Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Ed Gamble (Part Two)

Episode Date: August 15, 2024

Emily and Raymond are in Walthamstow this week with the comedian Ed Gamble! Ed has been podcasting since 2006 - so he’s a real OG! We chat to him about the huge success of his podcast Off Menu. Is he the McCartney to James Acaster’s Lennon? And how does he feel about Emily's starter, main and dessert choice?We also chat about Ed’s proposal, how he feels about staying up late and his attitude towards small plates. Get your tickets for Ed’s 2024 tour Hot Diggity Dog at https://edgamble.co.uk/ Listen to Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster wherever you get your podcasts! Ed’s brilliant book Glutton is available in paperback and audiobook now - and we highly recommend it! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to part two of my chat with the wonderful comedian Ed Gamble. Do go and listen to Part 1 if you haven't already. You can catch Ed on tour this autumn in his new show, Hot Diggily Dog, so go get your tickets at edgamble.co.uk. And I'd also love it if you subscribe to us at Walking the Dog. Here's Ed and Ray Ray. You've got quite a strong work ethic, I think, haven't you? Sometimes, I definitely do.

What I do is while I'm working, I think, this is awful why can't I have some time off and then when I do have some time off I think what am I playing at? Because you know this is summertime now obviously I thought I'm going to have such a nice relaxing summer I'm not going to do anything I'm still up to all sorts of things well you are and you do I want to talk about your podcast as well which is obviously brilliant and you the podcast that well who isn't aware of the podcast you do with James Aicaston which is off menu and you've been doing it you're like me you're an OG with podcasting we were there in the early days.

Yeah. Because how long have you been doing, is it five, six years now? Longer than that, because I started, sorry, someone's phone in me. You take that, please do. Who it is. We don't mind. We're very cash here, so we allow our phone calls to be taking. My wife.

No, she knows I'm recording a bloody podcast. Raymond. Hello, I'm just recording this podcast. Well, you know when you're walking down towards Hackney Marshes and there's like a graffiti sort of bridge, we're sat under there on a. a picnic rug because we were with a little dog called Ray and it was too hot for him. All right, bye-bye, love you bye. Yes, sorry about that.

Where were we? You don't have to apologise. I love that, I love that conversation. I love that you ended it and you said love you. Yeah, why wouldn't I? I just loved it. There's a very low bar. That's a very low bar.

if you hear a husband say, I love you to their wife. You're like, well, I love that. Come on. Yeah, so the podcast you do with James, which we were just saying, you've been, so often you've been going for about, is it six, seven years? 2018, I think, off men you started. So six years. But I've been doing podcasts since 2006.

So I did the Peacock and Gamble podcast, 2006. So that is pretty. As far as I know, Jervais had done his, which I think is sort of, I would consider that sort of ground zero for British podcasting. They did the Guardian ones. And then as much as Richard Herring likes to claim he came before Ray Peacock's podcasts, he didn't. So yeah, we started doing R1 in 2006. So yeah, a long time. And then I stopped for ages and then, yeah, I've come back to it in a big way in the last sort of six or seven years, yeah.

And it's really taken off and sort of led to this slightly new aspect to your career as a food eat. Yeah, I mean, it's mad. I mean, yeah, obviously the food podcast is a massive thing in my career, but then also just noticed that if you say you like something as a comedian that isn't comedy, TV people will just absolutely jump on it and go, maybe you do a show about it. Like, okay, that's, I'm into that, that's great. and I'll definitely follow that. But now I'm just trying to be quieter about some of my hobbies

because I want them to stay as fun things that I like doing rather than spoil them with constant work. But, yeah, no, it has been great because now I get to, you know, I'm a judge on Great British menu and I do all of these different things. So, yeah. I'm fascinated by your dynamic with James because have you seen the documentary, let it be, the Beatles documentary? No, I haven't, no.

