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Pudsey the dog death: Ashleigh breaks down on This Morning as Britain's Got Talent star leaves viewers in tears

This Morning viewers were overcome with emotion after former Britain’s Got Talent winner Ashleigh Butler broke down in tears following the death of her “best friend”, and work partner, Pudsey.

Ashleigh, 22, struggled to speak as she opened up about the sudden loss of her dog, who died from acute leukaemia last week.

Speaking to hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford she said: “I was at a dog show with him last weekend and on the Monday he wasn’t himself and was sleeping a lot and we took him to the vet on Tuesday and from the Tuesday to the Thursday he went downhill so quickly.

“The vet told us he had acute leukaemia and on Thursday it got to the point where he couldn’t lift his head.”

Tearful: Ashleigh broke down on the This Morning sofa (Ken McKay/ITV/Rex)
Tearful: Ashleigh broke down on the This Morning sofa (Ken McKay/ITV/Rex)

Ashleigh – who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 with Pudsey – described him as her “best friend” and thanked him for helping her to live a life she had only ever dreamed of.

“Pudsey was very special it was like he could read my mind. He always knew when it was a big event and he always rose up to it,” she said.

Wiping away tears she continued: “[Our life] was incredible and he gave me opportunities that I thought I would never have.”

Grieving: Ashleigh's pet Sully is helping her to cope with the grief (Ken McKay/ITV/Rex)
Grieving: Ashleigh's pet Sully is helping her to cope with the grief (Ken McKay/ITV/Rex)

Viewers were also in tears as they flocked to Twitter to offer their condolences.

One tweeted: “My heart breaks for Ashley losing her beloved Pudsey! Sat crying in the car garage watching it on the tv #ThisMorning #RIP #Pudsey (sic).”

Another posted: “Crying hysterically watching this morning #pudsey #thismorning.”

Ashleigh was joined by her other pet dog, Sully, who she praised for helping her to cope with Pudsey’s death – but insisted he will “never become Pudsey”.

Speaking about Sully – who is a cross between a Poodle, Border Collie and a Chinese Crested dog – she said: “He knows something’s not right. They were inseparable. They did everything together so he is feeling a bit lonely at the moment, but we have got each other.”

She continued: “This past year they started performing together and I wanted Pudsey to have a retirement. There was always going to be a point when Sully would take over from Pudsey. I didn’t expect it to happen like this but just carrying on from what Pudsey started will help me.

“He will never ever become Pudsey, but he is special to me.”

This Morning is on ITV, weekdays at 10:30am.