Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

This week Emily and Ray take a South London stroll with Strictly Come Dancing favourite Nikita Kuzmin, joined by his adorable Chihuahua, Mabel.Nikita chats to Emily about his journey from growing up in Ukraine to moving to Italy as a child to pursue dance with his sister, and the moment his life changed when he got the call to join Strictly. They also talk about his partnerships on the show, including his much-loved routines with Layton Williams and Amber Davies, and how he’s navigated the sudden attention that comes with it.On the walk, it quickly becomes clear just how popular Nikita is, with fans stopping to say hello throughout. Ray, meanwhile, receives exactly one comment, from a child who thought he looked like a cloth.Nikita also shares his excitement about his brand new live dance show Supernova, which is touring the UK throughout June and July. Tickets and dates are available at https://nikitasupernova.uk.It’s a warm, open and genuinely charming conversation with someone who clearly loves what he does but keeps his feet firmly on the ground (apart from when dancing), even if he’d prefer not to be called famous.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.