We’re at Goodwood this week with the brilliant Kevin McCloud! 

Kevin tells us about how a Channel 4 commissioner initially didn’t think he was the right presenter for Grand Designs, how he feels about having uncomfortable conversations on the show, and whether he makes a habit of judging other people’s homes. 

Grand Designs celebrated its 25th year in 2024. You can watch every episode on Channel 4!

Follow @Kevin.mccloud1 on Instagram 

Follow @goodwoofdogs on Instagram

Follow @goodwood on Instagram

Goodwoof will be taking place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May 2025. Early bird tickets are available now here!  Kevin will be appearing at the event as part of Barkitecture. 

Thank you to The Goodwood Hotel for kindly hosting us in one of their lovely dog-friendly rooms during our trip to East Sussex. The Hotel has 12 dog-friendly rooms. Dogs are provided with a bed, bowls, bags and treats.

The Kennels is the clubhouse for all of Goodwood Estate's members, a home away from home for those looking to relax and enjoy superb food in stylish surroundings.

Dogs are welcome at The Kennels and can also join as members with a Kennels' Dog Membership. Dog members receive a personalised dog bowl and their membership helps support the work of The Kennels' chosen charity, Hounds for Heroes.

Walking the Dog was given special access to the Goodwood Estate, exploring The Kennels, where Goodwoof is held. There are a number of permissive paths across the Estate – further details can be found here. We ask that dogs are kindly kept on a lead when walking on the Estate.

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Emily and Ray for a very special walk with designer, writer and television presenter Kevin McCloud! 

The stunning backdrop for our walk with Kevin is the beautiful grounds of Goodwood House in East Sussex. Kevin has a very special connection with Goodwood - as he is the curator of their Barkitecture design contest - which is held annually in aid of charity during a wonderful event called Goodwoof.

Kevin does claim to be able to speak dog - as he has three dog grandchildren, but his time at home is currently being taken up by two elderly cats.

He tells us all about how he grew up surrounded by design, his year learning Italian on a Tuscan vineyard and how he felt he didn’t fit in at Cambridge University. 

Grand Designs celebrated its 25th year in 2024. You can watch every episode on Channel 4!

Follow @Kevin.mccloud1 on Instagram 

Follow @goodwoofdogs on Instagram

Follow @goodwood on Instagram

Goodwoof will be taking place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May 2025. Early bird tickets are available now here!  Kevin will be appearing at the event as part of Barkitecture. 

Thank you to The Goodwood Hotel for kindly hosting us in one of their lovely dog-friendly rooms during our trip to East Sussex. The Hotel has 12 dog-friendly rooms. Dogs are provided with a bed, bowls, bags and treats.

The Kennels is the clubhouse for all of Goodwood Estate's members, a home away from home for those looking to relax and enjoy superb food in stylish surroundings.

Dogs are welcome at The Kennels and can also join as members with a Kennels' Dog Membership. Dog members receive a personalised dog bowl and their membership helps support the work of The Kennels' chosen charity, Hounds for Heroes.

Walking the Dog was given special access to the Goodwood Estate, exploring The Kennels, where Goodwoof is held. There are a number of permissive paths across the Estate – further details can be found here. We ask that dogs are kindly kept on a lead when walking on the Estate.

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for the second half of our walk with Josh Widdicombe!

Josh tells us about changing as a person and how he tried to heal his toxic relationship with work. We also find out how Parenting Hell makes him feel a little like a Kardashian… and how sharing more about himself has made him a better comedian. 

We also find out how Josh is getting on getting ready for his appearance on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special - you can watch him on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day! 

Josh will be touring the UK with his new show Not My Cup of Tea across 2025 and 2026. Extra dates have been added due to phenomenal demand - so head to https://www.joshwiddicombe.com/ to get your tickets now!

Listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Josh from February 2019

Josh’s book Watching Neighbours Twice a Day...: How ’90s TV (Almost) Prepared Me For Life is available now!

Parenting Hell with Josh Widdicombe and Rob Beckett is available on all podcast platforms

Follow @Josh_Widdicombe on Instagram

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re in Hyde Park today with our old pal the comedian, presenter and actor Josh Widdicombe! 

Josh and Ray have a bit of backstory - the pretty much fell in love when Josh last appeared on the podcast in 2019. We were thrilled to go on another walk with him - because we have a LOT to catch up on…

We find out what Josh thinks will be featured on his obituary, the effect of growing up in a very isolated place, and how life has changed thanks to his podcast Parenting Hell which he co-hosts with Rob Beckett. 

Josh will be touring the UK with his new show Not My Cup of Tea across 2025 and 2026. Extra dates have been added due to phenomenal demand - so head to https://www.joshwiddicombe.com/ to get your tickets now!

Listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Josh from February 2019

Josh’s book Watching Neighbours Twice a Day...: How ’90s TV (Almost) Prepared Me For Life is available now!

You can watch Josh on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, which will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day!

