Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

This week on Walking The Dog, we’re joined by the fabulous journalist, television presenter and author Louise Minchin! Louise joins us from home in Cheshire with her two gorgeous labradors Waffle and Ruby and she tells us all about growing up Hong Kong, and the family legend surrounding her birth. We also chat about Louise's positive attitude, a life changing trip to Argentina, and what happened when she realised she was going to get a D in A-Level economics… Louise's new book Isolation Island is a tense, addictive thriller set within the world of hidden cameras and celebrity egos. On a remote island off the coast of Scotland, ten celebrities have arrived in the depths of winter to take part in the most gruelling – and lucrative – reality survival show ever devised. With a production team that seems incapable of keeping them safe, a gathering storm and the unrelenting gaze of hidden cameras, the contestants are pushed to the edge as they try and outshine their fellow competitors and hide their darkest secrets. But when a contestant winds up dead, it soon becomes clear that they’re not just fighting for the prize, but for their lives… Isolation Island is out on 12th September - You can pre-order your copy here!Follow Louise on Instagram @louiseminchinFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

Emily and Raymond are in Walthamstow this week with the comedian Ed Gamble! Ed has been podcasting since 2006 - so he’s a real OG! We chat to him about the huge success of his podcast Off Menu. Is he the McCartney to James Acaster’s Lennon? And how does he feel about Emily's starter, main and dessert choice?We also chat about Ed’s proposal, how he feels about staying up late and his attitude towards small plates. Get your tickets for Ed’s 2024 tour Hot Diggity Dog at https://edgamble.co.uk/ Listen to Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster wherever you get your podcasts! Ed’s brilliant book Glutton is available in paperback and audiobook now - and we highly recommend it! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

On a gloriously sunny day in East London - join Emily and Raymond for a stroll with the brilliant Ed Gamble. Ed is loved for his stand-up, as well as being a bit of a podcast king - he hosts Off Menu with fellow comic James Acaster, as well as The Taskmaster Podcast and The Traitors Uncloaked! He also is a judge on The Great British Menu. Is there anything this man can’t do? Ed and his wife Charlie have a cat - but he really got on well with Ray and even found us a (slightly unconventional) shady spot to escape the heat. We chat about Ed's changing relationship with food and how that has affected his life, we find out about the celebrity diabetes community and whether Ed has a ‘Dad At The Airport’ personality. Get your tickets for Ed’s 2024 tour Hot Diggity Dog at https://edgamble.co.uk/ Listen to Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster wherever you get your podcasts! Ed’s brilliant book Glutton is available in paperback and audiobook now - and we highly recommend it! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

This week we’re in the fabulously royal St James’s Park with the wonderful historian Kate Williams. Kate reacts to Emily’s controversial historical crush, she reveals what goes down in the historians WhatsApp chat and then explains why we have such an enduring love for The Tudors. We also try to find out who is Kate’s favourite person in history - but it’s a tough decision! You can follow Kate on Instagram @KatewilliamsmeYou can also listen to Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things - a brand new history podcast hosted by Kate and Robert Hartman - wherever you get your podcasts! Kate’s most recent book The Royal Palace: Secrets and Scandals is available now!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

Joining Emily and Raymond this week is the brilliant historian, author and presenter Professor Kate Williams - who took us for a very royal walk in London’s St James’s Park.Kate has two cats at home - but she was VERY taken by Raymond. She actually asked if she could take him home - as well as comparing him to Anne Boleyn (which we’re taking as a compliment!) Our chat with Kate covers everything from red hair, to her childhood time machine and how she went from the shy girl at school to one of the country's most loved historians. You can follow Kate on Instagram @KatewilliamsmeYou can also listen to Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things - a brand new history podcast hosted by Kate and Robert Hartman - wherever you get your podcasts! Kate’s most recent book The Royal Palace: Secrets and Scandals is available now! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

Ray and Emily are in North London this week for a walk with the fabulous Honey Ross, Jonathan Ross, Spooky and Pumpkin!Honey and Jonathan tell us about bonding through their shared love of film, and what it’s like to now work together on their new podcast - Reel Talk. We also discuss saying goodbye to beloved pets - and Jonathan and Honey tell us about the time that Eminem came round on a school night… Jonathan previously appeared on this podcast back in August 2017 - he goes into detail about his family history and origin story with dogs. You can listen to that episode here!Honey and Jonathan’s fantastic podcast Reel Talk is available wherever you get your podcasts. It’s genuinely a thing of total joy - so we really urge you to give it a listen. Follow Honey and Jonathan on Instagram - @honeykinny and @mewossyFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

It's a very special one this week - we’re out for a North London stroll with an iconic podcasting duo... the wonderful Jonathan Ross and his equally wonderful and talented screenwriter daughter, Honey Ross!The Ross Family have a long history with dogs - and today we took a walk with Spooky and Pumpkin - who are both adorable Brussels Griffons. Together with Ray, they make quite the trio! This walk will hopefully give you an idea of why we love this incredible family so much - we discuss what it was like to live in a in a household with nine dogs, the experience of growing up under the white heat of fame and we also meet a very important character from Honey’s childhood called Evil Baby…Jonathan previously appeared on this podcast back in August 2017 - he goes into detail about his family history and origin story with dogs. You can listen to that episode here!Honey and Jonathan’s fantastic podcast Reel Talk is available wherever you get your podcasts. It’s genuinely a thing of total joy - so we really urge you to give it a listen. Follow Honey and Jonathan on Instagram - @honeykinny and @mewossyFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

We’re in Brentford this week with the brilliant author and broadcaster James O’Brien and his cavapoo Polly. Polly and Ray were on their best behaviour as we chat about James’ first ever phone-in show on LBC, how he approaches conflict off-air and his feelings about being ‘low-key’ famous…Follow James on X @mrjamesobGet your copy of How They Broke Britain hereYou can listen to James’ podcast Full Disclosure on all podcast platforms, and you can hear him on LBC every weekday from 10am Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

Joining Emily and Raymond on Walking The Dog this week is award-winning radio presenter and bestselling author James O’Brien - with his gorgeous cavapoo Polly! James had an unfortunate incident with a Bassett Hound when he was younger - and he spent many of the following years as a strong objector to all things dog-mucus-related. However, since Polly has come into his life, he’s come round to the dog side. We discuss talking openly about adoption, the impact of his private education and his subsequent teenage rebellions. James also tells us about his extraordinary entry into journalism - which involved John Major and a suit.... and also a very memorable encounter with Sean Connery!Follow James on X @mrjamesobGet your copy of How They Broke Britain hereYou can listen to James’ podcast Full Disclosure on all podcast platforms, and you can hear him on LBC every weekday from 10am!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett