One has a dark fringe that cascades over the eyes... the other's Claudia! Strictly star makes her Crufts TV debut

They say dogs look like their owners – and it also appears that some Crufts contestants look like the TV presenters covering the event.

Hugging a terrier with similarly glossy black hair, Claudia Winkleman certainly seems to have found her doggy doppelganger as she kicked off her latest TV role on Thursday – presenting the world-famous dog show.

Thousands of pedigree pooches groomed to within an inch of their lives – descended on the Birmingham NEC for the competition.

The massive event, drawing around 150,000 visitors, will run until Sunday evening, when one lucky dog will be declared the best in show.

Meeting dogs and their owners on the red carpet, Ms Winkleman, 54, wore a green jacket with the word 'DOGS' across the back in bold white letters, teamed with leggings and £1,080 Bottega Veneta Lug leather ankle boots.

Ahead of the big day, Ms Winkleman had said: 'I absolutely love dogs and there is literally nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be. I have a pocket rammed with treats.'

She was joined by Amanda Holden, who wore a double-denim outfit, with the faces of her dogs, Minni and Rudie, embroidered on the back.

Throughout the competition, judges will assess dogs across a variety of breed groups, including working, pastoral, and terrier categories. 

Visitors will also be treated to displays and competitions designed to show off the intelligence and athleticism of the canine contestants.

Ms Winkleman's Crufts duties come just a week before the launch of her chat show on BBC1, with guests including Hollywood veteran Jeff Goldblum, Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders, comedian Tom Allen and Devil Wears Prada musical actress Vanessa Williams.

Ms Winkleman, who last year quit as joint Strictly Come Dancing presenter alongside Tess Daly, has said of her new role: 'I'm obviously going to be awful – that goes without saying.'

The Claudia Winkleman Show begins next Friday at 10:40pm.