Britain’s Ugliest Dog arrives at Channel 5

No, its not her with the OTT fake tan and large boobs, its Mugly. Channel 5 is to raise the documentary standard as it follows ‘Britain’s Ugliest Dog’ as he heads to the USA in a bid to be crowned ‘The World’s Ugliest Dog’ in Mutt Ugly which is to air in August.

Michelle Chappell, Commissioning Editor for Factual, News & Current Affairs at Channel 5 comments: “The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest proves there’s more to this year than the Olympics! We’ve no doubt dog lovers and viewers will love this fun documentary.”

2012 is awash with major global events but they don’t come much bigger than the hotly anticipated, highly competitive and insanely brilliant…The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, the broadcaster says clearly tounge-in-cheek

The hour-long one-off documentary, Mutt Ugly, will follow Mugly’s progress, from his preparations in the UK, his first flight and his arrival in the US, his interaction with fellow contestants, his exploits at the contest itself and the media storm that will inevitably follow him and his owner Bev.

As Mugly and Bev arrive at the annual competition, which is now in its 24th year, held in Petaluma, California they realise the scale of the contest. The competition brings together some of the planet’s most aesthetically challenged canines to an audience of hundreds, all vying to be crowned ‘The World’s Ugliest Dog’, and become an overnight, global sensation.

“We are both excited and honoured to be accompanying Mugly and his companion Bev on what is set to a monumental journey. Whilst most British sports fans will be focused on Poland and London this summer, I hope that they also get behind a very brave member of Team GB who will be taking on the world’s best in their own backyard.” Adds Andrew Eastel, Creative Director of Dead or Alive Films.

Mugly’s opponents include Rascal and his owner Dane Andrew from California. Rascal is a Chinese Crested and won the competition in 2002. Rascal is apparently so ugly that Jay Leno put him on the Tonight Show and he has been cast in four horror movies. Other stiff competition includes Icky and Princess Abby. Icky is a hot favourite for this year and Princess Abby, a previous winner, has a hunched walk, a missing eye and mismatched ears. Incredibly, however, throughout the contest’s illustrious history, there has never been a British entrant…that is until Mugly touches down Stateside!

Already worthy of star status, Mugly has an extensive wardrobe, though not just to remain stylish but for health reasons. As a near-hairless Chinese Crested mongrel, Mugly gets very cold in the winter and burnt in the summer if he’s not wearing sun block.
Ahead of judgement day, cameras will visit previous winners and their owners, meet this year’s favourites and consult a host of experts to find out what it’s like being a not-so-pretty pooch and the possible effects that both the competition and super-stardom could have on man’s best friend.
As the competition arrives, can Mugly return home victorious, having been crowned ‘The World’s Ugliest Dog’?
Mutt Ugly is produced by Dead or Alive Films and will air on Channel 5 in August.