Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

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. 

This week on Walking The Dog - we’re joined by TV presenter and queen of documentaries, Cherry Healey! 

Raymond is recovering from feeling a bit under the weather this week, so we spoke to Cherry from home… which meant we got to meet her spectacular Maine Coon, who is fabulously named House Party. 

Cherry grew up with dogs, but in her adult life she’s been a cat owner. She tells us the heartbreaking story of losing her beloved cat Party Time (yes, another fabulous name) and her childhood dog Mouflon, who she describes as a 'layered being'...

We also find out how Cherry thrived at boarding school, how she feels about being popular and whether being beautiful can be a curse.

The ninth series of Inside The Factory will be out on BBC One in early 2025!

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. 

It’s time to Live, Laugh, Layton! 

This week - Emily and Ray are in Dulwich Park with actor, singer, dancer and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Layton Williams! 

Layton is quite possibly one of the most charismatic people that we’ve ever met. He’s immensely warm, authentic and knows his own worth - so even though he doesn’t have a dog, we’re pretty much in love!

Starting life out on an estate in Bury, Layton went on to play the lead role in the West End production of Billy Elliot. Layton tells us about moving to London - LONDON ?! - and how it felt when he had his voice break while playing a young Michael Jackson in Thriller. 

We’re in Battersea Park with the brilliantly interesting and incredibly warm Amanda Wakeley - the legendary fashion designer!

Amanda tells us about some of the extraordinary people that she’s dressed in her career - including the late Princess Diana. She also tells us how she averted a near-international incident by helping Theresa May choose the outfit she wore while taking office. We also hear the real story behind the infamous ‘trouser-gate’...

We then discuss Amanda closing her label after the pandemic - and how she feels about entering a new chapter and navigating grief simultaneously.  

We highly recommend you listen to Amanda’s podcast Style DNA - where she speaks to extraordinary people about their personal styles and the psychology behind the clothes they wear. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts!