Friday, February 27, 2015
By Craig Brown for the Daily Mail
Published: 01:41 GMT, 5 February 2015 | Updated: 08:51 GMT, 5 February 2015
Fenton came to prominence after he was filmed chasing a herd of deer in Richmond Park, with his panicky master running after him, screaming ‘Fenton! Fenton! Oh, Jesus Christ, Fenton!’
As a show business reporter, it’s thrilling to be invited backstage at any awards ceremony, but when it’s the YouTube Pet Awards then it’s doubly exciting.
I was invited to this year’s ceremony by Fenton, the veteran YouTube star, and possibly the most famous black labrador in the world.
Fenton came to prominence, you will remember, after he was filmed chasing a herd of deer in Richmond Park, with his panicky master running after him, screaming ‘Fenton! Fenton! Oh, Jesus Christ, Fenton!’
Before this year’s ceremony in Los Angeles, Fenton chews nonchalantly on a Bonio and reminisces about the moment he shot to stardom.
‘It was an instant YouTube classic,’ he grrrs, with more than a touch of pride.
‘The critics said I had an animal magnetism, an instinctive command of the chase genre, combined with a real hint of danger.
'It was all very cutting edge.
‘Of course, one was wildly irresponsible in one’s youth,’ he drawls, ‘and one hopes one’s learned one’s lesson.
'But, on the other hand, at least one had a bit of spark, a bit of originality. The trouble with young dogs these days is they can’t think for themselves — they’re just out for fame at any cost!’
His deer-chasing days are over, Fenton tells me. ‘These days, I prefer to relax in front of a fire. I might chase after a ball, or do the odd bark at a postman, just to keep myself in trim.
Scroll down for video
‘But I would never go wild in Richmond Park. In fact, some of my best friends are deer.
'Have you seen the video of myself and dear Dickie Deer sunbathing together? You haven’t? Oh but you must, darling. They tell me it’s an absolute classic.’
Fenton is retired, but still makes personal appearances, and is much sought-after as an adviser on new pet videos.
‘Obviously, there are hundreds of dogs who are new to the business, and desperate to get a foothold.
'They come to me and say, “Fenton, with all your experience, tell us how to perform a truly breathtaking chase sequence.”
'I tell them that, frankly, you can’t teach star quality. You’ve either got it or you haven’t.’
At this year’s YouTube Pet Awards Ceremony, Fenton is being honoured with the much-coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.
But I would never go wild in Richmond Park. In fact, some of my best friends are deer. Have you seen the video of myself and dear Dickie Deer sunbathing together? You haven’t? Oh but you must, darling. They tell me it’s an absolute classic.‘I worry for the future of the industry, you know,’ he confides. For a moment, his tail seems to stop wagging, and I think I see his ears droop slightly.
‘I mean, have you seen all these hamsters and goldfish up for awards? This year, there’s even a budgie, dammit!’
Fenton insists that, while he has nothing against those in the BGH community (Budgie, Goldfish, Hamster), ‘they can’t really be judged as star performers, at least not in the classic sense.
'It’s all very well, a goldfish looking very slightly like Nigel Farage from a certain angle, but you can’t really call that a talent, now, can you? I mean, it’s not like chasing deer, is it?’
With a discreetly outstretched paw, he points to a group of hamsters in dinner jackets, all of them on the short list for this year’s Best Hamster On YouTube Award.
‘I’ve nothing against the little blighters,’ he whispers, ‘but they’re two-a-penny. They lack star quality.
'Once you’ve seen one of them peeping his little head over a teacup, well, frankly, you’ve seen ’em all. Compared to the screen giants of yesteryear, they’re nothing.’
At this point, who should lollop over but Denver, the golden retriever who recently shot to stardom after eating some chocolate buttons and being filmed with his trademark guilty look.
‘Fenton, dear boy! How’s tricks?’ barks Denver, embracing the senior performer with a great show of warmth, and licking his neck.
A still from the YouTube video which made Fenton a star - he is chasing the deer in Richmond Park
But I notice that, for all this lavish display of bonhomie, Denver is secretly looking over Fenton’s shoulder in search of anyone more fashionable.
Sure enough, he soon pads off towards a young tabby cat in a tutu, who shot to stardom last month after appearing in a video jumping in and out of a supermarket trolley.
‘You’ll have to excuse me, dear boy! Must rush! Let’s have lunch!’
When he’s sure Denver is out of earshot, Fenton voices his misgivings. ‘Between you and me, that golden retriever has gone a very long way on a tiny amount of talent.
'I mean, we can all do that guilty look — but we’d never dream of trying to go viral with it!’
There is a hush while the West Highland terrier famous for balancing a pineapple on its head takes to the stage to announce the winner of this year’s Best Supporting Actor Award.
‘And the winner is . . . Toby, for the classic YouTube video in which he wears sunglasses and wiggles his head in time to the music!’
Toby takes ten minutes to crawl onto the stage. ‘Can you believe it — they’re giving an award to a bloody tortoise!’ gruffs Fenton. ‘What’s the world coming to?’
