Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with Nick Knowles, Nick takes us behind the scenes of DIY SOS and explains just how much work, care and love goes into creating the transformations we see on screen.

He talks about the people and communities at the heart of the programme, why the show has remained so important to him after 26 years, and what it’s like being there when months of planning and hard graft finally come together.

Nick also opens up about the less straightforward side of being a familiar face, from dealing with press attention to the strange ways fame can affect your everyday life.

If you haven’t already, catch up on part one of Emily’s walk with Nick. And you can see the current series of DIY SOS on Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One.

Follow Emily:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadean
X: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_em

Walking The Dog is produced by Will Nichols
Music: Rich Jarman
Artwork: Alice Ludlam
Photography: Karla Gowlett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll with Nick Knowles, who has been at the helm of DIY SOS for an incredible 26 years, or, as Emily prefers to call it, Time for My Weekly Cry.

Nick grew up on a council estate in West London, left school at 16 and spent the next few years doing just about every job imaginable. He tells Emily how he eventually blagged his way into television with the help of some questionably acquired BBC letterhead, beginning a broadcasting career that has made him one of the most recognisable faces on British TV.

There are stories from a remarkably adventure-packed life, from working with David Attenborough and orangutans to chatting with Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace, plus the fabulous revelation that Nick once owned a pair of chinchillas. He also looks back on his adventures in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

And, of course, they delve into DIY SOS, the extraordinary people Nick has met through the programme and the communities who come together to transform the lives of families going through incredibly difficult times. The current series airs Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One.

It’s a candid, entertaining and occasionally unexpected stroll with a man who has accumulated more stories than most, all delivered, appropriately enough, while wearing a cowboy hat. Now Emily just needs to persuade him to find a tiny high-vis for Ray.

Follow Emily:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadean
X: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_em

Walking The Dog is produced by Will Nichols
Music: Rich Jarman
Artwork: Alice Ludlam
Photography: Karla Gowlett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with Caitlin Moran and Luna, Caitlin turns her attention to something many of us could probably use a little more of right now: hope.

Her new book, How to Be Hopeful, grew out of a search for ways to feel more optimistic about the world without simply ignoring everything that’s wrong with it. Caitlin shares some of what she discovered along the way, and why seemingly small things - nature, community, getting outside and, inevitably, dogs - can make a surprisingly big difference.

There’s also more from Caitlin on her life, family and extraordinary career, as the conversation ranges from the deeply thoughtful to the gloriously silly.

If you haven’t already, do go back and listen to part one. Caitlin’s new book, How to Be Hopeful, is available to buy now.

Follow Emily:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadean
X: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_em

Walking The Dog is produced by Will Nichols
Music: Rich Jarman
Artwork: Alice Ludlam
Photography: Karla Gowlett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray take a North London stroll with columnist and bestselling author Caitlin Moran and her adorable cockapoo, Luna.

Caitlin chats about her extraordinary childhood growing up as the eldest of eight children on a council estate in Wolverhampton, largely educating herself through books from her local library, and the remarkable start to her career which saw her become a published novelist and award-winning journalist while she was still in her teens.

She’s since become one of Britain’s most celebrated writers, from her hugely popular column in The Times to the million-selling How to Be a Woman and a string of bestselling books. Caitlin talks about that journey and what she’s learned from a life spent writing about everything from feminism and family to culture, politics and the everyday absurdities of being human.

Her new book, How to Be Hopeful, sees Caitlin searching for ways to find a little more peace and optimism in a sometimes overwhelmingly gloomy world. From putting down the headphones and making space for wildlife to the strangely addictive pleasure of litter picking and, naturally, spending more time with dogs, it’s full of small, practical ways to bring a little more hope into everyday life. How to Be Hopeful is available now.

You can also hear Caitlin alongside gardening expert Adam Frost on their podcast Outsiding, celebrating the joys of getting outside and spending time in nature.

It’s a wonderfully candid, funny and uplifting walk with Caitlin and Luna – although Caitlin’s extremely generous approach to dog treats means Ray may have fallen in love just a little bit harder than Emily did.

Follow Emily:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadean
X: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_em

Walking The Dog is produced by Will Nichols
Music: Rich Jarman
Artwork: Alice Ludlam
Photography: Karla Gowlett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Emily and Ray’s chat with the wonderful Harriet Kemsley, Harriet opens up about motherhood and how having her daughter gave her a sense of self-worth and confidence she’d never really experienced before. It’s a beautifully honest and moving conversation about how becoming a parent changed the way she sees herself.

Harriet also talks about her rise through comedy, her experience appearing on Last One Laughing, and her podcast Single Ladies In Your Area.

Plus, there’s more on Harriet’s brand new stand-up show, Floozy, which heads out on tour this autumn with dates across the country through to February. You can book tickets now at HarrietKemsley.com.

If you haven’t already, do go back and listen to part one for more from Harriet, Sunny and, of course, Ray-Ray.

Follow Emily:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadean
X: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_em

Walking The Dog is produced by Will Nichols
Music: Rich Jarman
Artwork: Alice Ludlam
Photography: Karla Gowlett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.