Meet Graeme Hall, the Canine professional dubbed ‘The Dogfather’ on Channel 5’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

DUBBED “The Dogfather,” TV star Graeme Hall has built a following as the go-to canine expert on Channel 5’s hit series, Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. His practical, no-nonsense approach has made him one of the most trusted faces on TV. Hall regularly danced in regional events as a hobby, before a stroke ended his time on the dance floor Credit: PA In 2007, Hall took a leap of faith to turn his lifelong passion for dogs into a full-time profession Credit: Channel 5 Now, the 59-year-old Yorkshireman is swapping squeaky toys and treats for sequins as he prepares to tackle the dance floor for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Here is everything you need to know about Graeme Hall, from his early corporate career to his personal life and remarkable health comeback. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Where is Graeme Hall from? Born in November 1966 in Selby, North Yorkshire, Hall didn’t start out in animal behavioural psychology. After graduating from the University of Hull in 1987, he spent over two decades climbing the corporate ladder. For 21 years, Hall worked as a senior management consultant for food giant Weetabix Limited in Northamptonshire. But after taking redundancy in 2007, he took a leap of faith to turn his lifelong passion for dogs into a full-time profession. Hall launched his professional dog training business in 2008 and quickly earned accreditation as a Master Dog Trainer through the Guild of Dog Trainers. His TV breakthrough arrived in 2017 when he fronted Channel 4’s special Dogs Behaving Badly. Most read in TV News Channel 5 snapped up the format in 2019 for a full series, Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, which went on to top 100 episodes. Since then, “The Dogfather” has fronted The Dog Hospital, launched an Australian spin-off, hosted his Talking Dogs podcast, and written bestselling books. Who is he dating? Off-screen, Hall married accountant Elinor Perry-Hall in a beach wedding in Sri Lanka in March 2017, followed by a UK reception at Mallory Court in Warwickshire. The couple lived near Rugby but quietly separated in early 2023. Hall does not have any children. During their marriage, the pair shared a black Labrador/Boxer cross named Lilydog. Hall now lives in Oxfordshire with a new partner, keeping details of his private life largely out of the spotlight. Strictly Come Dancing Comeback Hall’s inclusion in the lineup for Strictly Come Dancing represents a personal milestone. During a charity event in 2012, Hall caught the dancing bug. He regularly competed in and judged regional ballroom and Latin events across church halls and community centres. But his hobby came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a stroke in 2019. Rushed to hospital, doctors discovered a hole in his heart that required immediate surgery. Fearing his dancing days were over, Hall put his kit away for years. Now recovered, “The Dogfather” is ready to show off his moves on TV’s most famous dance floor. Comment now