Tina and Chandi

INTRODUCING TINA HUMPHREY

The most interesting aspect about interviewing celebrities is not asking the routine questions about their work and life in the public eye but getting to know the person as an individual and learning what makes them tick.  Some people are reluctant at first to open up to a complete stranger, and who wouldn’t be, but in Tina Humphrey’s case, it was apparent right from the start of her interview that she has a heart big enough to share.  She communicates with openness, honesty and with a genuine passion.  She has true empathy and awareness of others that extends to both humans and animals.  It was not long before I understood completely why Tina and her dog, Chandi have shot to fame and have become one of the most loved contestants of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.  Their bond is unique and is born out of mutual respect and understanding. 

BIOGRAPHY

Before I divulge what was said between us, I will give a brief synopsis of Tina (and Chandi’s) career.

Tina and Chandi acquired their enormous fan base after appearing on and reaching the final of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.  However Tina is no stranger to television and first appeared on ‘Jim’ll Fix It’ in 1979, aged six when her dream to play a duet on the piano with Jonathan Cohen from ‘Play Away’ was realised.  She reappeared ten years later on the same programme, introduced by Andy Peters, to prove to Jimmy Saville that ‘a bit of practice’ had paid off. 

Tina’s musical talent had won her a scholarship to study as a Junior Exhibitor at The Royal Academy of Music in London at the age of eight.  She continued violin and piano studies at Trinity College of Music until she was fifteen then received a further scholarship to study for A levels at Sevenoaks School.  At age eighteen, she won a place at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, to read music and won the Instrumental Prize for performance during her first year. 

Soon after attaining her degree Tina acquired Pepper, her first rescue dog, who along with Chandi taught Tina everything she knows about dog training.  Chandi came along five years later and through their freestyle performances Tina and Chandi were invited to appear on TV.  Their many appearances include ‘Blue Peter’, ‘The Crufts Programme’, ‘When Will I Be Famous’, ‘Richard and Judy’ and many others. 

In 2009 Chandi and Tina won all three Crufts Heelwork to Music and Freestyle competitions but due to her other commitments was unable to defend her title this year. 

When Tina is not busy working out new routines with Chandi, she teaches violin and piano. 



THE DOGS IN TINA’S LIFE

Tina told me that her love affair with dogs began with a border collie called Chloe, a dog that she met at her second primary school. 

“I was very unhappy in my first school and would cry and refuse to go.  Then my father moved me to another school.  It was a wonderful place. They allowed me to do whatever I wanted. There was lots of music and we never seemed to do any work.  We had playing fields that backed onto houses and gardens where we used to walk the rabbits.  One day Chloe, a dog from the estate, was sitting by the fence at the back of the playing field and I started to talk to her.  After that she’d be waiting for me every day.  She was a beautiful dog. I loved her.”

“We had a family dog.  A yellow Labrador called Chandie (spelt very differently).  I would construct agility courses in the garden using flowers pots and boxes and would spend hours training him.”

“It wasn’t until after I had graduated that I adopted Pepper.  I was living at home and desperately wanted dog of my own and my mother encouraged me to visit the pound.  Have you ever been to one?  They’re ghastly places.  All the dogs were jumping up and barking but one remained quiet.  She was a collie/poodle cross.  She sat looking at the floor.  I knew that this dog had to be mine.”

I was interested to know where Tina had learned to train a dog.  Had she started with a dog training club?

“I took Pepper to a dog training club three times.  It was awful.  She was barking all the time and wouldn’t focus.  Pepper had had a terrible start in life.  She was a very screwed up dog, not socialised at all, in fact she was a lot of dog for a novice.  It was a question of giving up or working with her at home.”

I did not imagine for one minute that Tina was the type to give up but I wondered where she had gained her training knowledge.  She explained that she had watched Crufts and had read a few books but it was Tina’s incredible insight and understanding that helped her to bond with her dog and to work together as a partnership.  Once the relationship had developed, Tina took Pepper to her first show. 

There were 100 other competitors and Pepper came first, without having had any previous experience. 

When Tina and Pepper were performing ‘canine freestyle’, she was invited to perform at Crufts.  She really enjoyed it but having had Pepper for five years, she decided that she would need a younger dog to work with her in the future.  Not expecting to find the right dog straight away, she took a trip back to the pound.  A four month old puppy with a fluffy grey coat and pink nose had just been brought in.  Tina was besotted but never expected to be allowed to take her home.  This blue-merle collie was Chandi.  The rest is history.

Tina says that Chandi, even at the ripe old age of 12, constantly amazes her. 

“Chandi loves the connection with me.  When we work together for one and a half, maybe two hours, neither of us notices where the time has gone.  It’s being in that moment together – being with an equal partner and being totally happy.”

I made a comment on Tina’s remarkable expertise and, in her customary modest way, she brushed it aside saying:

 “I’m still work in progress.”

TINA’S CAREER PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Tina’s natural gift for music led everyone, including herself, to believe that she would become a concert pianist.  Following her appearance on ‘Jim’ll Fix It’ at the age of six, Tina had totally fallen in love with the world of television. 

“I was so upset when it was over that I cried for weeks afterwards.” She told me.

“Ten years later, I wrote to the programme and suggested I make a return appearance to show Jimmy Saville how my piano playing had progressed.  Luckily the producers thought it was a good idea too.  After that second appearance I was obsessed with the idea of a career in television.”

It was a cruel twist of fate that Tina had to wait so long to achieve her ambition but her patience and persistence over the years has held her in good stead.  Tina had made several TV appearances before she got her big break on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and she has just completed a tour of the same show.

“I am extremely grateful to all those that voted for me on BGT and I will never stop being grateful. I love to meet my fans and am always happy to give them my time.”



“When we were on tour, teenage girls would stand outside screaming.  I thought it was for the handsome young lads that won the show.  I couldn’t believe it when I discovered they were screaming for me and Chandi.  It is so overwhelming.” 

“One day a little girl ran up to me and said, ‘I love you so much and I love Chandi too.’  I never forget that.  So much love!”

There was a catch in her voice. 

 “You see how it gets me?”

“What are your plans for the future?”  I asked.

 “Is it possible to plan for the future?” she teased.

“But you must have some idea.”

“There is the possibility of something very interesting, very exciting.  But I can’t say, I honestly can’t talk about it.”

I did not pursue the matter but I sincerely wish that whatever it maybe, it will happen for her. 

Tina is a truly gifted young woman with a heart of gold and she deserves all the good fortune in the world.  Her performances with Chandi are an inspiration to us all.