Meet the biggest hit of Radio 1's Big Weekend backstage

  • Published
The 1975 with a dog

Coldplay, Ellie Goulding and Alex Turner were all wandering around backstage but it was a puppy that caused the biggest excitement on Sunday.

Matt Healy brought his 14-week-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Allen, to Radio 1's Big Weekend in Exeter.

"I love that," The 1975 frontman told Newsbeat, after finishing their set on the main stage.

"It wasn't the objective but I thought he might steal the show.

"He is just so cute and so well behaved."

Watch people pet Alan the dog., external

"Everyone has been swooning over him, all the grime scene have been swooning over him," he said.

"I saw Skepta's crew but not Skepta.

"I think he [the dog] has been swooned over by every Radio 1 presenter. Nick Grimshaw loved him.

"I would like to introduce him to Chris Martin but we have to leave."

He had good reason to bring Allen with him - The 1975 have been on tour and normally he has to leave his pet at home.

"I landed from a seven-and-a-half-week tour in America," he explained.

"I had four hours at home and then I was on the bus to come here, I couldn't leave him at home, I just couldn't do it.

"So he came along for the ride, but he is on the way home now, he will be in his little bed by 10 o'clock."

And if you are wondering why the dog is called Allen, Matt said it is because he "like dogs that are called Trev or Gary or Steve".

He added: "It is kind of named after [legendary American poet] Allen Ginsberg but not really, I'd say it is more Alan Shearer."

Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat, external and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat