Hit singer Chris Amoo is as famous in the dog showing ring as he is on stage and charmed crowds at Crufts with Irish Wolfhounds Melchior and Prelude.

The former lead of Liverpool soul group The Real Thing, who rose to prominence with tracks such as “You to Me Are Everything” and “Can You Feel the Force?” has been a notable name at the dog show for decades.

The 71-year-old has bred Irish Wolfhounds and Afghan Hounds alongside wife Julie over the years, winning Best in Show with Afghan Hound Viscount Grant in 1987.

Amoo made it all the way to the Best in Show final last year, winning Best in Group with Irish Wolfhound Paris last and, this year, was delighted to win Best in Class with three-year-old Melchior.

He said: “We’re fortunate enough to have done very well at Crufts with both of our breeds.

“It’s a very special show because you get people coming from all over the world, you see dogs that you don’t normally see throughout the year.

“Melchior is always full of mud, he’s fantastic, I enjoy taking him out and exercising him because it’s exactly what this Irish Wolfhound breed needs.

“It feels fantastic every year to be at Crufts, even if I wasn’t showing them, I would still come here to watch.

“It was great last year, right from day one from the word go, we won with Paris and then he went on to win the Hound group.

“He put on a great performance from the Best in Show and that’s all you can ask for.”

Amoo just missed on a back-to-back spot in the Best in Group final, but still savoured another memorable year at the dog show.

Crufts is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners.

The world's greatest dog show recognises the varied roles that dogs play in society and highlights the many different disciplines and activities for dogs and owners.

Amoo added: “For me, Crufts is the best dog show on earth.

“Irish Wolfhounds are large dogs but they’re very gentle, that’s what people fall in love with, it’s their temperament, they’re so easy going.

“I’ve brought my two young ones today, Prelude is only 20 months old so I’m really proud of them both.

“As long as you give them plenty of exercise so they run off their energy, they’re brilliant.”

Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners. Crufts is held from 7-10 March 2024 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4, and for further information and tickets visit: http://crufts.org.uk