Dog lands EastEnders role

Terence is given to Janine Butcher as a present

A dog joining the cast of the BBC soap EastEnders will be making its television debut in Monday's episode.

The small, shaggy Lhasa Apso has been recruited from Oxfordshire.

Billy Mitchell gives the dog, known in the programme as Terence, to his girlfriend Janine Butcher as a present.

The dog, whose real name is Caspar, belongs to Jill Raddings, who lives in Clifton near Deddington.

I found a breeder who very kindly agreed to sell me one of her young top show dogs

Jill Raddings

She also looks after Robbie Jackson's pet Well 'ard.

Ms Raddings said: "Terence is great. He was written in as a permanent character a couple of months ago.

"I was told that they'd written in a Lhasa Apso so would I find and train one.

"So luckily having travelled the length and breadth of the country I found a breeder who very kindly agreed to sell me one of her young top show dogs."

Terence was bred in Aldridge by mother and daughter Jay-nie Johnston and Naomi Hardman.

Stunt Dogs spotted Terence and picked him because of his temperament.

Other EastEnders dogs include Roly, the poodle belonging to Angie and Den, as well as Ethel's Little Willy, which had to be put down in 1992.

EastEnders bosses say they expect Terence to be a long-term star of the show.

The dog will live in Oxfordshire when off duty.