'Big cat' sighting on GMB turns out to be Cockapoo called Coco

Coco went viral over the last 24 hours after Good Morning Britain viewers speculated whether she was in fact something a little more sinister.

Her wander along the shores of Rickmansworth Aquadrome on Wednesday morning was spotted by eagle-eyed GMB viewers who questioned what the black animal they had seen skulking in the background was.

Andi Peters had been presenting the show's competition segment out on the lake when the camera crew zoomed in on a swan bobbing in the water.

But it was a creature venturing out of shot that caught the attention of those watching at home, with people taking to social media questioning whether they had seen a 'big cat' or even a 'panther'.

TV viewers speculated what animal they had seen live on GMB (circled in red). Credit: ITV

A zoomed in screengrab from GMB on Wednesday that some viewers believed to be a 'big cat'. Credit: ITV

Viewers speculated what they had seen on Good Morning Britian. Credit: Twitter

However, the mystery has been solved after Coco's owner, Sarah Collins, got in touch to reassure readers that there is no big cat roaming in Rickmansworth.

She told the Observer: "I'd taken Coco for a walk because I'd heard Andi would be down at the lake and I thought I'd go down and see if I could spot him.

"I was watching him filming and I knew Coco was sniffing around.

"Then I went home and watched the show back and they were talking about a black animal they had seen in the background. And I laughed and I thought, I bet that was my dog."

See more: TV viewers mystified by 'big cat' sighting

The mystery animal spotted at the Aquadrome has been confirmed to be Coco, pictured. Credit: Sarah Collins

Coco's adventure has gone viral with many national newspapers running stories on their websites, leading to hundreds debating what animal they think they saw.

One of GMB's own producers took to Twitter to say he and a couple of his team were unable to agree on what they had seen, but it turns out Erron Gordon, who claimed #Itsadog, was correct.

So myself and two of our fab @GMB team @CameronDLWalker & @xemilymulliganx had a look at this post show in the newsroom and I’m certain it’s a dog, Emily and Cameron think otherwise 🤔 #ItsADog 🐕‍🦺 https://t.co/C9lpWjtHqt

— Erron Gordon (@errongordon) April 7, 2021

But a poll in the Observer left readers very divided between whether they thought it was a big cat or a dog.

A poll in the Watford Observer left readers divided

Sarah has most definitely seen the funny side of the story.

She said: "It's just ridiculous really. Coco is just very fluffy and it's proven she needs a good hair cut. It's just crazy really - I go for a nice quiet walk and the next thing, it goes viral. It has been Coco's five minutes of fame and she is taking it in her stride."

Coco the Cockapoo has gone viral. Credit: Sarah Collins

Sarah said she contacted GMB and Andi to let them know the mystery animal's real identity.

After being alerted to the possible big cat sighting, Andi said later in Wednesday's show: "I have some breaking news of my own. Earlier today we were in this very spot on Bury Lake in Hertfordshire, viewers said that whilst I was doing the competition they spotted a black shaped creature on the banks, that then walked off.

"We have had a look for you guys, we have looked around, we can’t see anything but obviously you all spotted something on the shores. Could it have been someone walking a dog, the word "wolf" has been used. I cannot confirm or deny."