Video: Miranda's challenge proves a doggy delight for hundreds of fans (From thisisoxfordshire)

Video: Miranda's challenge proves a doggy delight for hundreds of fans

9:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Emma Harrison, Reporter covering Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley. Contact me on 01865 425430

TWO hundred dogs in a sunny Oxford park sounds like a recipe for disaster.

But the audition process for a very special dog show went smoothly at South Park yesterday as TV favourite Miranda Hart selected pooches for the fourth day of her Red Nose Day challenge.

The dog show was then filmed at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium before Ms Hart tackled an agility challenge with Lola the dog live on BBC’s The One Show last night. Oxford is the fourth city Ms Hart has visited in a challenge that ends tomorrow with an unknown task in London to raise cash for Comic Relief.

Ms Hart, who began her hunt for dogs in Florence Park before the auditions at South Park, told the Oxford Mail: “There were about 200 dogs which was fantastic. Florence Park and South Park are beautiful areas, Oxford is such a fabulous city. It is great they are all supporting us and all donating.”

Categories in the dog show included the funniest dog, the dog that looks most like its owner and the dog with the waggiest tail.

Ms Hart, whose own dog is a Shih Tzu/Bichon Frize cross called Peggy, said: “All the team is very tired, it has been a long week. But we are all passionate about the cause and the team said it is going to be a very busy day tomorrow.

“I am very grateful for everybody getting behind it.”

Oxford Brookes students Alex Wilkinson, 23, from Headington, and Amy Ajeto, 21, from East Oxford, were among the hundreds who entered the competition – with Ms Wilkinson dressed in a Onesie as a dog.

Ms Wilkinson, who didn’t pass the audition, said: “We love Miranda. I think this is great, she gets involved with everything and she does a hell of a lot for charity.”

Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford Elise Benjamin helped Ms Hart judge the dogs. She said: “I think it is brilliant and really good fun – a lovely way to raise the profile of Comic Relief. I was co-judging which was a great honour.

“I am very impressed with the turnout.

“It makes me proud to be a representative of the city.”

The Red Nose Day Challenge is sponsored by BT.

To sponsor Ms Hart, visit rednoseday.com/miranda.

• Today is the last day community groups can bid for a slice of Red Nose Day community cash. To apply go to oxfordshire.org