Strictly Come Dancing 2026 contestant Graeme Hall, known to many as The Dogfather from Channel 5's Dogs Behaving Badly, is set for tonight's live show with professional partner Lauren Oakley. The canine behaviourist has called joining the BBC programme a "dream come true".
Graeme said: "I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking! I can't wait to get started. Bring it on!"
Who is Graeme Hall?
Graeme Hall is a canine behaviourist most famous for fronting Channel 5's Dogs Behaving Badly and its sequel Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. In both programmes, he travels nationwide to meet dogs with peculiar, severe and challenging behavioural problems to determine whether he can assist them.
He is also a writer, podcaster and presents The Dog Hospital with Graeme Hall, which began broadcasting on Channel 5 in 2023.
Unexpected career path
Born in Selby, North Yorkshire in 1966, Graeme studied Spanish at the University of Hull before joining Weetabix on a graduate programme and remained with the company for 21 years. He was made redundant in 2007 and intended to move into management consultancy when his life took an unexpected turn thanks to his two Rottweilers, Axel and Gorden.
While attending training sessions with them, the head instructor suggested he should consider becoming a dog trainer as he had a natural ability with "people and dogs". The following year he established his own business, The Dogfather, in 2008.
Dancing background and setbacks
Although Graeme has never danced professionally, he previously took part in amateur ballroom and Latin contests. After participating in a charity event called Strictly Northampton in 2012, he embraced dancing as a pastime and entered the Over 35s Intermediate CJ Latin competition.
However, Graeme abandoned dancing following a stroke in 2019, which resulted in doctors finding a hole in his heart requiring surgical intervention. He remarked: "I was out of action for quite a while and I thought it had brought an end to my dancing. If you'd told me in 2019 that I was going to take part in the show I would have dismissed you as a fantasist."
Dog attack and personal life
Graeme also nearly lost full function of his hand after a house call to help train a dog. He told the Daily Express: "A German Shepherd I went to see four years ago had been re-homed, and was barking very aggressively. They brought him in to see me and he just went for my left hand. He bit hard, at the same time the owner pulled on the lead. The effect was to rip it [my hand]. It was off to A&E. I ended up in the operating theatre. The bites just missed a tendon and nerve and I nearly lost the full use of that hand. It was a close call. That really made me think differently and I will now put a muzzle on the dog, but I still get little bites here and there."
Graeme currently lives in Oxfordshire with his partner Nikki. He was previously married to accountant Elino Perry-Hall, whom he married in Sri Lanka in 2017 before separating in 2023. They have no children. Strictly Come Dancing continues every Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
