Britain's Got Talent bosses apologise for not making Matisse dog double decision 'clearer'

Simon Cowell has reportedly ordered an investigation into why producers kept the public in the dark about the act

BGT 2015 winners Jules O'Dwyer and her dog Matisse (Dymond / Syco / Thames / Corbis)

Britain’s Got Talent producers have apologised about the confusion surrounding the use of a dog stunt double in the series final after Jules O’Dwyer said she used a second dog to perform her winning tight-rope stunt.

A spokesman for the show’s producers said: “We are sorry if this was not made clearer to the judges and viewers at home during their final performance.”

Simon Cowell has reportedly ordered an investigation into why producers kept the public in the dark about the act, according to The Sun.

The winning sketch featured O'Dwyer dressed as a policewoman going after Matisse, who had stolen sausages from a butcher, and also featured another of her pets, three-legged Skippy.

Viewers saw Matisse emerge back on to the stage after he appeared to have walked along parallel ropes, but it turned out that a second border collie had performed that part of the stunt.

O’Dwyer’s use of a second dog has caused outrage among Britain’s Got Talent fans, with many calling for Jules and Matisse to surrender their winning crown.

The dog trainer said she used another dog called Chase to walk the tightrope because Matisse is afraid of heights.

She told ITV’s Lorraine show: “Matisse is a little bit afraid of heights so, although he could physically do it, Chase is the dog who says 'I'm the action dog'. He plays the double for him. Every dog has a different character.”

She added: “The tightrope takes months of training. It takes a special rigging system. It takes professionals to help you. BGT were fabulous. Our team said what we needed to pull this off.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the producers of the show said: “The audience had previously seen from Jules’ semi-final routine that she works with a second dog Chase alongside Matisse. For the final performance, as Jules has said publicly herself, Chase completed the tight-rope walking section of the act.

“During the competition viewers have seen that Jules' act involves a team of dogs, including Chase and Skippy, alongside starring dog Matisse, to perform her unique mixture of dog agility and story-telling. We are sorry if this was not made clearer to the judges and viewers at home during their final performance.”

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