This week, Emily and Ray are in North London with the fabulous actress and singer Shona McGarty, and her adorable chihuahua Cici! 

Shona is well known for having played Whitney Dean in EastEnders - first landing the role when she was just 16 years old. She tells us all about growing up in Borehamwood, a stone’s throw from where EastEnders is filmed - and what led her to joining one of the UK’s most popular soaps. She also tells us about the advice she received from Barbara Windsor that she’ll never forget, her drum-and-bass dancing granny and her hatred of plastic shoes. 

Follow @shonabmx on Instagram

Follow @shona.mcgarty_shoniqua on TikTok

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 in Thorndon Country Park with the brilliant Ferne McCann and her lovely cockapoo Clemmie! 

Ferne tells us all about how going into the jungle for I’m A Celebrity changed everything for her, why she always says yes and she gives us an update on her very exciting new project…

We also chat about Ferne’s brilliant reality show - My Family and Me - how it bought her out of a challenging period in her life and then why she made the very difficult decision to bring the show to an end. 

Ferne is currently starring in the 2025 series of Dancing On Ice - you can watch Dancing On Ice on Sundays on ITV1 and ITVX!

Follow @fernemccann on Instagram

All episodes of Ferne McCann: My Family and Me are available on ITVX

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 Essex’s Thorndon Country Park with the fabulous Ferne McCann and her cockapoo Clemmie! Clemmie is a bit like her owner - charismatic, charming and incredibly well-groomed. 

Ferne tells us all about growing up in Essex - and how she started out her working life as a colourist at Vidal Sassoon, but knew that she was destined to do something more! We find out how she became a part of the cast of The Only Way Is Essex, and eventually what led to her making the decision to leave the show. 

Ferne is currently starring in the 2025 series of Dancing On Ice - you can watch Dancing On Ice on Sundays on ITV1 and ITVX!

Follow @fernemccann on Instagram

All episodes of Ferne McCann: My Family and Me are available on ITVX!

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 in Victoria Park on a freezing cold day with the wonderful Chloe Petts! 

In this part of our conversation, Chloe tells us about what comes after having a brilliant debut in Edinburgh, her reaction to being trolled and she also reveals some tales from being tour with Ed Gamble and Frank Skinner…

Chloe brings her brand-new show, How You See Me, How You Don’t, nationwide as part of her third UK tour, kicking off with a two-week run at London’s Soho Theatre, Downstairs from Monday 13th – Saturday 25th January at 7.15pm and running till Sunday 9th March at Brighton Komedia. Full dates and tickets at chloepetts.org

Follow @chloepetts 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.

For our first walk of 2025, we’re in East London’s Victoria Park with the brilliant comedian Chloe Petts! 

With a name like Petts - we had high expectations that Chloe was going to be a dog person… and we weren’t disappointed! Chloe told us all about her imaginary golden retriever and then her *real* childhood dog Grady - who had a rather flirty entry into The Petts Household. 

Chloe tells us about the perks of being misgendered, the anxiety of her early years in comedy and what it was like to have a mum who worked as a forensic scientist. 

Chloe brings her brand-new show, How You See Me, How You Don’t, nationwide as part of her third UK tour, kicking off with a two-week run at London’s Soho Theatre, Downstairs from Monday 13th – Saturday 25th January at 7.15pm and running till Sunday 9th March at Brighton Komedia. Full dates and tickets at chloepetts.org

Follow @chloepetts 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 best bits from 2024! 

In this episode, you’ll hear clips from the following episodes: 

Katherine Ryan

David Baddiel

Tim Key

Richard Arnold

Pierre Novellie

Jonathan Ross and Honey Ross

Bella Mackie

Ed Balls

Layton Williams

Luke Evans

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

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.

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.