Parenting Hell with Josh Widdicombe and Rob Beckett is available on all podcast platforms

Follow @Josh_Widdicombe on Instagram

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the second part of our conversation with musical powerhouse Marisha Wallace.

Marisha tells us all about her interpretations of the iconic roles of Ado Annie in Oklahoma and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. She tells us about finding out she was nominated for an Olivier Award in the Celebrity Big Brother house. Marisha also speaks candidly about being a victim of a cruel financial scam, and how she has moved forward from that low point.

We spoke to Marisha on the day it was announced she will be taking over the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret from January 2025. Marisha explains what it means to be a black woman playing that iconic role, and how hard she has worked to get to this point. 

On 11th March - Marisha is returning to the Adelphi Theatre for her biggest ever headline show. It's going to be an absolutely spectacular evening of music - and you can find out more information and get your tickets here!

Marisha will be playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret from 28th January 2025 - get your tickets here!

Marisha is also currently playing The Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood at The London Palladium - get your tickets here!

Follow @marishawallace on Instagram

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re joined by the two-time Olivier Award nominated singer and actress Marisha Wallace!

Marisha has the most incredible, powerful voice - so we spoke to her at home in order to preserve her precious instrument from the bad weather!

Growing up on a hog farm in North Carolina, Marisha is no stranger to dogs... she tells us all about her favourite ever dog - a boxer called Chaos (who had a matching personality!) 

After starting singing at the age of five in the church - Marisha tells us about how she learned to use her talent as currency, before finding out she needed vocal surgery at the age of 17. Marisha's big break came in the US tour of Book of Mormon - before getting the call to make her West End debut playing Effy White in Dreamgirls, with only five days notice…

On 11th March - Marisha is returning to the Adelphi Theatre for her biggest ever headline show. It's going to be an absolutely spectacular evening of music - and you can find out more information and get your tickets here!

Marisha will be playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret from 28th January 2025 - get your tickets here!

Marisha is also currently playing The Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood at The London Palladium - get your tickets here!

Follow @marishawallace on Instagram

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re in Battersea Park with Lloyd Griffith! 

Lloyd tells us about his recent experience of having a hair transplant, his love for hi-vis and the importance of being ready to appear on TV as a comic. 

He also tells us the story of auditioning for a part in Return To Paradise - the second spin-off series of long-running crime series Death In Paradise - and what it was like to move to Australia to film the series. All six episodes of Return to Paradise are now available on BBC iPlayer, with the series airing weekly on BBC One from 8pm every Friday! 

Follow @lloydgriffith on Instagram

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Emily and Ray with comedian, actor, presenter and singer Lloyd Griffith - in his spiritual home, London’s Battersea Park! 

Lloyd tells us all about growing up in Grimsby with his mum and sister and then how is life changed when he got a scholarship to St James’ Choir School. 

Lloyd reveals what it's like to walk into a room knowing you can sing, being known for being ‘Diane’s son’ in Grimsby, and his search for this comedic voice. 

All six episodes of Return to Paradise are now available on BBC iPlayer, with the series airing weekly on BBC One from 8pm every Friday! 

Follow @lloydgriffith on Instagram

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with the brilliant Luke Evans in St James’s Park! And guess what... he’s still carrying Raymond!

Luke tells us how he went from being a jobbing actor to a Hollywood movie star - and he tells us an extraordinary story about one of the ways he made money when he needed it… 

We chat about how it felt to have his sexuality under scrutiny again after he broke through to stardom and what happened after left his religion. 

And, of course, we chat about Beauty and The Beast. Luke also treated us to a couple of bars of Gaston… much to the surprise and delight of the general public in St James’s Park!

You can get your copy of Luke’s brilliant book Boy From The Valleys here!

Follow @TheRealLukeEvans on Instagram 

Keep up with all things Luke at lukeevansofficial.com 

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re in London’s St James’s Park with Luke Evans!

Raymond and Luke pretty much fell in love with each other from the moment they met - Ray spent the entire walk cradled in Luke’s arms… lucky Raymond, eh?! 

Growing up, Luke had a collection of cats and an aviary of birds with his parents, who were Jehovah’s Witnesses. He opens up about how that affected his childhood, and how it feels to have written about it in his autobiography. He tells us how he came to terms with his sexuality in a religion which had no tolerance for homosexuality, and his rather brilliant grandma!

You can get your copy of Luke’s brilliant book Boy From The Valleys here!

Follow @TheRealLukeEvans on Instagram 

Keep up with all things Luke at lukeevansofficial.com 

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back at home with Cherry Healey and her beautiful cat House Party!

Cherry tells us all about how her brilliant career as a documentary maker started thanks to a conversation by a fridge at a house party, how she felt after throwing up on TV and how she navigated complicated feelings about losing her dad. 

We also find out all about series nine of Inside The Factory - with her new co-presenter Paddy McGuinness. You can watch their Christmas special over the festive period - and catch the new series on BBC One in early 2025. 

You can buy your copy of Cherry’s brilliant book Letters To My Fanny here

Follow @cherryhealey on Instagram 

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 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.