Ben Miller, 59, is a London-born comedian, actor and children’s author who came to prominence as one half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller (with Alexander Armstrong). He has also starred in the TV crime dramas Professor T and Death in Paradise. Miller lives in the Cotswolds with his wife, Jessica Parker, a film producer, and their two children, Harrison and Lana.
As a child I was petrified of dogs. I’d even make my mother pick me up and walk the other way in the street if we saw a dog. I was absolutely terrified and for no reason, as I’d had no negative experiences with dogs. Consequently, the first thing I got into was mice when I was about eight. My first one was called Whiskey, then we had a black one called Jet and that had lots of multicoloured offspring, which was fun. I was constantly taking armfuls of mice down to the pet shop and getting a few bob for them. It was quite a good sort of little cottage industry. I was a junior mouse trader/breeder/impresario.
What animal came next?
Guinea pigs. I had a lot, including Peruvian ones, which had really weird long hair.
Miller with Samantha Womack and Alexander Armstrong in an ITV production of Cinderella in 2000
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Did you not crave more of an emotional connection than mice and guinea pigs could offer?
The mice were fun to watch but it’s true, they weren’t very tuned in to their human owners — but guinea pigs are. They recognise you and make that funny little warbling sound when they see you and crucially, they don’t bite you, which mice tend to do.
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When did you graduate to dogs?
We had lots of goldfish, which never lasted long, then I had a grass snake, a slow worm and lots of Moroccan tortoises, many of whom escaped — they’re surprisingly quick. It wasn’t until I had children that I eventually had dogs. My mum, who hated dogs and still does, had always stopped me getting one, so when I had my own family I suddenly felt that no one could stop me. Soon after my second son, Harrison, was born, we got our first dog, Ruby, a wheaten terrier who was glorious and then a black Russian terrier called Jet, who was amazing.
Miller with Jet, his black Russian terrier, in 2021
ITV
I believe Jet was the inspiration for your children’s book How I Became a Dog Called Midnight?
That’s right. She was enormous. It felt like she might be driving the car when we weren’t around or that, in fact, she was someone wearing a dog costume as she was such a massive creature, but very sweet-natured and gentle. Then after Jet, we got Stevie Nicks, who is a goldendoodle.
I understand she’s a new mother of six puppies?
Yes, she gave birth five weeks ago to six gorgeous puppies, helped by me, my wife, Jess, my daughter Lana and a dog trainer called Zoe Roberts at Crucially Canine. It’s been incredibly full-on.
What was the birth experience like?
You needed four people at least, because the newborn puppies aren’t really able to keep themselves warm, so Lana did that crucial job. Then you need someone delivering the puppies and someone helping Stevie as she chewed the umbilical cord. It was an overwhelming and amazing experience, and the surprising thing was that the eggs don’t all get fertilised at the same time, so some puppies are much older than others and are born more developed.
Stevie Nicks with her new litter
Were they all born healthy?
One of the puppies was pretty limp when it came out, so we were sort of, “Oh, my God, I hope this puppy doesn’t die in front of my daughter”, so we massaged it to remove any blockages from its airways and in the end it was fine, and all of them are doing well now.
Are they all named after other members of Fleetwood Mac?
The red-haired one is called Florence. One eats a lot, so he’s called The Machine, then there’s Basil, Mr Crisp, Princess Jasmine and finally Blue.
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Will you sell all of them or keep one or two?
There’s still a chance we’re going to keep them all, although various friends have thrown their hats in the ring, but whatever happens, the plan is definitely to keep Florence.
Prior to becoming a mum, was Stevie a well-behaved dog?
She’s always been incredibly sweet-natured and smart, but she did go a bit nuts when she was pregnant as I don’t think dogs know what’s going on. She decided to use Harrison’s carpet as her personal toilet for two days, so we had to replace that. The place was like a poo graveyard.
Dogs are innately empathetic. How valuable to your mental health has Stevie been?
She’d make a great therapy dog. She’s just calm, she’s great company and very tactile. She’s driven by affection, not food. She’ll take her cuddle over a dog biscuit any day. If ever I’m in the house on my own I’m just always really glad to have Stevie around.
After your early dogless experience, has having dogs changed you psychologically?
Massively. I talk to Stevie sometimes like she’s my therapist. I sometimes get more response from Stevie than I’ve ever heard from a therapist. Rather than just sitting there passively taking notes, she just gets her head and puts it on my shoulder. She just gets it. Like a lot of dogs are, she’s very attuned to human mood. Dogs spend a lot of time watching humans and learning everything they can about us, whereas humans don’t spend an awful lot of time observing dogs. In fact, they don’t spend an awful lot of time observing other humans
Armstrong and Miller found fame as a comedy double act in the 1990s
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Have you had much interaction with dogs in your acting life?
I’ve worked with a few dogs who appear in shows but they tend to get tired quickly, but what’s nicer is when people bring their dogs to the set, which people have done on Professor T. It makes the whole set so much more relaxing. I think humans are better humans around dogs.
Do you ever dress Stevie up?
Over the years she’s been dressed as everything. Barbie, a nurse — she’s worn a lot of outfits and wigs, and she always just puts up with it.
Will she breed again?
I wouldn’t rule it out. What has been brilliant is that she’s been such a great mum. I don’t think you ever know whether dogs are going to be maternal when they have puppies, but she was brilliant, so knowing that, we might be tempted to do it again in a year or so.
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Can you possibly write Stevie into the next series of Professor T?
My character already has a chihuahua called Kafka, whom he detests. He belongs to my character’s mother, Adelaide, played by Frances de la Tour, who is always trying to palm her dog off on Professor T, who can’t stand it.
Miller with with Blitz the border collie
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As a dog lover, is it tough portraying a dog hater?
No, not really, because my mother is so not a fan of dogs, so I’ve got a reservoir of anti-dog tropes to plunder.
Presumably Stevie has softened your mum’s dog hatred?
No chance. She doesn’t like any dogs. The quote she favours about dogs is, “stinkers, stinkers, every one”. Stevie is always baffled when she visits. You can see she’s thinking, “Hey hang, on, I’m allowed downstairs and inside. Why are you shooing me out of the house?” But she’s not one to bear a grudge.
And will Stevie inspire another book?
Definitely. I’ve got an idea for a story so watch this space.
The Night I Met Father Christmas by Ben Miller is out now in paperback