Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11 — return date, trailer, dogs and everything we know

Paul O'Grady hugs a large black Newfoundland dog in Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11
Paul O'Grady hugs a large black Newfoundland dog in episode one. (Image credit: Battersea Cat and Dogs Home/ITV)

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11 sees the late TV star and dog lover heading back to Battersea Cats and Dogs home to meet more furry friends looking for their forever homes, learning about their stories and helping to care for the four-legged friends in need. 

The award-winning series comes after the devastating death of much-loved presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady, who passed away unexpectedly aged 67. It was well known that the TV legend had a huge passion for dogs and had many in his family, even adopting pooches that appeared in the show.

The first half of the show aired earlier this year shortly after Paul's passing, but now the remaining episodes are coming to ITV.

ITV's Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo said: "We are fortunate to have had a long association with Paul, at ITV. He was a huge, inimitable talent, delighting our viewers through his comedy and entertainment with a warmth, humor and joy that audiences of all generations related to and connected with. 

"He had a profound passion for animals too, which resonated with so many viewers, and For The Love of Dogs remains one of our best-loved series, and a really special program for so many. All those who worked with Paul are shocked and deeply saddened at his passing and the thoughts of everyone at ITV are with Paul’s loved ones."

Here's everything we know about Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs...

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11 release date

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11 began back in April on ITV1 and now the show returns with the final episodes on Thursday, September 7, 2023. 

If you missed them, the first four episodes of the series are currently available to stream on ITVX.

TV tonight Paul O'Grady with Daisy.

Paul O'Grady was a Battersea Ambassador for many years.  (Image credit: ITV)

Is there a trailer for Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11?

Yes, and it is everything a fan of the show could wish for. The clip sees Paul heading back to Battersea to see a new gang of fury friends, and his love for the animals is clear to see. Judging from this clip, this is going to be a brilliant but emotional series... 

What happens in Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11?

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs season 11 follows Battersea Ambassador Paul as he meets some of the Battersea dogs looking for help, love and new homes. Each episode shows the dog's progress and its journey to adoption.

Episode one sees Paul fall in love with a gorgeous Newfoundland who needs major life-changing surgery on her back legs. He also meets a lab cross who's obsessed with water and keeps flooding her kennel and helps a terrified bichon frise become less afraid of the world after being found wandering around a forest.

In episode two, Paul babysits a group of gorgeous spaniel puppies and meets a Doberman puppy with biting issues.

Paul O'Grady sitting next to an empty dog cage

Battersea Dogs and Cats home is bustling with spaniels. (Image credit: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home/ITV)

In the third episode, Paul meets a spaniel who has lost all trust in humans, and comedian Harry Hill pays a visit.

A lurcher arrives at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in episode four, with a horrible injury in need of urgent surgery. We also see Motherland stars Anna Maxwell Martin and Diane Morgan help Paul with a cavalier King Charles spaniel and calm down an over-excited Frenchie pup.

The additional episodes airing in September will see Paul try and help friendly Staffie, Sarah, who is nervous about going outside, while stray Yorkie Pixie also captures his heart when she arrives with kennel cough, a bad coat and breath, which result in her needing 11 teeth taken out. However, it is Lurcher puppy Tara who gives Paul the most cause for concern when she falls ill with a dangerous infection. 

TV tonight Paul with laid-back mastiff Lottie

Paul fell in love with many of the dogs on his show. (Image credit: ITV)

Paul O'Grady on For The Love Of Dogs season 11

Paul's final series of For The Love Of Dogs was recorded in 2022 and we had the honour of speaking to Paul about the show just a few weeks before his sudden and unexpected passing.

Speaking of the first episode in the series, Paul told us how he fell in love with Peggy the Newfoundland, who is in the main image for this guide. "I've got this thing about big dogs, and yet funnily enough I've only got little ones," he said. "I always fall for the big ones and Peggy was so sweet. 

"She had terrible problems with her back legs, or her hips, and she had to have a huge operation, and then go on kennel rest for quite a long time, which is hard for a dog, and she was so patient and stoic. She was just lovely — I'd have taken her in a heartbeat!"

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs history

Paul O'Grady started filming the show back in 2012, and at the time there were only plans for the series to be filmed over six days. However, after viewers fell in love with the show and Paul fell in love with Battersea's animals, he stayed on to volunteer for the next six months and soon the show was recommissioned for more seasons. 

It is well known that Paul adopted several of the dogs that he had met on the show, and it wasn't long before he became an ambassador for the charity.

Grace Morris
Staff Writer

Grace is a digital writer with WhatToWatch.com, where she writes series guides, recaps and features for must-watch shows and delivers all the latest soap news and reactions. She graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020 with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, which only made her love for creative writing, film and TV grow stronger.

You'll usually find her watching the drama unfold in the latest reality series or much-loved UK soaps (usually with chocolate by her side!). She's an expert in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and everything reality-related from Selling Sunset and Married At First Sight UK to 90 Day Fiancé UK. Plus Netflix megahit Virgin River!

Grace also likes to explore new places with her friends and family and, of course, watch and read about the latest films and TV series.