David Tennant Brings Dog 'Bark Ruffalo' to the 2024 BAFTAs After Michael Sheen Asked Him to Pet Sit

The 'Good Omens' and 'Staged' costars reprised their comedic chemistry for Tennant's opening monologue

David Tennant
David Tennant with Bark Ruffalo at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards. Photo:

Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty

David Tennant kicked off the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards with a little help from a former costar — and his furry friend!

For the Sunday ceremony, host Tennant, 52, incorporated many of his famous pals into his opening monologue, starting with his Good Omens and Staged costar, Michael Sheen.

The actor pals kicked off the award show on a video call in hilarious reprise of Staged, the lockdown comedy series in which they played fictionalized versions of themselves.

David Tennant tries to get out of dog sitting duties
David Tennant and Michael Sheen.

BAFTA/Youtube

In the pre-recorded portion of the monologue, Sheen, 55, reminded Tennant that he promised to dog sit the actor’s new puppy, Bark Ruffalo (cleverly named after actor Mark Ruffalo), on Sunday, which the BAFTA Awards host tried to decline.

“I don't want any of your excuses, David. You promised,” Sheen told him. “And I can’t leave him with the neighbor because he peed in her kitchen.”

The Doctor Who star attempted to turn down the gig again, telling Sheen that since he'd first promised to dog sit, “something else has come up." Yet Sheen insisted, telling him, “Well, that sounds like a you problem” before angrily exiting the call.

Tennant then tried to pawn the punnily named pet off to several other celebrities, including Stanley Tucci, Himesh Patel, Tom Hiddleston and Judi Dench, who refused because the pup “pees everywhere.”

After his failed attempts, the host then arrived at London’s Royal Festival Hall for the ceremony with Bark Ruffalo dressed as a mailman, telling security, “There’s a courier here with something for production.”

The pet-sitting bit climaxed as Tennant entered the hall — still holding the dog — to host and spotted Sheen in the front row, telling him, “This is why you wanted me to dog sit, so you could sit here?”

David Tennant
David Tennant, Bark Ruffalo and Michael Sheen.

Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty

“You’re going to have to take the dog,” Tennant said, as Sheen objected — “What if I have to go up on the stage to be given an award?” — before immediately accepting defeat.

"Yeah, alright, give him here," Sheen said, as Tennant took the stage to continue his monologue.

Actor Andy Serkis later continued the bit when he presented the evening's first award, joking that he'd taken on the role of the dog.

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The 2024 BAFTA Awards are being held at the Royal Festival Hall in London and streaming on BritBox in the U.S. on a tape delay.

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