More than 1,000 people have complained about the stunt double dog used by the winning act in Britain’s Got Talent.
The disclosure that a lookalike dog was used by Jules O’Dwyer to walk the parallel ropes caused a storm with bookmakers even offering odds she would be stripped of her title.
A spokesman for communications watchdog Ofcom said it had received 1,043 complaints by Thursday afternoon which it will assess before a decision is taken on whether to investigate.
Jules and Matisse in the final (Thames TV/SYCO)
BGT boss Simon Cowell said 'no one set out to fool anybody' and blamed the 'confusion' of a live show for the mix up.
Speaking last night, he said: “I think now the dust has settled a bit we can accept that she won.”
ITV boss Peter Fincham admitted the show should have made it clearer that Jules used a stunt double dog for her winning sketch.
He told campaign group the Voice of the Listener and Viewer (VLV) that the way the act was presented was 'a judgment call'.
Simon Cowell (Hannah McKay/PA)
But he added: “In the semi-final it was made quite clear the other dog played a role in it.
“In the audition it was made quite clear this was a dog act with a range of dogs.
“In hindsight, in the final it would have been better if that was clear.”
