Bgt Dog Switch

[EDDIE51]

Did you know the winning dog in the final of BGT was a 'stunt double'?
Just seen this
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jun/01/britains-got-talent-producers-sorry-for-switched-dogs-in-final

[dannyk13]

A good question Mally.

[B00]

it already had a hole in it mally, he just put the 'banknote' which was folded up in his hand throughout, up from the bottom in the hole.

[trt]

The £250,000 prize money should be taken from the winner, and given to the RSPCA!

[RATTER15]

I enjoyed the act, I don't see a problem, the stunt was still performed by her dog.

[Retrochic]

It depends on what the Act was called -and I can't remember -was it 'Jules and Matisse' or Jules and her dog's'? If it was 'Jules and Matisse' then clearly there was deception by using a stand in dog. The biggest deception was not bringing out onto the stage all the dogs that performed in the final,for the vote-off.

[Ellipsis]

You know, lots of actors use stunt doubles. Like Bruce Willis in the Die Hard movies, or Daniel Craig in the Bond movies. Also it's a common theme on BGT that, as you progress through, the production gets bigger and may involve "extras" such as singers or dancers that were not in the original audition.

I don't think Jules was trying to deceive anyone. She is capable of telling one dog from another, and both dogs were in the semi-final so at the very least the judges should have recognised both dogs in the final too.

The act was entertaining. You can only imagine the hours that went into the training those dogs. I thought all three performances (original audition, semi-final and final) were brilliant. If you have any doubts about Matisse, here's his first audition that featured only him - I thought it was amazing how he was capable of acting "away from" any human, on a strange stage, without being led, just on stage on his own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkOrDDr_s88

[pastafreak]

I suspect all the acts...in their final version...are honed down during the practice and rehearsal stages...and then given final approval before the performance. Those who don't like the so called deception are just voicing "sour grapes".

[mallyh]

its very good but would i pay to see a dog doing tricks...... no

[Retrochic]

I don't like the deception -why would it be 'sour grapes' I didn't waste money voting but you can bet your last dollar that if the choir had won, then it came out they had added a few professional singers into their meld, people would be shouting 'deception'. The Dog act that won was neither enjoyable or that good.

[-Talbot-]

My question

Why doesn't anyone seem bothered about the tightrope bit of the act?
The Frenchman got plenty of abuse for sticking a false jaw on his mutt

[Ellipsis]

> its very good but would i pay to see a dog doing tricks...... no

It's supposed to be a variety act, i.e. just a part of an evening's entertainment (as on the Royal Variety Show). I agree a whole evening of it would be a bit much.

I thought the choir was great, but impractical. To travel around as a variety act they'd need four coaches. To stay overnight anywhere, they'd need a lot of hotel rooms. But without 170 people, they would not have got such a great sound.

> Why doesn't anyone seem bothered about the tightrope bit of the act?

Because it was amazing.

> deception

She trained (and had to put the effort into training) two dogs rather than one. This allowed for a better, more entertaining act. I really don't think she set out to deceive. Here is the semi-final performance that contained both dogs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-oWmhdilQM

[chaptazbru2]

I'm bothered about the tightrope bit Talbot, didn't like it at all. I think animal acts should be banned from BGT in future, as I stated on another thread.

[Caribeing]

The act was Jules O'Dwyer and Matisse and as Matisse didn't perform the tightrope act it was false, why not let Matisse do what he is capable of doing. I didn't vote so can't complain but other voters in my opinion have been duped.

[Retrochic]

caribeing -thank you for clarifying that -'Jules and Matisse' -and it was not - it was deception.

[Ellipsis]

This goes to show what brilliant entertainment this act is. Entertaining for people who like to be entertained, and an endless source of entertainment for people who like to moan about the smallest things.

As I've posted the audition and semi-final appearances above, it seems fitting to post the final winning performance. Prepare to be deceived, you poor things ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGCkPZBdLjg

[mrs.chappie]

I'd like to see these animal acts in the name of 'entertainment' banned too. The poor dog that walked the tightrope looked very uncomfortable. Dogs are keen to please their master and there's no doubt their trainer loves them, but I don't know what she's thinking of, putting them through that.

It certainly didn't entertain me - it was horrible.

[Ellipsis]

As a pet owner and meat eater, I didn't find too much cruelty in it.

[tonyav]

I saw a still of that Lemon somewhere yesterday and it was easy to see that a hole had been cut in it.

[PankySmooch]

From the title heading I thought they'd replaced Amanda Holden

[mrs.chappie]

Not cruel as in hitting or starving an animal, for sure, but certainly not natural, comfortable behaviour for a dog, and it showed (IMO).

Lol at Panky. :o)