I recommend watching it because the dynamic between John Lennon and Paul McCartney is really interesting. Yeah. Because the sense that I always get, I think you always, there's always a Paul McCartney and a John Lennon. So the John Lennon is sort of slightly mad, creative genius. But then Paul McCartney is also a creative genius, but he's the architect. He's keeping everything in check. He's making sure that, you know, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds actually gets written or whatever.

Sure, sure, sure, yeah. He's making sure everything people turn up to recordings. Yeah, yeah, that's definitely my vibe. I was going to say, are you more? of an organised architect Paul McCartney than, and is James more of the John Lennon? Well, I'm going to go nowhere near the comparison with McCartney a Lennon. But if the question in general is, am I the more organised one, then the answer is yes. You're so worried that there's going to be a daily mail article saying Ed Gamble compares himself to Paul McCartney.

I am like Paul McCartney in that I'm across my calendar. That's the only, that's the only comparison I'll make. But you are the slightly more disciplined one in the relationship. When I say discipline, that's the wrong choice of word actually, because you know, you don't get to where James has got without having discipline. What I mean is performatively in your dynamic. Oh yeah, he's the chaotic one. Yeah, definitely within the dynamic. But no, James is very organised, I should say. But although very early on he did turn up, he forgot about one of the episodes and turned up 45 minutes late. And I've never let him forget that.

Like there is some truth to the dynamic. I'm definitely the slightly more head screwed on sensible one. But yeah, like you say, it's dialed up a little bit with James. Of course, he's not, you know, you can't get to that level without turning up to most of the stuff on time. But it has really taken off because I think it is largely due to your dynamic. Because the idea is great. But what makes it work is you just have this sense of unpredictability whenever you're listening to it. And of course you're listening to it and you know it's not just going to be.

So all I like this, it's like one of the best ones I've ever seen, which I really recommend people, you can actually watch this on, it was one of the lockdown ones, I think, and it's on YouTube. The one with Roshin, who's a mate of mine. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. You did one with Roshin quantity, and it was one of the most brilliantly chaotic. Everything, the feed kept going, you know, Roshin was... Which plays into Roshin's personality perfectly as well.

Yeah. Yeah, she's absolutely brilliant. And then Rosh was talking about bread for sort of 20 minutes. I mean, it's, I'm just really happy for you because you obviously love doing it and it's turned into this huge success as well. Yeah, I think it wouldn't have been as successful as it has been if we didn't clearly enjoy doing it so much. Like it's been, it's been really, really fun. And yeah, I hope people like it mainly because of me and James because, you know, we're booking guests every week. But I know I know that some people, you know, tune in for certain guests or they won't listen if they don't know who a guest is.

but I think the majority of people are like, well, I'm sure they'll get something out of them. They'll get something out of this. And it's very rarely specifically about food, but it's always fun when it is. But I like the tangents and the branches that go off it. And also, I think, oddly, you can tell a lot about someone from, even those things like start a main and dessert.

I think you can actually tell a lot about someone from that. Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I mean, sometimes you'll start talking to someone and you know it's not going to be about the food, because they'll have some boring starter or something. And you're like, right, we're not making this about food. Well, I won't tell you mine. Do you want to know mine?

I'm trying to think of the... Can you guess? Guess my starter main and dessert? Are you saying it's boring? Are you saying it's basic? I tell you what I would say. I would say I would say I have the palette of a 1950s Tory MP. Okay, prawn cocktail starter.

Nailed it? Um, well, Maine then is probably roast dinner or fish and chips. So close, Beef Wellington. Yeah, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's good. That's basically a roast dinner, isn't it? Is that dessert, sticky toffee pudding?

Eat and mess. Eat and mess, okay. Yeah, that's a little. I mean, that's basically the most popular answers, I think, are prawn cocktail, roast dinner, sticky toffee pudding. But I think that tells you, because I'm not adventurous. You like your spicy stuff. Oh, yeah. For sure, yeah.

