TV chat host Paul O'Grady was heartbroken last night after his beloved pet Buster died.
The dog, a regular on Paul's Channel 4 show, was put to sleep after being stricken by cancer.
A pal said: "Paul is absolutely devastated. It all happened suddenly.
"Buster had been suffering and in a lot of pain. Putting him down was the kind thing to do."
Buster, who was 14˝, was a shih tzu and bichon frise cross - a stray the star found on a motorway.
He sat on Paul's desk as he went through the mail.
But Buster would appear only for the first eight minutes as the studio lights become too harsh.
He picked up so many fans that a Nodding Buster toy was given as a prize.
Paul told viewers last week Buster had retired.
His other dogs, Olga and Bullseye, took over.
The Sun