Six million people watched Wincanton dog groomer Kelly Davis sweep the floor with the competition in the opening round of a hairy TV challenge.

The BBC1 show Pooch Perfect challenges four groomers to wash and cut two types of canines – in Kelly’s round, a shih tzu and bichon frise. Her style and finish bow wowed the judges and saw Kelly become the first to qualify for the next round as ‘Best in Class.’

“Her handling was impeccable. Kelly is a top contender,” said judge Colin Taylor.

A total of 16 groomers were selected from 1,000 around the country to take part in the show. It runs for eight episodes, with Kelly next appearing in the quarter-final on February 4.
She has been a groomer for 18 years, the last eight of which has been running her studio and training centre, KD Grooming on Common Road. She also has a rescue centre in Wincanton, mainly for horses.

“If it’s got scales, feathers or hair, I am all over it. I love it so much,” she says. Earning a place on the show wasn’t easy, said Kelly. “There was very tough questioning about my background, experience and qualifications.”
And the show itself wasn’t any easier. “I feel privileged to have got in but this is the hardest thing I have ever done.
“You have a lot of pressure to groom in a certain amount of time – then there are the questions and the cameras.
“But I like to be pushed: it gets the best out of me.”

The contestants had just over two hours to wash, blowdry and trim the shih tzu (called Princess, in Kelly’s case). In this challenge, Kelly came second. “You winged it. It’s on the natural showy side but flattering to the dog’s body,” said Taylor.

The second challenge required the contestants to groom the dogs as a “teddy bear.”
They could choose the breed but not the dog. Kelly was asked to groom Midge, the bichon frise, in two-and- half-hours.
“This dog wants to make me smile,” said second judge Amber Lewin. Added Taylor: “She’s very cute. That face, the sticky out ears…. Kelly really has hit the brief on that one.”

Speaking to The New Blackmore Vale after the show, Kelly said she had groomed “a fair few” shih tzus around Wincanton, good training for the show itself.

Undoubtedly, many of her owners tuned into the show itself (including Susan Moore, who tipped us off!) “I have had a huge amount of reaction from clients and students,” said Kelly. “It has been a little bit overwhelming. Dog grooming hasn’t slowed down during coronavirus. People have been walking their dogs more, they get matted and have to be groomed. It’s booming and is a career that’s here to stay. I love it.”

Dog groomer Kelly Davis

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