Celebrities and their pups take centre stage in new UKTV series Wagging Rights

Rhod Gilbert, Sara Pascoe and Vicky Pattison lead feel-good dog training competition coming to free streaming service U

A brand-new factual entertainment series, Wagging Rights, is set to launch later this year on UKTV’s free streaming platform U — bringing together celebrities and their beloved dogs in a heartwarming, and often chaotic, competition.

Produced by Boldprint Studios, the six-part series follows five well-known faces as they attempt to train their pets to compete as show dogs, all vying for the coveted Wagging Rights trophy.

The celebrity line-up includes Rhod Gilbert, Harriet Kemsley, Kae Kurd, Sara Pascoe and Vicky Pattison — each paired with their canine companion as they take on a series of increasingly demanding challenges.

Across six episodes, a panel of leading UK dog show judges will assess both the dogs and their owners, with each instalment focusing on a specific skill such as obedience, scent work, agility, freestyle and ball sports, before culminating in a grand final.

Rhod Gilbert joked about his chances, saying he and his dog Picsen hope to show “what a poorly trained dog and chaotic human can achieve,” while Harriet Kemsley admitted her dog Sunny comes with a long list of behavioural quirks, adding: “Wish us luck!”

Kae Kurd hopes to challenge perceptions around larger breeds through his dog Riot, saying he wants viewers to see “she’s the most gentle, loving creature,” while Sara Pascoe described the show as a chance to turn her bond with her dog Mouse into a “professional” partnership.

Vicky Pattison added that simply spending time with her labrador Milo while making a TV show was “fantastic.”

Commissioned for UKTV, the series has been developed as a feel-good format blending humour, competition and the unpredictability of working with animals. Mark Iddon, senior commissioning editor, said the show delivers “huge laughs without feeling over-produced,” while UKTV’s director of programming Gerald Casey praised its “fantastic lineup of stars.”

Wagging Rights will also air on linear channels U&Dave and U&W, joining a slate of popular factual entertainment titles including Guy Martin: Proper Jobs, Robson Green’s Amazing Walks and Pete Wicks: For Dog’s Sake.

Wagging Rights will debut on U later this year.