There’s something about Christmas that makes us want to watch a guaranteed tear-jerker, and there’s nothing that chokes us up as much as the sight of dogs overcoming adversity – or so Paul O’Grady believes.

The chat show host, actor and presenter is fronting a Christmas special of his hit programme, Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, and says the previous series have opened his eyes to just how many dog lovers there are.

“I knew it would go down well, because it’s dogs, and we’re supposed to be a nation of dog lovers, but I had no idea how many of those people exist. When it went out, the next day people would say, ‘You made me cry last night’,” he says of the series which has become known as Pogdogs.

“It’s also a show that the whole family can watch, which is pretty rare these days. That’s why all the daft things are in, like me doing these soft gags for the kids. You get me playing chess with a boxer, or in the bath with a collie. It’s not what you do, is it, in your normal day-to-day routine?”

But while there are plenty of fun moments in the series, it’s impossible to avoid the distressing tales of dogs who arrive at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the well-known rescue centre based in London.

Paul admits that he’s seen some harrowing sights at the home. “Oh, terrible things. Really bad,” says the friendly 58-year-old, who was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire. “You see bad nutrition and then you see wanton neglect, where a dog’s been abused for fun, that’s really sad.

“But for me, the saddest are the old dogs who are well and it’s just that their owners have died. So you’ll get an old dog of 14 sat there thinking, ‘Why am I in here?’ And nobody wants them because they’re old. It really is heartbreaking.”

The reason so many viewers have fallen in love with Pogdogs is witnessing the difference Battersea staff can make to a pooch who seems beyond saving, as Paul, who’s adopted canines himself during his time presenting the show, well knows.

“There’s old Carmine the boxer, who I fell in love with completely. I nearly took him, but he went to a good home. Then there was Sparkle, a Staffie who’d been so ill-treated. She was completely starved, just a skeleton with skin on. She was covered in cigarette burns and welts. How that dog survived is beyond me.

“Anyway, she was put on a proper diet and, lo and behold, she’s thriving and goes off to a nice family. So there’s a really sad side to all this, but there’s also a joyous side,” O’Grady adds.

“A seriously-ill dog that’s so near death is, thanks to the care they’re given, all of a sudden flourishing again and going off to a loving family.”

The fun-loving TV personality couldn’t have been happier to be back at Battersea. “It’s been brilliant, it’s such a great place. You get really close to the animals and all the staff who work there,” he says.

And there are some heart-warming festive tales to be shared.

“This year, Battersea seems to have been overwhelmed by pups. We got a German Shepherd who had 12 puppies – they’re like the 12 puppies of Christmas!” he exclaims.

“All the dogs have a Christmas dinner and all the staff are in, as it’s open every day of the year, so it’s business as usual.

“They’re quite remarkable, the staff, they certainly don’t do it for the money. They do it for the love, they’re very committed.”

A new, full series of the programme is heading back to screens in the New Year, something Paul’s happy to admit he’s looking forward to as much as the fans.

“It’s not really a job,” he admits, “you’re watching somebody playing.”

Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs At Christmas, airs on ITV on Christmas Day.