Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

Today we’re in South London’s Burgess Park with television presenter, choreographer and professional dancer Janette Manrara - and we have a very special bonus guest - her daughter Lyra! Janette is best known for appearing as a professional dance on Strictly Come Dancing - and since 2021 she has co-hosted Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two! Janette is married to her Strictly co-star Aljaž Škorjanec and their daughter Lyra was born in July 2023 - we think she was pretty taken by Raymond (and the geese!) Janette has a history with dogs back at home in Miami - but life as a performing family means that she doesn’t have a dog at the moment… but there may be one in the future! After her family immigrated from Cuba to Miami, Janette tells us about being a happy child in a happy household and how that gave her a positive outlook on life. She tells the story of how she went from working in a bank to becoming a professional dancer - and what happened when she met Aljaž for the first time… was it love at first sight?! Tiny Dancer, Big World: How to Find Fulfilment from the Inside Out is out on Thursday 12th September - you can buy your copy hereFollow Janette on Instagram @JManaraFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

Emily and Ray take a walk with Phil Wang in Peckham Rye Park for the second part of this week’s Walking The Dog! Phil tells us about being the president of the Cambridge Footlights, how he feels about celebrating his successes and making the decision to spend more money on his haircut. He also tells us what it was like to record his new Netflix special by candlelight... Phil’s absolutely hilarious new special Wang In There, Baby! is available on Netflix nowOrder Phil’s book Sidesplitter: How To Be From Two Worlds At Once hereBudPod with Phil Wang and Pierre Novellie is available wherever you get your podcasts!Follow Phil on Instagram @wangpixFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

This week Emily and Ray met the brilliant comedian Phil Wang for a stroll round Peckham Rye Park! Phil is a former dog-hater, but he and Raymond got on very well. Phil even offered to carry Ray and gave him a whole new perspective on the world. After being born in the same hospital as Robbie Williams - Phil spent what he describes as a ‘nice but boring’ childhood growing up in Malaysia, before moving back to the UK for school and university. Phil tells us about how he embraces otherness and being an escapist - and he reveals why he is very cautious about long grass. Phil’s absolutely hilarious new special Wang In There, Baby! is available on Netflix nowOrder Phil’s book Sidesplitter: How To Be From Two Worlds At Once hereBudPod with Phil Wang and Pierre Novellie is available wherever you get your podcasts!Follow Phil on Instagram @wangpixFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

Join Emily and Ray for the second part of our chat with the brilliant chef, author and social media sensation Poppy O’Toole - and her dogs Crypto and Red. We discuss Poppy’s worst ever mistake in the kitchen, how she has accidentally gained a reputation for innuendo, and Emily takes the opportunity to get some potato advice from the Potato Queen herself. The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook is out on 12th September - featuring 90 mouth-watering recipes that focus on ease and convenience without breaking the bank or sacrificing flavour, this is the book you need to get great food on the table at the end of a busy day. You can pre-order your copy here!Follow Poppy on Instagram @Poppy_CooksFollow Poppy on TikTok @poppycooksFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

Emily and Ray have taken a trip up to Worcestershire this week for a walk with professional chef, TikTok star and Sunday Times bestselling author Poppy O’Toole - who is better known as Poppy Cooks. Poppy has two dogs: a pug called Crypto and a German Shepherd called Red. Together with Ray - they make a very unlikely gang of dog pals! Poppy tells us about how losing her job as a chef in the pandemic led her to becoming a social media sensation with over 5 million total followers. She shares some of the difficult experiences she has had as a young female chef, and she tells us about a surprisingly delicious frozen supermarket paella. The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook is out on 12th September - featuring 90 mouth-watering recipes that focus on ease and convenience without breaking the bank or sacrificing flavour, it is the book you need to get great food on the table at the end of a busy day. You can pre-order your copy here!Follow Poppy on Instagram @Poppy_CooksFollow Poppy on TikTok @poppycooksFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett 

The wonderful Louise Minchin joins Emily and Raymond from home in Cheshire this week, with her lovely labradors Waffle and Ruby!In this part of our chat, Louise tells us about her time presenting BBC Breakfast, her fight for equal pay and then why she ultimately made the decision to leave (much to Emily's dismay!)We also chat about Louise’s brilliant new book Isolation Island - and how her love for reality tv and going on I’m A Celebrity inspired her to write such a gripping thriller. Isolation Island will be out on 12th September - you can pre-order your copy here, or you can buy a signed 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 

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