Weekend Kitchen With Waitrose - Dexter's Diary

The show's resident doggy reports from behind the scenes

I’m not used to getting up at 3.45am but I guess it goes with the territory of appearing on a Saturday morning live show. I’m Dexter, by the way, Steve Jones’s dog, and I made my television debut on the show he’s co-presenting: Weekend Kitchen With Waitrose. You’ll have seen me sitting between Celia Imrie – legend! – and Martin Kemp – gold! – on the sofa (below). I know, it’s a dog’s life. You may have also seen me make a dash for the kitchen – I’m not really allowed in there – a few minutes after 9am to meet the French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. Being a French bulldog, it seemed natural to introduce myself.
 

During rehearsals that morning I got to hang out with make-up artist Kevin Fortune, before he worked his magic on co-presenter Lisa Snowdon. ‘People identify with beautiful things,’ he told me. ‘Make-up and hair can make a person feel better so you perform better.’ He’s not wrong – obviously I can’t wear make-up but after Kevin ran his hands over my coat there was a spring in my step. Not that I needed it – meeting Spandau Ballet bassist Martin was enough, particularly as he directed a film called Top Dog.
 

Celia, star of The Love Punch and Acorn Antiques, enjoyed the show so much, she shouted over her shoulder ‘such a hoot, darling’ as she left. I did wonder if she’d mind the shot on screen of her on Calendar Girls – the one with just iced buns protecting her modesties. ‘It was an honour to meet Celia. Such an elegant woman,’ said Lisa after the show. Considering Lisa gets up early six mornings a week to do this show and breakfast on Capital FM, she was looking incredibly fresh. Anyway, that’s enough from me. It’s been a long day and Pops (my name for Steve) is keen to head off to see his family in Wales. ‘It’s always an amazing experience doing live TV,’ he said. ‘And I got to have lamb for breakfast!’