Alison Hammond’s debut as host of ITV show For The Love Of Dogs was slammed by fans, as they claimed she was ‘no Paul O’Grady’.

Paul became an ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2012 following the success of the award-winning programme, which he hosted for 11 series up until shortly before his death last year.

It was announced in January that the This Morning presenter, 49, would be taking over when the series – which shines a light on the animals in need of a family at Battersea Dogs and Cats home – returned, to mixed reaction from viewers.

Her debut show was met with some praise, with some fans commending Alison for having ‘the touch’ and saying Paul’s show was in ‘safe hands’.

But many others pointed out her lack of a rapport with the pups and slammed the host as ‘totally the wrong choice’ to fill the late comedian’s shoes, dubbing her ‘dull as dish water’.

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Alison Hammond’s debut as host of ITV show For The Love Of Dogs on Tuesday was slammed by fans, as they claimed she was ‘no Paul O’Grady’

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Paul became an ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2012 following the success of the award-winning programme, which he hosted for 11 series up until shortly before his death last year

For the first episode, Alison met a tiny puppy called Oscar who was found in a bin, working dog called Bobby who was sent to be a sniffer dog and a spaniel called Nellie who needed an operation.

Taking to X, critics of Alison’s hosting skills wrote: ‘Alison Hammond on “For the Love of Dogs” is as Dull as Dishwater. Paul O’Grady she is not,’;

‘How can ITV justify replacing the wonderful Paul O’Grady with the loud mouthed Alison Hammond on for the love of dogs how does this woman keep getting top jobs on TV she is rubbish #PaulOGrady #FortheLoveofDogs,’;

‘I’m shocked just got home to see alison hammond as a replacement for Paul O.grady……NO WAY!! whoever made this choice needs to see a shrink….’;’

‘Sorry Alison Hammond but your not Paul O’Grady,’; ‘A few minutes in and it’s immediately obvious she isn’t right for this show. Totally wrong choice,’;

‘Another great show ruined by ITV that I certainly will not be watching …. What an insult to the wonderful man Mr Paul O’Grady who LOVED all animals  #fortheloveofdogs now should be called #fortheloveofGod,’;

‘Alison doesn’t seem very natural with the dogs. Really should have had a presenter with a real passion for them.’

However many fans leapt to Alison’s defence, insisting she was ‘smashing it’.

They said: ‘@AlisonHammond great job on ‘for the love of dogs’ and big shoes to fill.’;

Taking to X, critics of Alison’s hosting skills wrote: ‘ Alison Hammond on “For the Love of Dogs” is as Dull as Dishwater. Paul O’Grady she is not,

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It was announced in January that the This Morning presenter, 49, would be taking over when the series returned, to mixed reaction from viewers

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The show shines a light on the animals in need of a family at Battersea Dogs and Cats home

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Her debut show was met with some praise, with some fans commending Alison for having ‘the touch’ and saying Paul’s show was in ‘safe hands’

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But many others pointed out her lack of a rapport with the pups and slammed the host as ‘totally the wrong choice’ to fill the late comedian’s shoes, dubbing her ‘dull as dish water’

‘@AlisonHammond For the Love of Dogs! You are absolutely Smashing it, girl. Danny (our rescue greyhound) & I knew you would ,’;

‘Watching @AlisonHammond on For The Love of Dogs and she is amazing!!! Perfect xx,’;

‘Nobody will be better then paul but must say Alison got the touch think he will be happy looking down on his show seeing it in safe hands.’

After the announcement that she would take over, MailOnline revealed in March that Alison had been struggling to build the rapport her predecessor enjoyed with the ITV show’s four-legged friends – crew members say she is scared of big dogs.

Alison has never owned a dog, and while she apparently adores meeting smaller breeds during shoots for the programme at London’s Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, larger ones are said to startle her.

One source said: ‘The show is only in very early pre-production filming and Alison is great, but she finds the bigger dogs frightening.

‘She loves cuddling up to the little cute ones but then you come across a massive one and it’s a different story. But then unless you’re used to being around dogs it is intimidating.’

Show insiders say that her fears stem from a devastating childhood memory of witnessing a ‘savage’ dog attack on a neighbour in Birmingham.

However many fans leapt to Alison’s defence, insisting she was ‘smashing it’

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Alison Hammond with her This Morning co-host Dermot O’Leary. A crew member at For The Love of Dogs have claimed Ms Hammond is scared of the bigger dogs on the programme

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Paul, who died last March, became an ambassador for the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2012 following the success of the award-winning programme, which he hosted for 11 series

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The former Big Brother star told how comedian Julian gave her Paul O’Grady ‘s blessing to front the popular series, after his death last March, telling her: ‘he will be so happy’

She was criticised as the new host for her lack of dog experience, but at the time she said of taking on the role: ‘It’s a massive responsibility. And that’s what I want to do the show because I want to find out about dogs, and I’ve always wanted a dog. You know that. But I’ve always wanted a dog.

‘But you have to take it very, very seriously, don’t you?’

Alsion also told how comedian Julian gave her Paul’s blessing to front the popular series, after his death last March.

Alison recalled the recent heartfelt interaction between Julian and herself, while anchoring Friday’s instalment of This Morning with Dermot O’Leary.

She said: ‘I’ve always wanted a dog, you know that, but you have to take it very, very seriously,’ with Dermot adding: ‘And Paul loved dogs, obviously. You got the sweetest message didn’t you, from Julian Clary?’

Alison responded: ‘Yeah, he text me yesterday and he just said… Firstly he told me he was in The Maldives, I was a little bit jealous…

‘And he said, ”I’m so happy you’ve got the job and Paul actually thought a lot of you, Alison, thought very highly of you, and he will be so happy, as am I”, and it really got me.

‘I’m so so happy I just want to make him so proud in his legacy of Battersea and carry on that work because the charity does so much good work.

‘We just wanna find some amazing homes for some wonderful dogs. I have fell in love with about three.’