secret weapon of the Nine-Nine squad, and the scene-stealing “fluffy boy” could often be found helping his colleagues crack cases wide open, winning the Precinct’s Halloween Heist or snuggled up with his favourite toy Mr Hootsworth. All while rocking a bejewelled, diamond encrusted collar, obv.

Stream series 1-2 of Colin From Accounts in Apps > BBC iPlayer now

This Border Terrier isn’t just a cute addition to the Colin From Accounts cast. He’s the whole reason Gordon and Ash are together, and he’s actually inspired by a former foster pup of married show creators Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall. Since he made his screen debut in 2022, he’s garnered quite the devoted fan base. Until the release of a third series, we’ll have to settle for collectively “aww-ing” over clips of Colin rocking his cone and dog wheels in the name of mismatched love.

Stream the Scooby-Doo TV and film series in On Demand now

If you thought your dog was food-motivated, one of TV’s most esteemed canines has news for you. When screen veteran Scooby-Doo isn’t sniffing out criminals with the rest of the gang, you can find him whipping up delicious feasts with his best pal Shaggy. If he eventually retires from unmasking small-time villains, then we reckon he could jumpstart a canine version of MasterChef.

The second series airs from 9pm on Monday 13 October on U&W HD (CH 125) with all episodes available to stream in Apps > U and in U&W on demand. You can also stream series 1 in U&W on demand and Apps > U now. Keep your eyes peeled for a Christmas special later this year.