Share
Walking The Dog with Emily Dean
Louise Minchin (Part One)
•
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 @louiseminchin
Follow Emily:
Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean
X - @divine_miss_em
Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence
Music: Rich Jarman
Artwork: Alice Ludlam
Photography: Karla Gowlett
More episodes
View all episodes
Sally Lindsay (Part One)
39:56|This week, we’re in South East London with the brilliant actress and producer Sally Lindsay. Now, it’s not often that this happens - but Sally’s dog Davey is giving Raymond a run for his money on the hairstyle front… she’s a Hungarian Puli with the most fantastic coat you’ve ever seen! Head to Em’s Instagram to see all her majesty for yourself...We absolutely adored our walk with Sally - we chatted about her fascinating childhood… she did everything from living in a nightclub to having a number one single. Sally has had an incredible acting career - from her early scene stealing appearance on the Royle family to going on to be the longest ever landlord of The Rovers Return. She’s a woman of immense warmth and talent - and her latest project, The Madame Blanc Mysteries has returned for a fourth series. The much-loved crime drama created by and starring Sally will take us back to the wonderful world of Sainte Victoire, packed with unusual antiques and objéts d’art, murder, mystery, sunshine and laughter. You can stream the new series on 5 - and you can catch new episodes on Channel 5 at 9pm on Thursdays!Follow @sallylindsay73 on InstagramFollow @madameblancofficial on InstagramFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Olivia Bowen (Part Two)
43:21|We’re in Essex with wonderful Olivia Bowen - and Winnie, her absolutely adorable Frenchie!We find out whether Olivia feels like people underestimate her because she went on Love Island. She also opens up about her recent baby loss, and why she has chosen to speak publicly about vanishing twin syndrome. Olivia welcomed us into her beautiful home - and she told us all about how she expresses her creativity through interior design. She explains why it was so important to build a career for her family beyond the typical reality star trajectory. You can see Olivia’s beautiful home on Instagram on @thebowenhome!Follow @oliviadbowen on Instagram Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Olivia Bowen (Part One)
37:27|Join us in Essex with the fabulous television personality Olivia Bowen and her Frenchie, Winnie! Olivia first shot to fame on the second series of ITV’s Love Island - where she met her now husband Alex. She and Alex have a lovely little boy called Abel, and they are currently expecting another little girl! Olivia very kindly welcomed us into her beautiful home - and then we headed out onto the rolling hills just beyond her gate. We spoke about the restorative power of horse riding, how she was a socially aware child who predicted her parents’ divorce, and how she went from selling pens and living in government-owned housing to gaining millions of followers after appearing on one of the country’s most popular reality shows. Follow @oliviadbowen on Instagram Follow @thebowenhome on InstagramFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Katherine Ryan and Bobby Kootstra (Part Two)
32:45|We’re in North London with our favourite showbiz couple - Katherine Ryan and Bobby Kootstra, with their dogs Manny and Cardi B. We adore Katherine and Bobby here on Walking The Dog, and we were thrilled to take a walk with them to get to the heart of their relationship and their attitude towards family life. We find out if it’s possible to have TOO much self confidence, how Bobby was tricked into seeing a therapist and how attachment parenting has affected their relationship.Follow @kathbum on Instagram Follow @bobby_k__ on InstagramAt Home With Katherine Ryan can be streamed for free on U You can listen to Katherine's podcast Telling Everybody Everything wherever you get your podcasts!Katherine is currently on her tour with her brilliant show Battleaxe. You can buy tickets here!You can listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Katherine from May 2017 here You can listen to Emily and Ray’s second walk with Katherine from April 2025 hereFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Katherine Ryan and Bobby Kootstra (Part One)
