Earlier this year, former EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison revealed that she would
be the ‘perfect’ host to take over ITV documentary For The
Love of Dogs. Original host Paul O’Grady died in March 2023 aged 67,
with This Morning hun Alison Hammond, 49, carrying on his legacy with a new series this year. The Great British Bake Off host presented her first episode from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in April. O’Grady was the face of the show for 11 series from its broadcast in 2012.
During an Instagram livestream, Heather Trott actress Cheryl claimed that O’Grady wanted her to front the much-loved programme.
She said: ‘You know, I can turn my hand to most things, I’m not begging for a job.’
‘I’m just telling you I’m perfect for a lot of jobs but you guys are not putting me up for them, letting me go for them, and I don’t know why. I say good luck to Alison Hammond for getting For The Love Of Dogs.’
She continued: ‘But I’m telling you now, Paul O’Grady would’ve definitely given me his blessing to do that job because I have a dog, we’ve discussed our dogs quite a lot and I’ve always had dogs in my life, and erm yeah, dogs are the best, it’s that simple.’
The actress bowed out of EastEnders in 2012, when her much-loved character was killed by Ben Mitchell (then Joshua Pascoe).
Heather was a favourite amongst fans, forever bringing the comedy with best friend Shirley Carter (Linda Henry).
Cheryl previously praised the soap for striving to ‘educate people’, saying it’s ‘great’ that the current storyline with Zack Hudson (James Farrar) raises awareness around HIV.
‘But then they will also do ridiculous storylines for ratings and I think, why did you do that?’, she then argued.
‘It is like giving with one hand and then taking with another.’
Following her appearance on EastEnders – which has been on air for almost four decades – Cheryl has made a variety of television appearances on shows such as This Morning and Loose Women.
She’s also recently hosted her own one-woman show, An Evening with Cheryl Fergison, at Manchester’s Gay Village.
