How pets add sparkle to stars' lives

By sgrant lyn barton

IT'S A case of animal magic for some of Britain's favourite celebrities who have revealed all about their pampered pets in a new book compiled by a Cornish woman, writes the WMN's Lyn Barton.

Successful author Sheila Collins decided to put together Celebrities' Favourite Pets after wondering if stars of stage and screen were animal lovers.

The book, which will raise money for the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, reveals some fascinating insights.

John Challis, the wide boy Boycie of Only Fools and Horses and Green Green Grass fame, has a semi-feral cat called Fluffy. And strongman Geoff Capes couldn't bear to be parted from his beloved budgies.

It was a real eye-opener, said Mrs Collins, a retired NHS secretary who lives in Roche, near St Austell.

"What really came through is how much people love their pets. At first, I thought that the celebrities wouldn't answer, but they did and I was really surprised by how much they wrote about their pets.

"It really shows how much people love their pets and that celebrities often have very ordinary pets.

"There were a lot of surprises. I thought John Challis would have a big Irish wolfhound or a rottweiler or something. But it turns out he has a little black and white part-feral cat called Fluffy which he inherited when he moved into his house.

"The sports presenter John Inverdale's pet is a goldfish, called Motivator – another surprise."

TV presenter Julia Bradbury confessed her love for a miniature schnauzer called Lottie, which she described as a "scatty little thing" with "thick wildish hair" like many of the women in her family.

Former glamour model Linda Lusardi is dotty about her miniature dachshund.

Meanwhile comedian Jo Brand, who has four cats, says they are an "an absorbing distraction".

Actor Nigel Havers says his favourite pet, Hottie, belongs to his personal assistant. He gave Hottie a designer coat from Los Angeles "but forgot to buy my wife or daughter anything".

Mrs Collins wrote the successful Truffle's Diaries books, which give a wry observation of human lives from the point of view of a cat.

The author will be signing copies of her book at various locations around the region and at the St Austell branch of the PDSA on December 5.