Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

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.

We’re in Dulwich Park with the fabulous Layton Williams!

Layton tells us all about levelling up his career by appearing on Strictly Come Dancing - and how he dealt with criticism about entering the show with a background in dance.

He also tells us about his friendship with fellow former-Billy Elliot Tom Holland, how he dealt with rejection as a child star and how he met his partner in a mosh pit at Glastonbury.

Layton’s next project is playing the Iceberg (bitch!) in Titanique - New York’s award winning hit musical that is debuting in London on 9th December. You can get your tickets here!

Follow Layton on Instagram @laytonwilliams

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.

IN a special bonus podcast, Emily talks to Grief Encounters hosts Sasha and Venetia about “starting again” after a series of painful losses, all accounted beautifully in her new memoir Everybody Died, So I Got a Dog. The books jarring title is completely indicative to the tone of the conversation, as Emily refuses to speak gently about the painful realities of grief. Now, she is the only survivor of her immediate family and in her interview with Sasha and Venetia, she speaks in great detail of how this strange reality came to be.

The Deans are a genuinely extraordinary family. Her Dad was a famous TV personality and her mother an actress. Her relationship with both of them throughout the years was turbulent at times. “It was a peripatetic, slightly unstable childhood. Lot’s of bohemian artists, who were great fun to be around, but if you wan’t fish fingers on the table at 5pm, they’re not your people.” In contrast to this, Emily’s relationship with her sister Rachael meant more than anything in the world to her “I called my sister my lighthouse, she was home.”

Emily’s whole world turned completely on its head in December 2011. Rachael suddenly became very ill, and passed away less than a month later from an aggressive form of cancer. In 2014, her mother was diagnosed with MND, passing away a year later, shortly followed by the death of her father a few months after. Within three short years she was completely on her own.

“There’s something about the family you have grown up, in whatever form that takes, that defines you. It is who you are. “ I had moments where I would go to ring my sister, with something funny, or if I had passed somewhere. And then you’d get this sinking feeling of I’ve got no one to tell, no one understands this”

Emily is a fascinating character, and an incredibly smart and intelligent woman who’s absolute love for her sister is still incredibly evident eight years on from her loss. Her conversation sparked many tears, huge moments of laughter, and that was within the first 10 minutes alone.

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Music by: Nctrnm

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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.

This week on Walking The Dog, we’re taking a look back at some of our favourite walks of the past year!

In this episode you will hear clips from the following episodes:

Lee Mack

Suzi Ruffell

Frank Skinner

Gabby Logan

Phil Wang

Angela Barnes

James O’Brien

Ed Gamble

Ross Noble

James Middleton

Click the links to listen to any of these episodes in full!

This episode contains some very strong language

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.