Free streaming service U is launching new factual entertainment format Wagging Rights later this year, supported by a linear TX on U&Dave and U&W. Wagging Rights follows five celebrities as they attempt to train their pet dogs to become show dogs.
Rhod Gilbert, Harriet Kemsley, Kae Kurd, Sara Pascoe and Vicky Pattison are the five would-be trainers bringing their dogs along to compete for the Wagging Rights trophy. Across six episodes a team of the UK’s top dog show judges will evaluate the stars – and their human owners! – with each episode based around a core skill; obedience, scent work, agility, freestyle and ball sports, before the grand final.
Rhod Gilbert says, “I’m joining the Wagging Rights competition to show the world what a poorly trained dog and chaotic human can achieve. It’s what the world needs right now.”
Harriet Kemsley says, “I am so excited to do this show with my first born and cannot wait to start my new life as dog trainer. Sunny has issues with barking, chewing, basic instructions, co-dependence, licking, anxiety and personal space, wish us luck!”
Kae Kurd says, “I just want the country to see how amazing Riot is! I think there’s a massive stigma around big dogs and Rottweilers and I just want everyone to see she’s the most gentle, loving creature and a very good girl.”
Sara Pascoe says, “My dog Mouse is the love of my life and the chance to take him to work every day was too good an opportunity to pass up. We both look forward to making our personal relationship a professional one!”
Vicky Pattison says, "I'm spending time with my beautiful lab Milo AND I'm making a TV show at the same time, it's fantastic. There's a lot to learn but we'll give it our best - and as long as Milo has a nice time... that's all that matters!”
The dog experts on Wagging Rights are Kay Attwood, award winning dog trainer, behaviourist and author, and Nigel Reed, dog behaviourist and author.
Senior commissioning editor Mark Iddon says, “Wagging Rights is exactly the kind of bold, feel-good show we want more of, a big, instantly explainable format that delivers huge laughs without feeling over-produced. Dogs bring the spontaneity, the celebs bring the stories, and together it’s warm, competitive and ridiculously watchable.”
Wagging Rights joins other successful factual entertainment programming on the network such as Guy Martin: Proper Jobs, Robson Green’s Amazing Walks and Pete Wicks: For Dog’s Sake, which won Best Popular Factual Programme at the 2025 Broadcast Digital Awards and Best Lifestyle Show at the 2026 TV Choice Awards. All U&Dave and U&W programming can be found on U. U is UKTV’s free streaming service with over 9000 hours of content from UKTV’s free-to-air channels U&Dave, U&Drama, U&Yesterday and U&W, as well as programming exclusive to U. U’s programming is also available to stream free on Channel4.
Wagging Rights will launch later this year on U.
