Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page 'nearly got finger bitten off' during filming for TV drama
Joanna concealed "sausage meat" in her palm to encourage the dog to accompany her throughout filming and during a romantic scene where Dora declared her affection for David before sharing a kiss Jip frantically attempted to reach the food in Joanna's grasp, biting her in the process.
Speaking on the August 16 edition of the BBC quiz show Pointless Celebrities she remembered: "I nearly got my finger bitten off by a pug dog during filming of [David Copperfield] because Dora has got this gorgeous little pug called Jip.
"And to get the dog to go everywhere with me, I had to carry sausage meat in my hand but the pug would really go for it." For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter.
She added: "And there was one time when I was sitting on this sofa with David and I think I had to go: 'Oh, I love you, David,' and we had to kiss.
"And the pug was like desperately trying to get into my hand and then bit my finger and you know the way they breathe. So we had this romantic kiss with this pug breathing like this and then biting off my finger.
"And, as ever the professional, I carried on."
David Copperfield was a two-part Christmas special mini-series for the BBC which ran from 1999 until 2000 and was adapted from Charles Dickens' haunting semi-autobiographical tale The Personal History of David Copperfield.
It chronicles David's journey from infancy to adulthood.
As well as almost losing a finger it was a major show for Joanna as she encountered her husband James Thornton, 49, while filming David Copperfield.
The actress said she realised she wanted him to father her future four children – daughters Eva, 12, and Boe, four, and sons Kit, 10, and Noah, nine – after witnessing James form such a strong connection with actor Daniel Radcliffe, then playing a young David Copperfield, who went on to be the star of the Harry Potter movies.
Joanna said: "I first started when I was in David Copperfield one Christmas and I played Dora Spenlow, David's wife.
"And my husband was actually in it and he played Ham Peggotty. And I saw him and Daniel Radcliffe was in it and he was only dinky.
"And James, my husband, had to pick him up and put him on his shoulders and walk along the seashore with him.
"And I said to my mum: 'I want that man to be the father of my children.'"
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