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Published: 01:41 GMT, 5 February 2015 | Updated: 08:51 GMT, 5 February 2015
Fenton came to prominence after he was filmed chasing a herd of deer in Richmond Park, with his panicky master running after him, screaming ‘Fenton! Fenton! Oh, Jesus Christ, Fenton!’As a show business reporter, it’s thrilling to be invited backstage at any awards ceremony, but when it’s the YouTube Pet Awards then it’s doubly exciting.
I was invited to this year’s ceremony by Fenton, the veteran YouTube star, and possibly the most famous black labrador in the world.
Fenton came to prominence, you will remember, after he was filmed chasing a herd of deer in Richmond Park, with his panicky master running after him, screaming ‘Fenton! Fenton! Oh, Jesus Christ, Fenton!’
Before this year’s ceremony in Los Angeles, Fenton chews nonchalantly on a Bonio and reminisces about the moment he shot to stardom.
‘It was an instant YouTube classic,’ he grrrs, with more than a touch of pride.
‘The critics said I had an animal magnetism, an instinctive command of the chase genre, combined with a real hint of danger.
'It was all very cutting edge.
‘Of course, one was wildly irresponsible in one’s youth,’ he drawls, ‘and one hopes one’s learned one’s lesson.
'But, on the other hand, at least one had a bit of spark, a bit of originality. The trouble with young dogs these days is they can’t think for themselves — they’re just out for fame at any cost!’
His deer-chasing days are over, Fenton tells me. ‘These days, I prefer to relax in front of a fire. I might chase after a ball, or do the odd bark at a postman, just to keep myself in trim.
Scroll down for video
‘But I would never go wild in Richmond Park. In fact, some of my best friends are deer.
'Have you seen the video of myself and dear Dickie Deer sunbathing together? You haven’t? Oh but you must, darling. They tell me it’s an absolute classic.’
Fenton is retired, but still makes personal appearances, and is much sought-after as an adviser on new pet videos. ‘Obviously, there are hundreds of dogs who are new to the business, and desperate to get a foothold.
'They come to me and say, “Fenton, with all your experience, tell us how to perform a truly breathtaking chase sequence.”
'I tell them that, frankly, you can’t teach star quality. You’ve either got it or you haven’t.’
At this year’s YouTube Pet Awards Ceremony, Fenton is being honoured with the much-coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.
But I would never go wild in Richmond Park. In fact, some of my best friends are deer. Have you seen the video of myself and dear Dickie Deer sunbathing together? You haven’t? Oh but you must, darling. They tell me it’s an absolute classic.‘I worry for the future of the industry, you know,’ he confides. For a moment, his tail seems to stop wagging, and I think I see his ears droop slightly.
‘I mean, have you seen all these hamsters and goldfish up for awards? This year, there’s even a budgie, dammit!’
Fenton insists that, while he has nothing against those in the BGH community (Budgie, Goldfish, Hamster), ‘they can’t really be judged as star performers, at least not in the classic sense.
'It’s all very well, a goldfish looking very slightly like Nigel Farage from a certain angle, but you can’t really call that a talent, now, can you? I mean, it’s not like chasing deer, is it?’
With a discreetly outstretched paw, he points to a group of hamsters in dinner jackets, all of them on the short list for this year’s Best Hamster On YouTube Award.
‘I’ve nothing against the little blighters,’ he whispers, ‘but they’re two-a-penny. They lack star quality.
'Once you’ve seen one of them peeping his little head over a teacup, well, frankly, you’ve seen ’em all. Compared to the screen giants of yesteryear, they’re nothing.’
At this point, who should lollop over but Denver, the golden retriever who recently shot to stardom after eating some chocolate buttons and being filmed with his trademark guilty look.
‘Fenton, dear boy! How’s tricks?’ barks Denver, embracing the senior performer with a great show of warmth, and licking his neck.
A still from the YouTube video which made Fenton a star - he is chasing the deer in Richmond ParkBut I notice that, for all this lavish display of bonhomie, Denver is secretly looking over Fenton’s shoulder in search of anyone more fashionable.
Sure enough, he soon pads off towards a young tabby cat in a tutu, who shot to stardom last month after appearing in a video jumping in and out of a supermarket trolley.
‘You’ll have to excuse me, dear boy! Must rush! Let’s have lunch!’
When he’s sure Denver is out of earshot, Fenton voices his misgivings. ‘Between you and me, that golden retriever has gone a very long way on a tiny amount of talent.
'I mean, we can all do that guilty look — but we’d never dream of trying to go viral with it!’
There is a hush while the West Highland terrier famous for balancing a pineapple on its head takes to the stage to announce the winner of this year’s Best Supporting Actor Award.
‘And the winner is . . . Toby, for the classic YouTube video in which he wears sunglasses and wiggles his head in time to the music!’
Toby takes ten minutes to crawl onto the stage. ‘Can you believe it — they’re giving an award to a bloody tortoise!’ gruffs Fenton. ‘What’s the world coming to?’
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