British Heritage Dog Breeds is delighted to announce that actor Julian Eardley has agreed to be the presenter for its ‘celebration’, to be held in the Arena at Crufts on Saturday.

Twenty of Britain and Ireland’s rarest breeds will be show-cased, and all the handlers will be dressed as historic or literary characters associated with their breed.

‘Julian is a very experienced and versatile actor’, said BHDB co-founder Paul Keevil told OUR DOGS, ‘and we are delighted that he has agreed to be the host for our celebration.’ Julian’s impressive CV includes playing parts such as as Richard III, Elvis Presley and Widow Twankie! Julian can currently be seen in The Green Green Grass and he can also be heard on BBC Radio 7 on Wednesdays at 12.30 in one of his favorite parts as Murray Franklin in repeats of the BBC R4 comedy series, Like They’ve never Been Gone.

Excited

Julian Eardley said: ‘I am very excited and proud to be part of the British Heritage Breed Celebration, which will take place on in the main arena at Crufts at five to four in the afternoon. Our aim is to draw the public’s attention to some of the rare and endangered dog breeds that are native to Great Britain and Ireland.

‘My late mother, Sheila, was a keen and successful dog breeder who owned a number of Dandie Dinmont Terriers (one of the twenty or so breeds we will be featuring) so I know from first-hand experience how rewarding and enriching living with one of these rare British breeds can be. Through Mum I also learned that these breeds were declining in number at a dangerous rate. Our parade in the main arena will put these much overlooked British and Irish Breeds back where they belong - centre stage and in the spotlight. I hope that you will join us for the celebration.’

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