39:07|Today, we’re going on a walk with showbiz’s most fabulous couple… it’s Katherine Ryan and Bobby K! We’re pretty much obsessed with Katherine and Bobby’s love story… which started when they were at high school together in their hometown of Sarnia, Ontario. Twenty years later, they reconnected in a very rom-com style when Katherine was filming Who Do You Think You Are.We met Katherine and Bobby with their dogs Manny and Cardi B in North London - we discussed everything from the pressure boys feel when they experience the death of their fathers, how Katherine’s daughter Violet reacted to Bobby joining their family and the secret to their relationship success. Follow @kathbum on Instagram Follow @bobby_k__ on InstagramAt Home With Katherine Ryan can be streamed for free on U You can listen to Katherine's podcast Telling Everybody Everything wherever you get your podcasts!Katherine is currently on her tour with her brilliant show Battleaxe. You can buy tickets here!You can listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Katherine from May 2017 here You can listen to Emily and Ray’s second walk with Katherine from April 2025 hereFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Coco Mellors (Part Two)
35:07|Join Emily and Raymond in Clissold Park with the New York Times bestselling author Coco Mellors! Coco tells us her incredibly inspiring literary story, her experience of being taught at NYU by Martin Amis, and the hard work it took to publish her first novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein. Blue Sisters is the moving, funny, story of three sisters dealing with grief and addiction in the wake of the deal of their beloved fourth sister Nicky. Emily and Coco discuss sibling grief and the process of writing such an emotional topic. You can buy your copy of Blue Sisters here!The Sunday Times Bestseller Cleopatra and Frankenstein is an addictive, humorous, and poignant debut novel about the shock waves caused by a couple’s impulsive marriage. You can get your copy here! Follow @cocomellors on InstagramFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Coco Mellors (Part One)
32:41|This week we’re joined by one of our most glamorous guests ever - it’s the fabulous author Coco Mellors… and she met us in Clissold Park straight off the plane from New York!Coco is the New York Times bestselling author of Cleopatra and Frankenstein and Blue Sisters. She grew up in London and moved to New York as a teenager, where she received her MFA in fiction from New York University. Coco tells us about her childhood pugs and hamsters - and what it was like to grow up with a therapist mother and creative director father. We find out where her passion for writing came from - and how she chose to become sober at the age of 26. Follow @cocomellors on InstagramBlue Sisters is the moving, funny, story of three sisters dealing with grief and addiction in the wake of the deal of their beloved fourth sister Nicky. It’s out in paperback now - and you can get your copy here!The Sunday Times Bestseller Cleopatra and Frankenstein is an addictive, humorous, and poignant debut novel about the shock waves caused by a couple’s impulsive marriage. You can get your copy here!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Rory Cellan-Jones with Sophie from Romania (Part Two)
28:04|We’re back in West London with Rory Cellan-Jones and Sophie from Romania! In this part of our conversation, we discuss Rory’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, what it’s like to host a podcast with Jeremy Paxman and how he feels about being known for being Sophie’s dad. Follow @rorycellan on InstagramRory’s written a brilliant book which follows the real journey of Sophie’s adoption – from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first time outside – as Rory and his wife Diane work to win Sophie’s trust and navigate Rory’s Parkinson’s disease. It is a moving story of love, kindness and a lot of patience, paying tribute to rescue dogs and their tender community. You can buy your copy here!You can get your copy of Ruskin Park hereYou can listen to Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson’s wherever you get your podcasts! You can listen to Emily and Ray’s walk with Jeremy Paxman from August 2020 here Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett
Rory Cellan-Jones with Sophie from Romania (Part One)
36:20|This week - we’re with one of the nation’s most loved dogs, Sophie from Romania - and her fantastic owner, Rory Cellan-Jones. Rory is a journalist and he is best known for being a BBC News technology correspondent. Rory was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in May 2019 and left the BBC after 40 years in 2021. Then in December 2022 - Rory and his wife Diane adopted their Romanian rescue dog, Sophie. Rory documented Sophie’s progress settling her new life on social media - and she subsequently grew a huge following, and changed Rory’s life! In this part of our chat, we discuss Rory’s early life, growing up with a single mother, reconnecting with his father and the experience of welcoming a nervous rescue dog into his family. Follow @rorycellan on InstagramYou can get your copy of Sophie From Romania hereYou can get your copy of Ruskin Park hereYou can listen to Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson’s wherever you get your podcasts! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett