This week we’re joined by one of our most glamorous guests ever - it’s the fabulous author Coco Mellors… and she met us in Clissold Park straight off the plane from New York!

Coco is the New York Times bestselling author of Cleopatra and Frankenstein and Blue Sisters. She grew up in London and moved to New York as a teenager, where she received her MFA in fiction from New York University.

Coco tells us about her childhood pugs and hamsters - and what it was like to grow up with a therapist mother and creative director father. We find out where her passion for writing came from - and how she chose to become sober at the age of 26.

Follow @cocomellors on Instagram

Blue Sisters is the moving, funny, story of three sisters dealing with grief and addiction in the wake of the deal of their beloved fourth sister Nicky. It’s out in paperback now - and you can get your copy here!

The Sunday Times Bestseller Cleopatra and Frankenstein is an addictive, humorous, and poignant debut novel about the shock waves caused by a couple’s impulsive marriage. You can get your copy here!

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 West London with Rory Cellan-Jones and Sophie from Romania!

In this part of our conversation, we discuss Rory’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, what it’s like to host a podcast with Jeremy Paxman and how he feels about being known for being Sophie’s dad.

Follow @rorycellan on Instagram

Rory’s written a brilliant book which follows the real journey of Sophie’s adoption – from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first time outside – as Rory and his wife Diane work to win Sophie’s trust and navigate Rory’s Parkinson’s disease. It is a moving story of love, kindness and a lot of patience, paying tribute to rescue dogs and their tender community. You can buy your copy here!

You can get your copy of Ruskin Park here

You can listen to Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson’s wherever you get your podcasts!

You can listen to Emily and Ray’s walk with Jeremy Paxman from August 2020 here

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 with one of the nation’s most loved dogs, Sophie from Romania - and her fantastic owner, Rory Cellan-Jones.

Rory is a journalist and he is best known for being a BBC News technology correspondent. Rory was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in May 2019 and left the BBC after 40 years in 2021.

Then in December 2022 - Rory and his wife Diane adopted their Romanian rescue dog, Sophie. Rory documented Sophie’s progress settling her new life on social media - and she subsequently grew a huge following, and changed Rory’s life!

In this part of our chat, we discuss Rory’s early life, growing up with a single mother, reconnecting with his father and the experience of welcoming a nervous rescue dog into his family.

Follow @rorycellan on Instagram

You can get your copy of Sophie From Romania here

You can get your copy of Ruskin Park here

You can listen to Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson’s wherever you get your podcasts!

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.