Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

This week Emily and Ray head to the Sussex countryside for a stroll with wine expert, author and Saturday Kitchen favourite Olly Smith, alongside his adorable dog Busby.You’ll likely know Olly from his regular appearances on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, as well as shows like House of Games and The Wheel. But beyond the screen, he’s had a fascinating journey, from growing up in Jersey to singing as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, and discovering his love of wine while working at a local merchant’s.On the walk, Olly chats to Emily about his early career as a TV and film writer, including working on Charlie and Lola and even Pingu, before finding his true calling in wine. They also talk about his brand new crime novel Death by Noir, a brilliantly funny and fast-paced mystery set in the world of wine. It’s out this June and available to pre-order now from all major booksellers. Links can be found on Olly's website. Warm, funny and full of life, Olly is exactly the kind of person you instantly feel better for spending time with, and Busby more than holds his own alongside Ray.Follow Emily:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadeanX: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Kiell Smith-Bynoe, the conversation continues with more laughs, stories and brilliant energy from the man who coined the term "Platty Joobs".If you haven’t already, do catch up on part one. And if you want to see Kiell live, his improv comedy show Kool Story Bro is touring the UK, so be sure to book your tickets now at https://koolstorybro.co.uk.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll with the hugely talented actor, comedian and writer Kiell Smith-Bynoe.Kiell is best known for his brilliant role in the hit BBC series Ghosts, which is set to return in film form later this year with Ghosts: The Possession of Button House. He’s also had standout appearances in shows like Stath Lets Flats, Man Like Mobeen and Taskmaster, and has become one of the most exciting and versatile performers on screen.On the walk, Kiell chats to Emily about his childhood growing up in East London, discovering later in life that he had more siblings than he first thought, and how his love of performing started early, leading him from drama school to a brief stint as a teenage MC. They also talk about his gift for improv, which he’s turned into a hugely popular live show, Kool Story Bro, where audience anecdotes are transformed into chaotic, hilarious sketches.The tour kicks off on May 1st and tickets are available now at https://koolstorybro.co.uk.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Alasdair Beckett-King, the conversation continues with more sharp wit, brilliant stories and epic hair!If you haven’t already, do catch up on part one. And if you want to see Alasdair live, he’s currently touring the UK with his show King of Crumbs. You can book tickets now at https://www.abeckettking.com/Follow Emily:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadeanX: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a Regent’s Park stroll with the brilliant comedian, writer and filmmaker Alasdair Beckett-King.You’ll likely know Alasdair from TV favourites like Would I Lie to You?, Mock the Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats, as well as his hugely inventive online comedy. He chats to Emily about his childhood in the North East (and why he doesn’t sound Geordie), an unforgettable school nativity mishap, and the unexpected romantic twist involving the girl who played Mary.They also talk about his early ambitions to become a serious filmmaker, how that shaped his comedy when he started creating his own viral videos, and his work as a children’s author. His Montgomery Bonbon mystery series has been described as Knives Out meets Poirot for kids, and his latest book Scandal on the Stage is out this July and available to pre-order now.Alasdair is currently touring the UK with his show King of Crumbs, so don’t miss your chance to see him live. Tickets are available at https://www.abeckettking.com/ It’s a warm, funny and fascinating walk, with plenty of laughs along the way, and even a touch of hair envy from Ray.Follow Emily:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadeanX: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Sara Barron, joined by her whirlwind of a puppy Wednesday, the conversation continues with more laughs, stories and joyful chaos.If you haven’t already, do catch up on part one. And be sure to listen to Sara’s brilliant podcast with her husband Geoff Lloyd, They Like to Watch. You can also check out her podcast with Jessie Cave, MotherSl_ts, on YouTube, and see them live this April at the Top Secret Comedy Club. Tickets are available at https://thetopsecretcomedyclub.co.uk.Follow Emily:InstagramX Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a North London stroll with the brilliant comedian Sara Barron, joined by her exuberant Bedlington Whippet puppy, Wednesday.Sara chats to Emily about her fascinating life, from a teenage appearance on The Jerry Springer Show, to dating a clown, to her years working as a waitress and the many strange encounters that came