Graeme Hall spent 21 years at Weetabix before a redundancy and two unruly Rottweilers set him on a totally different path. Today he’s “The Dogfather”, the man behind Channel 5’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, a bestselling author and, in 2026, one of the most unexpected stars of Strictly Come Dancing. So how much has all that dog whispering been worth? Here’s everything we know about Graeme Hall’s net worth.
What is Graeme Hall’s net worth?
Unifresher estimates Graeme Hall’s net worth at around £1.5 million in 2026, within a likely range of £1 million to £2 million.
Here’s how we got there. Graeme runs his dog training business through Dogfather Training Ltd, and the company’s latest accounts at Companies House, for the year to 31 March 2026, show net assets of around £311,000, including roughly £390,000 cash in the bank. That’s up from about £223,000 a year earlier, so the business has been building up a healthy cushion as his TV profile has grown.
On top of that, Graeme has earned presenting fees from several series of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, The Dog Hospital with Graeme Hall and the Australian spin-off on Network 10, plus income from four books, a newspaper column, a podcast, speaking events and a brand licensing deal. None of those fees are public, and some of that money will already have gone on income tax, corporation tax and running costs. His Strictly fee isn’t public either: the BBC has never confirmed contestant pay, although newspapers have reported over the years that it ranges from about £25,000 to £75,000 depending on how far a celebrity gets.
Add in more than two decades of salaried corporate work before he went it alone, and a net worth of around £1.5 million feels like a fair, conservative estimate. As always, the true figure is only known to Graeme and his accountant.
Who is Graeme Hall?
Graeme Hall was born in Selby, Yorkshire, and studied at the University of Hull. After graduating he joined Weetabix, working his way up from shift manager to management consultant at the cereal giant’s Northamptonshire base over 21 years.
In 2007 he took redundancy. According to profiles of Graeme, it was his two Rottweilers that nudged him towards a new career, after a trainer suggested he had a knack for it. In 2008 he set up his own dog training business, and he’s since become a Master Dog Trainer with the Guild of Dog Trainers.
He now lives in Oxfordshire.
Graeme Hall’s TV career
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly
Graeme’s big break came in 2017 with a one-off Channel 4 special called Dogs Behaving Badly. It developed into Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly on Channel 5, which has run for several series and turned his calm, no-nonsense approach to problem pooches into appointment viewing.
The Dog Hospital and going global
In 2023 he fronted The Dog Hospital with Graeme Hall on Channel 5, and the same year he began presenting Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia on Network 10, taking the Dogfather brand Down Under.
Quiz shows and guest spots
Graeme has also popped up as a contestant on Celebrity Mastermind, Christmas University Challenge and a celebrity special of The Chase, as well as making regular guest appearances on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine.
Books, columns and the Dogfather brand
Graeme has written four books: All Dogs Great and Small (2021), Perfectly Imperfect Puppy (2022), Does My Dog Love Me? (2024) and The Ultimate Kids’ Guide to Dogs (2024). He also began a regular column for The Times in 2022 and has hosted a podcast, Talking Dogs.
In 2024 trade press reported that “The Dogfather by Graeme Hall” brand had signed with Lisle Licensing to extend into products in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The financial terms weren’t disclosed, but licensing deals like this can provide steady royalty income without Graeme having to be in the room.
You can check the published accounts for his company yourself on Companies House.
Graeme Hall’s health scares
Graeme has spoken publicly about a couple of serious setbacks. He had a stroke in 2019, after which doctors discovered a hole in his heart that needed surgery. He has also described being badly bitten on the hand by a German Shepherd during a home visit, which required emergency surgery. He’s said he thought his dancing days were over after the stroke, which makes his Strictly run all the more impressive.
Graeme Hall on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Scores and results are correct up to Icons Week (17–18 October 2026).
Graeme was announced as a contestant on the 24th series of Strictly Come Dancing in August 2026, and he’s partnered with professional dancer Lauren Oakley. He isn’t a total beginner: he took up amateur ballroom and Latin as a hobby after taking part in a charity dance contest in Northampton in 2012.
That experience has shown. After scoring 24 for a cha-cha-cha in week one, he topped the leaderboard in Movie Week on 3 October with 31 points for a waltz to “The Godfather Waltz”, a fitting choice for the Dogfather. He followed that with 25 for a jive in week three and 28 for an ABBA medley salsa in Icons Week on 17 October. Some viewers told TV Guide they worried the show was turning him into the “joke act”, but he’s still very much in the competition.
Want to see how he compares with the rest of the line-up? Check out our breakdown of the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 cast net worths, or read about fellow contestant Dani Dyer’s net worth. You can also follow the series on the BBC’s official Strictly page.
FAQs about Graeme Hall
What is Graeme Hall’s net worth?
Unifresher estimates Graeme Hall’s net worth at around £1.5 million in 2026, within a range of £1 million to £2 million, based on his company’s published accounts, TV and book income, and his long corporate career before TV.
Why is Graeme Hall called The Dogfather?
“The Dogfather” is the name of his dog training business, which he set up in 2008. It’s become his nickname on TV and the brand behind his books and products.
What did Graeme Hall do before dog training?
He worked at Weetabix for 21 years, latterly as a management consultant, before taking redundancy in 2007.
Who is Graeme Hall’s Strictly partner?
He is partnered with professional dancer Lauren Oakley on Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
What channel is Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly on?
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly airs on Channel 5, and there’s also an Australian version on Network 10.