ONE MAN and his dogs

PETE WICKS on how he has found his paw-fect job

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As TV Times arrives at Dogs Trust Basildon in Essex on a balmy September afternoon, we are greeted with a big hug from our cover star Pete Wicks. After apologising for being covered in mud, the presenter and podcaster can't wait to show us a photo on his phone of some cute pug puppies who have been snuggling up to him all morning.

We've been invited to the rescue centre to observe filming for his dog-umentary Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake, which returns to U&W for a second series this week. The five-part run again follows the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 semifinalist as he works alongside the Trust's dedicated staff to help rehabilitate and find forever homes for the canines in their care.

And his devotion to dogs is clear as we watch him carefully preparing some enticing enrichment treats before he heads into a kennel to offer them to Nugget, a beautiful chow chow who needs her spirits raising following surgery.

'It's not work for me. This is my passion,' enthuses Pete, 36, as we sit down for an exclusive chat in an office next to the centre's busy reception area, which is lined with kennels housing a host of adorable pooches. 'Anytime I have a bad day, if you put a dog in front of me, everything's wiped away. This place is magical, and this show is the thing I'm most proud of.'

Here, Pete, who made his name on ITV reality show The Only Way Is Essex, tells us more about his 'paw-some' job...

The first series proved an instant hit when it aired earlier this year, and has contributed to a 30% increase in adoption applications plus a surge in donations to Dogs Trust. Are you delighted by the response?