with it. They also talk about how she found her way into stand-up, inspired in part by meeting her husband, broadcaster Geoff Lloyd, with whom she now co-hosts the joyful TV podcast They Like to Watch.Sara also shares more about her latest project, the podcast MotherSl_ts with comedian Jessie Cave, which you can watch on YouTube and see live at the Top Secret Comedy Club. Tickets are available at https://thetopsecretcomedyclub.co.uk.It’s a funny, (slightly) chaotic and heartwarming walk, with Wednesday bringing Ibiza-hen-do-level puppy energy and Ray doing his best to keep up. Emily and Ray absolutely loved their time with Sara, and it’s easy to see why she’s one of the most engaging voices in comedy today.Follow Emily:InstagramXWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Mollie King, the conversation continues with more warmth, stories and laughter from the singer and Radio 1 presenter.If you haven’t already, make sure to catch part one. And don’t miss Mollie’s brand new comedy-meets-crime podcast with Matt Edmondson, Matt and Mollie’s Novel Idea.It’s a total joy, with a new chapter of their murder mystery released every Wednesday.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll with singer, radio presenter and all-round good egg Mollie King.Mollie first found fame as a member of the hugely successful girl group The Saturdays, and she chats to Emily about those whirlwind years in pop, as well as the unexpected paths her life has taken since. Before music, Mollie had been training to become an Olympic skier, and after her time with the band she went on to build a brilliant career in broadcasting. She’s now a much-loved voice on BBC Radio 1, hosting alongside Matt Edmondson.The pair have also just launched a brand new comedy-meets-crime podcast, Matt and Mollie’s Novel Idea, where they take turns writing chapters of a murder mystery together each week. It’s funny, chaotic and surprisingly gripping. New episodes are released every Wednesday.Emily and Mollie also talk about growing up with dyslexia, the heartbreak of losing her beloved dog Alfie last year, and the very sweet story of how she first met her partner, cricketer Stuart Broad.It’s a warm, funny and wonderfully open conversation with someone whose kindness and positivity light up the whole walk - and who Ray instantly adored.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Dom Joly, joined by his Labradors Fitzgerald and Truman, the conversation continues with more stories from Dom’s remarkable life and career.If you haven’t already, do catch up on part one. And if you’d like to see Dom live, he’s currently celebrating 25 years of Trigger Happy TV with the Trigger Happy TV Live - 25th Anniversary Tour. Tickets and dates are available at https://domjoly.tv.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray travel to Cheltenham for a walk with comedian, writer and broadcaster Dom Joly, joined by his two beautiful Labradors, Fitzgerald and Truman.Dom chats to Emily about his extraordinary life, from growing up in Beirut (and attending school with a certain Osama Bin Laden), to briefly working as a diplomat before pivoting into comedy. That decision led to the creation of the hugely popular Trigger Happy TV, which introduced the world to the unforgettable man with the enormous mobile phone and became one of the most iconic comedy shows of its era.Dom is currently celebrating 25 years of Trigger Happy TV with a brand new live show, packed with classic clips, behind-the-scenes stories and new material. The Trigger Happy TV Live - 25th Anniversary Tour kicks off in September and runs into next year. Tickets and details are available at https://domjoly.tv.Alongside his comedy work, Dom has also become a highly respected travel writer and presenter, with a series of brilliant books documenting his adventures around the world.Be warned, the language in this episode is fruitier than normal. Follow Emily:InstagramX Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Emma Doran, the conversation continues with more warmth, laughter and brilliant storytelling from one of Ireland’s sharpest stand-ups.If you haven’t already, do catch up on part one. And if you’d like to see Emma live, her show Emmaculate is touring across Ireland and the UK this year. Tickets and dates are available at https://emmadorancomedy.com.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll with the brilliant Irish comedian Emma Doran.Emma is a huge dog lover with two of her own, Twiggy and Stan, back home in Ireland, and naturally the chat quickly turns to canine life. Ray, meanwhile, seemed quietly delighted to have Emma’s undivided attention.Emma talks to Emily about her fascinating life story, from growing up in Ireland to discovering she was pregnant with her daughter while still at school, and how becoming a young mum ultimately gave her the confidence to take the leap into stand-up comedy. A very good decision, as Emma has gone on to become one of Ireland’s most prolific and successful comics, with multiple sold-out tours, millions of online views, and a memorable appearance on the Amazon series Last One Laughing Ireland.Her live show Emmaculate is touring across Ireland and the UK this year. Tickets and dates are available at https://emmadorancomedy.com. Emily also highly recommends Emma’s debut memoir Mad Isn’t It?, a funny and deeply honest read.It’s a warm, hilarious and big-hearted walk with someone who radiates good energy and loyalty, particularly when it comes to defending Ray’s honour.