The Old English star of the new Dulux advert is young ... and he comes from Bargeddie!

Monday 18 April 2011

The Old English star of the new Dulux advert is young ... and he comes from Bargeddie!

His big shaggy coat has returned to our screens after a 15-year-break – and this time the iconic Old English sheepdog charming the nation as the new ‘Dulux dog’ is six-year-old Gair...from Lanarkshire.

The fluffy pooch won every dog’s dream to star in the 50th anniversary advert of painting firm Dulux.

But behind every celebrity dog is a dedicated owner, and Heather Gardiner, from Bargeddie, admits she was in “floods of tears” when she first saw Gair bounding amongst the daffodils in the ad which debuted in a primetime slot last Saturday night. Heather said: “I was so proud I could burst. I needed tissues, tissues and more tissues. “In the advert he’s quite something. I was so chuffed it was unbelievable.” The 52-year-old, who owns two other Old English sheepdogs -- Fernie, 9, and Turbo, six months -- was approached by Dulux. She said: “They just contacted me to ask if I would send them photographs, and Gair was very lucky to be chosen. “I think they had heard from a friend of a friend that I had sheepdogs. “They said they had problems trying to find one with a full coat and with the right temperament. “But Gair’s a calm, sensible boy. “They took a big chance on him. He was chosen because of his photograph and didn’t even have to audition.” The advert, which can be viewed on the brand’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dulux, was filmed at the end of March in Manchester, the Peak District, Snowdonia National Park and other locations in Wales. It shows West Kilbride-born Gair, who once came second in Crufts, star alongside two other sheepdogs as they solve decorating dilemmas. And Heather found her skills as a self-employed dog groomer came in handy. She said: “He had a wash and blow dry before we went down and then it was a case of keeping him constantly groomed, fluffed up and ready for whenever they wanted him. “I couldn’t believe it when he was managing to take paintbrushes and hand them to actors. “He is the one on the bus, and I would say he’s in 70% of the advert. “Everybody on the shoot was so friendly. They would ask how Gair was before they asked how I was, so they got that the right way about really -- he’s the star.” The role was first made famous in 1961 by a dog named Shepton Dash. It became a permanent fixture on TV screens for over 30 years, during which time 14 dogs played the role. The Dulux dog was so well known it even became a nickname for Old English sheepdogs. Most famous of them all was Fernville Lord Digby, who appeared in the ads throughout the 70s and starred with Spike Milligan in the 1973 hit film, Digby: The Biggest Dog in the World. The dogs disappeared from the ads more than 15 years ago, but today the mascot is so popular there are several to keep up with demand. Letty Edwards, from Dulux, said: “Fifty years ago an Old English Sheepdog was added to one solitary ad and, at that moment, a British Icon was born. “The dog is now instantly recognisable and synonymous with our brand. “He represents good, honest British values; trust, loyalty, playfulness and quality, and is as well loved today as he was in 1961. “Needless to say, we are extremely proud of him and so celebrating his 50th anniversary was a must.”

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The Old English star of the new Dulux advert is young ... and he comes from Bargeddie!

The Old English star of the new Dulux advert is young ... and he comes from Bargeddie!

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The Old English star of the new Dulux advert is young ... and he comes from Bargeddie!

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