Sheridan Smith believes being a new mum spurred her on to land ‘dream job’

Sheridan Smith believes being a new mum spurred her on to land ‘dream job’ about dogs and that having son Billy this Christmas helped her not to dwell too much on her late father

Sheridan Smith thanks her eight-month-old son Billy for helping her both emotionally and professionally.

The actress, 39, is set to host a new BBC One series called Pooch Perfect, starting next week.

And in a chat with The Mirror, explained that Billy gave her the cofidence to take on a presenting role – a slight stray from her career as an actress.

Life changing: Sheridan Smith thanks her eight-month-old son Billy for helping her both emotionally and professionally

‘I wouldn’t have had the nerve to do this if Billy wasn’t born. I was very nervous when they came to me with the idea as there are so many presenters out there, but I am a massive dog lover and it seemed the perfect fit,’ she said of the canine-themed show.

‘What’s great is we could go to work together as a family,’ she added, mentioning fiancé Jamie Horn, Billy’s father. 

She also added that Christmas 2020, despite being an underwhelming affair for so many across the UK, was the best she’s had in years, thanks to Billy.

‘My dad passed near Christmas and for the last few years it has not felt right,’ she said of her father, Colin Smith, who died in 2016. ‘With Billy, it has been so magical and the best thing is, I have got years and years with him.’  

A new chapter: 'My dad passed near Christmas and for the last few years it has not felt right,' she said of her father, Colin Smith, who died in 2016. 'With Billy, it has been so magical and the best thing is, I have got years and years with him' [Sheridan and Colin are pictured in 2012]

A new chapter: ‘My dad passed near Christmas and for the last few years it has not felt right,’ she said of her father, Colin Smith, who died in 2016. ‘With Billy, it has been so magical and the best thing is, I have got years and years with him’ [Sheridan and Colin are pictured in 2012]

Honest: Sheridan also featured in the Mail On Sunday's YOU Magazine last month, where she spoke candidly about motherhood

Honest: Sheridan also featured in the Mail On Sunday’s YOU Magazine last month, where she spoke candidly about motherhood

Sheridan also featured in the Mail On Sunday’s YOU Magazine last month, where she spoke candidly about motherhood.

Having been known for erratic behaviour, anxiety and self-doubt, the Bafta and Olivier-award winning actress admitted: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this before.

‘Regardless of anything going on in my career I’ve always felt insecure, worried about what people thought of me. And now I feel happy. That is a novelty.

‘I never knew I would be this person – a mum. Things used to seem so complicated, and now suddenly everything is so simple. I love Billy so much. I hold him and he’s looking at me and I know he loves me back and he needs me.

Coming up: The actress, 39, is set to host a new BBC One series called Pooch Perfect, starting next week

Coming up: The actress, 39, is set to host a new BBC One series called Pooch Perfect, starting next week

Together: 'What's great is we could go to work together as a family,' she added, mentioning fiancé Jamie Horn, Billy's father

Together: ‘What’s great is we could go to work together as a family,’ she added, mentioning fiancé Jamie Horn, Billy’s father

‘I’ve been looking for this all my life. I’ve looked in the wrong places – in nightclubs, going out drinking, pushing myself with work. Now in this little baby I’ve found that I’m at peace with everything.’

Pooch Perfect sees ten pairs of professional dog groomers compete to be crowned the UK’s top dog stylist.

‘Acting will always be my passion, but this really appealed to me and it worked in terms of family commitments,’ Sheridan said. ‘We filmed during lockdown and everything was super-strict.

‘I felt so privileged to be working because so many people in the industry are on their knees, and we have to keep making shows or else everything will collapse.

‘But for me it was perfect. I was breastfeeding, and Billy and Jamie would come and hang out in a room where I could pop back during breaks.’

Pooch Perfect starts on BBC One this Thursday at 8PM.