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Stevie Martin, joined by her dog Piper, the conversation continues with more laughs, stories and brilliant comic observations.If you haven’t already, make sure to catch part one. And don’t miss Stevie live on tour with her critically acclaimed show Clap, which is touring the UK this year. Tickets and dates are available at https://steviemartin.com.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll (and a sit down) in Stratford with the brilliantly funny Stevie Martin, joined by her adorable half-schnauzer, half-poodle, Piper.Stevie arrived armed with treats and even a reindeer coat for Ray, instantly winning him over. When Ray unexpectedly launched into a dramatic reverse sneezing episode, Stevie calmly stepped into action, proving herself not only a comedy star but a bona fide dog guardian angel.Emily chats to Stevie about growing up in Cheshire, her time at Durham University where she met Ed Gamble and Nish Kumar, and her early career as a journalist. They also talk about her sister Gina Martin, whose campaigning led to upskirting being made illegal in the UK. Stevie reflects on her own path into comedy, which has seen her rack up over 45 million views online and appear on shows including Taskmaster and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.Her debut live show Clout was so popular it’s been extended for a second time, running from March 3rd to October. Tickets are selling fast and available at https://steviemartin.com.It’s a warm, hilarious and big-hearted walk with one of the most exciting names in British comedy right now. Ray adored both Stevie and Piper, and Emily may or may not have tried to secure a lifelong friendship.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Marjolein Robertson, the conversation continues with more stories and reflections from one of the most distinctive voices in stand-up.If you haven’t already, catch up on part one. And if you’d like to see Marjolein live, tickets and dates are available at https://marjoleinrobertson.com.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a Regent’s Park stroll with award-winning comedian Marjolein Robertson.Marjolein has become one of the most distinctive voices in British comedy, blending sharp humour with rich storytelling inspired by her Shetland upbringing and Dutch heritage. She chats to Emily about growing up on a small farm in Shetland, working as a town planner, moving to Amsterdam, and the unexpected path that eventually led her into stand-up.They also talk about her ADHD diagnosis and how it helped her better understand her life and creativity. Along the way, Emily and Ray discover a truly unforgettable laugh, one that almost rivals the local geese.Tickets and dates for her new show Lein (the final part of a trilogy derived from her own name) are available at https://marjoleinrobertson.com.It’s a warm, funny and quietly magical conversation with a unique comic voice that Emily and Ray absolutely adored.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Mark Simmons, the conversation continues with more laughs, moving reflections and stories from one of the sharpest joke writers in stand-up.If you haven’t already, do catch up on part one. And if you’d like to see Mark live, he’s currently on tour with his show Jest to Impress. Tickets and dates are available at https://marksimmons.co.uk.Follow Emily:InstagramX Walking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll in Stratford with comedian Mark Simmons, widely regarded as one of the sharpest one-liner comics around.Mark chats to Emily about growing up in Canterbury, his time working in a gym, and the spontaneous decision to try stand-up comedy that ended up changing his life. Since then, he’s picked up the prestigious Joke of the Fringe Award at the Edinburgh Festival, appeared on Mock the Week, and supported the likes of Rob Beckett, Seann Walsh and Rob Brydon on tour.It was a rainy walk, made all the more memorable by Mark insisting on carrying Emily’s handbag the entire time, a small gesture that said a lot. The conversation also turns to their mutual friend, comedian Gareth Richards, with a moving and heartfelt moment as they remember him together.Mark is currently touring his show Jest to Impress, and you can book tickets at https://marksimmons.co.uk. You can also listen to his podcast Jokes with Mark Simmons.It’s a funny, thoughtful and genuinely lovely walk with a brilliant comic and an even better human.Follow Emily:InstagramXWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Lucia Keskin, the star and creator of the award-winning comedy series Things You Should Have Done, the conversation continues with more warmth, honesty and laughs.If you haven’t already, make sure to catch part one. And do yourself a favour and watch series two of Things You Should Have Done, now streaming on BBC iPlayer. It really is a thing of total joy.Follow Emily:InstagramXWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.