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Britain's Got Talent Doggie Double
Matisse the dog and trainer Jules O’Dwyer won Sunday’s final but it was later revealed that it was the other dog, Chase, who did the tightrope act
09:58 04 June 2015
Following receiving hundreds of complaints, ITV boss Peter Fincham has admitted Britain’s Got Talent should have made its winning act’s use of a stunt double dog “clearer” after Matisse the dog and trainer Jules O’Dwyer won Sunday’s final.
Fincham said: "In hindsight... it would have been better if that was clear."
Some outraged viewers took to Twitter claiming that they were misled after they voted for Matisse to win.
However, Fincham said that viewers who were familiar with O’Dwyer’s act would have known that there was more than one trained dog.
"In the semi-final it was made quite clear the other dog played a role in it," he told the Voice of the Listener and Viewer's spring conference.
"In the audition it was made quite clear this was a dog act with a range of dogs. In hindsight, in the final it would have been better if that was clear."
On Monday O'Dwyer reacted saying: "I was disappointed when people said I allegedly hid Chase and I was trying to make it like Chase was Matisse. That's not so.”
"I introduced Chase in the semi-final, and I said 'Chase is Matisse's best mate'. Why put the pressure on the dog when I already have another dog who can perform it on television?"