Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden delivered a playful yet savage put-down aimed at her husband Chris Hughes during her appearance at Crufts 2026. The television personality joined co-host Claudia Winkleman, who was making her debut alongside Clare Balding for Channel 4's coverage of the prestigious dog event at Birmingham's NEC.
A Day at the World's Premier Dog Show
The 55-year-old presenter stopped for a lively chat with 54-year-old Claudia Winkleman, with both women enthusiastically discussing their experiences at the global canine competition. Crufts, which attracts dogs and their owners from across the globe to Birmingham for four days of intense competition, typically welcomes over 150,000 visitors to the NEC venue.
Beyond the arena events including Best In Show, Fly Ball, and Agility competitions, the annual exhibition features numerous stands where dog enthusiasts can shop for their pets or meet potential new companions. Amanda admitted she had wasted no time immersing herself in the activities, while proudly showcasing portraits of her two dogs, Minnie and Rudy, embroidered across the back of her jacket.
Canine Confessions and Marital Jabs
"Minnie is from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, Rudy is from somewhere random, he's 15 years old now," Amanda began, gushing affectionately about her beloved pets. She continued with humorous anecdotes, revealing: "I did a DNA test on Minnie because we didn't know what she was and the result came back that I am the mother, which was a relief. No, she's a shih tzu and toy spaniel, and she literally is the sweetest."
The conversation took a more intimate turn when Claudia mentioned her own spaniel, joking about "French kissing" her pet. Amanda responded candidly: "Well, I do the same, I bathe with my dogs. But there was a lot of comments, I had a lot of comments about that."
When questioned about whether she allows her four-legged friends to share her bed, Amanda delivered the pointed remark about her husband: "Only when Chris isn't there. My husband Chris, if he sees the dogs, he goes in the spare room because he can't sleep with them there, they take up all the space."
She elaborated with a cheeky jab: "I often choose to sleep with the dogs! Sorry, darling, it's not Friday!" Claudia joined in the laughter, quipping: "It's not birthdays or Christmas," to which Amanda giggled in agreement: "Exactly!"
Previous Bathing Controversy
This isn't the first time Amanda's unconventional pet habits have raised eyebrows. Last year, she divided fans by revealing she regularly bathes with both Minnie and Rudy. During an appearance on her Heart Radio Breakfast show with co-host Jamie Theakston, she recounted how Minnie's first beach trip to West Wittering in West Sussex left the rescue dog covered in sand.
Rather than giving Minnie a separate bath, Amanda decided to bring her into her own bathwater. "I looked at Minnie the moocher, who's my dog, and I just thought, I'm gonna put her in with me!" she explained. "I need to wash her anyway because she's covered in sand, so I took her collar off and we had a little bath together!"
She emphasized using only dog-specific products during the shared bathing experience, noting: "I used all her doggie shampoo, so there were no products in the bath so please don't write in. Minnie was loving it, she was living her best life."
Amanda continued her unusual routine by then placing Rudy in the same bathwater, explaining her conservation-minded approach: "I just thought it saves a bit of bath water and then I gave him a good old scrub as well so everyone was clean and fluffy and lovely!"
The revelation prompted visible discomfort from their radio producer, who was observed with his "head in his hands" during the anecdote. Amanda and Jamie subsequently opened phone lines for listeners to debate whether bathing with pets is appropriate, with Amanda firmly defending her position while insisting she didn't want complaints.
As the Crufts interview concluded, Claudia suggested they "go and cuddle and French kiss some dogs," to which Amanda enthusiastically agreed before signing off. The annual dog show continues its broadcast schedule on More4, maintaining its status as one of the world's most celebrated canine events.
