Rory Cellan-Jones – Sophie from Romania

Rory Cellan-Jones was the BBC’s Technology Correspondent. He retired in 2021 after 40 years with the corporation having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie Cross, Cabbage. Newly retired, Rory had become inseparable from her during daily pandemic walks which alleviated his symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane came across a dog listing for ‘a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home’. Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London in a van from Central Europe on 17^th December. 

Sophie from Romania follows the journey of her adoption – from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first foray outside – as Rory and Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie’s trust, and navigate Rory’s Parkinson’s diagnosis.

In conversation with Matt Stadlen