ITV is hoping their new show proves to be just as popular as BGT on Saturday nights, an insider revealed

AS the Saturday night ratings war with the BBC heats up, rival ITV seem pawsitive it’s found a way to take the lead.

The channel’s secret weapon is a contest for gifted doggies, which I understand is a spin off of Britain’s Got Talent.

BGT has featured a string of talented hounds over the years, including Ashleigh and Pudsey, who won series six in 2012.

A TV insider said: “Pooches are always a huge hit on these competitions, so it made sense to devote a show entirely to the unique abilities of our four-legged friends. Forget Britain’s Got Talent, it’s more a case of Britain’s Dog Talent — and ITV will be hoping this proves to be just as popular.”

Ashleigh and Pudsey aren’t the only animal act to go far on BGT — and it’s not just because the show’s head judge Simon Cowell is such an animal lover.

Others who have won over the judges, audiences and viewers at home have included Marc Metral and his talking dog Wendy in 2015, dancing canine Trip Hazard in 2016 and 11-year-old Alex Lauenburger’s troupe of acrobatic pooches, who got Ant and Dec’s golden buzzer in 2019.

ITV has put out an advert for wannabe “contestants” for the new show.

It asks: “Is your furry friend a star? Do they have a show-stopping trick? Are they a bark above the rest?”

The advert stresses that applicants must be aged 18 or over, though we suspect that just applies to the owners.

To apply, email take [email protected].