ITV This Morning star makes comeback after 'nasty accident' left co-stars worried
A beloved member of This Morning finally returned to the ITV programme after recovering from a "nasty accident."
ITV hit programme This Morning returned to screens with Dermot O’Leary and Lisa Snowdon, who temporarily replaced Alison Hammond due to ill health. Introducing a segment, Dermot told viewers: “Now, he’s a much-loved member of the This Morning team and you might have noticed little Buddy has been missing in action for a while.”
As Lisa continued, “That’s because he’s been recovering from a nasty accident. But thankfully, he’s back on his paws and he joins us alongside his Dogs for Autism trainer, Hilary.” Buddy was first introduced as a puppy to fans last year as the latest recruit at the charity, which trains and provides autism awareness dogs. Reacting to his size, Dermot quipped: “Hilary, he’s a beast, look at the size of him,” to which she confirmed: “He’s 17 months old now.”
As the former X Factor host threw himself to the floor to stroke Buddy, Hilary shared some good news about the dog’s training progress.
She revealed: “I’ve got some exciting news. I can now confirm that Buddy has officially made it, and he is going to be an assistance dog, and we’re about to begin the placement process.”
After praising the adorable pooch, the presenters then asked for insight into his accident, which left him needing stitches.
Hilary explained: “So, the viewers haven’t seen him for a while because he was running around, cavorting about, and he had a completely freak accident.
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“He ran into some bushes but there was a fence in the bushes that nobody had seen and he tore his right ear. And actually, right down his right ear, they had to stitch it all up.”
Lisa asked: “He had to have the cone of shame on then?”
“He did, he wore it for a very long time. It was on for weeks,” Hilary said, as a picture of Buddy wearing the cone appeared on screen.
“Poor dog, look at that cone of shame," said Dermot. Hilary then showed Buddy’s scar, to which the astounded presenters praised: “It’s perfect, it looks like plastic surgery.”
As for his forever home, the trainer added: “He has worked hard, his trainers have worked hard, he’s made the grade and now he’ll be paired with one of the people on the list.”
