Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh Butler and Pudsey captured hearts in 2012, but where is Ashleigh now following Pudsey’s death and her thriving career as a dog trainer and agility champion?
You may recall Ashleigh and Pudsey as the triumphant winners of the sixth series of Britain’s Got Talent back in 2012, making history as the first-ever canine act to claim the title. Ashleigh Butler, just 16 years old at the time, wowed audiences with a series of highly synchronised dancing and agility routines alongside her six year old dog, Pudsey — a crossbreed of a Border Collie, Bichon Frise, and Chinese Crested. So, what have they been up to since?
Ashleigh, originally from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has forged an impressive career as a professional dog trainer, agility champion, and TV presenter, while also hitting a significant personal milestone by moving into a new home with her boyfriend, Byron Witchell.
Following the heartbreaking loss of her beloved Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) companion, Pudsey, who passed away from leukaemia in 2017, Ashleigh has embraced new chapters both in and out of the public eye.
Business empire
Now aged 31, Ashleigh has transformed her love of dogs into a thriving, multi-faceted business empire, while continuing to compete at the very highest level on the world stage.
At Crufts 2026, she claimed victory in the Medium Singles Agility final with her crossbreed dog, Nacho, and also holds international agility champion status with her other dog, Sully.
Ashleigh regularly joins The Kennel Club’s presenting and commentary teams for major televised events such as Crufts, appearing alongside well-known hosts including Clare Balding and Claudia Winkleman.
She also runs her own business, AB Dog Training, hosting specialised Trick Training Workshops to help pet owners strengthen their bonds with their dogs.
Beyond dog training alone, she regularly appears in Christmas pantomimes throughout the UK, often bringing her dogs along to perform on stage.
Romantic life
Ashleigh is currently in a committed, long-term relationship with Byron Witchell, a stage actor, singer, and children’s entertainer.
The couple frequently intertwine their professional and personal lives, having appeared together in a pantomime production of Cinderella at the Gravesend Theatre. Byron also supports her behind the scenes as a “groom” and coffee runner during demanding agility trials.
In April 2026, the pair took a significant step forward by purchasing and moving into their first home together, sharing the momentous “new beginnings” milestone with followers on her Instagram account.
Family life and “furry” family
While Ashleigh keeps her wider human family largely private, she remains incredibly close to her roots, having learnt the trade from her mother, who was also a dog trainer.
Her day-to-day “family” centres around her tight-knit pack of highly-trained dogs: Sully (who initially filled Pudsey’s shoes on stage), Nacho (her current champion sprinter), and her other agile pups.
Online career
Rather than pursuing a conventional lifestyle influencer career, Ashleigh – who boasts 23,900 Instagram followers – has forged a hugely successful path as a specialist canine influencer, dog training authority, and brand ambassador.
By capitalising on the enormous platform she acquired through Britain’s Got Talent, she transformed her mainstream celebrity into a dedicated digital presence built around professional dog agility, trick training, and pet care.
Ashleigh regularly teams up with leading pet brands, utilising her social media reach to champion dog health, nutrition, and premium equipment.
She holds the role of official YuMOVE Agility Ambassador, producing digital content and video campaigns that spotlight joint care for high-energy and working dogs.
Ashleigh also routinely endorses specialist pet brands such as Natural Instinct raw pet food and SwagK9 training gear to her highly engaged audience of dog enthusiasts.
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