I hate onions and... You hate onions? Onions are the basis of most food. I belong to a Reddit group called Fuck Onions. And we all post and help each other. Like on Christmas Day, people will say, be careful out there today, people. Some freaks putting onion in turk next to turkey stuffing. Onion does form the basis of most flavor.

But when would you eat it on its own? Never, because it's gross. But do you mind it being in other things? Because it's the spawn of Satan. It's Satan's root. That's what we call it on my Reddit group. I hate a fucking onion. With this, Beef Wellington, you're having gravy? Yeah. Yeah, there's probably onion at the base of that. Not in my gravy. Not in my kitchen, pal.

People are trained. I love onion. How do you about garlic? Do you know what I say? Good for you. Christian Bale once said. Garlic as well, Heston Blumenthal told me an interesting thing about garlic. Yeah.

When I said, funnily enough, when I said I can't bear onion and garlic, Heston said, you've eaten it the fat duck. Have you ever had a problem eating anything there? Yeah. You know those seven, you know, you know. Yeah, yeah. I said, no. He said, right, there's onion and garlic and everything.

It's because I use it properly. Yeah. And he said, if you're using onion and garlic properly, he shouldn't really be able to taste it. What I'm saying is if Heston Blumenthal was cooking for me every night, I'd be fine. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you think that I might get boring for him? How dare you.

No, no. Not the company. I just mean, you know, he's an experimental guy. He probably wants to try out some different things, you know. Let's not get into that. I don't know if he's experimental. That's his business. I'm not suggesting anything other than.

Another beef, Wellington. Eat and mess. Can I make it into a gas for you? No. Normally to mess. Oh god, you don't me laugh. So we should let you go home soon, but I want to know Ed about your fabulous wife, Charlie.

You just took a phone call from. Yes. And you're one of my favourite relationships ever. Other people have said this to me as well. I'm never sure why. Why do you think it is? I don't know. Well, where have you got that from, from Instagram? I think when I've heard you talk about her.

Right, okay, yeah. And I can tell a lot from that. I think you once said something really interesting. I can't remember if it was in a podcast or it might have been in your burk or... I think it was in Glutton actually. Yeah. And it was just about how, when you'd met her, to me is quite significant. There's a big insect on your shoulder.

It's gone. No, you don't believe me. They really was. It's a good interviewing technique, that actually. It's really put someone on edge. I promise there was an insect on your shoulder. No, you said something, I think it was in your book, Glass and you were talking about Charlie, and just when you met her was quite significant in some ways,

because before you had, ICU as having had this bit of the reset, it's a little bit at 2.0, when you sort of slightly committed to all these things, like you became exercising nature in life, you just got more organised, less messy, you lost all this weight. I love that when you met Charlie in some ways, it was before you became Ed 2.0. Yes. You were actually at quite a low point in your life. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think that is kind of important to our relationship that she has known me across all of that as well, and it didn't sort of necessarily matter to her. And it also shows me that at least I kept the core of who I actually am across, you know,

aesthetic changes or whatever. So yeah, I mean, I'm very glad that you like my relationship. I like it because, well, I suppose what it shows as well is that she wasn't interested in, it's not about the window dressing or your status. Yeah, definitely, yeah, yeah. It's about the essence of you and who you are. And I think that's something pretty lovely about that. Yeah, definitely. And she always got it right. I mean, she's always very supportive of me doing that and of losing weight and things like that, but was never, she never expressed like, oh, I prefer this or anything like that. So I think she absolutely nailed it in terms of actually being supportive, but never suggesting that I had to stay that way for her.

I get the sense prior to that. You were always a little bit, you were the friend, the funny friend to girls before that. Yeah, yeah, definitely. Which I also think is a great thing, by the way. I talk about it in the book as well about people saying, you know, this is this weird sort of in celly thing of going on. I'm in friend zone again. It's like, well, that sounds nice. How nice is it to be a nice friend? Maybe if you're someone's friend, then you shouldn't be in a romantic relationship with

then maybe you could just be someone's friend. And I had no problem with that. And sometimes you just got to wait for the right person. And luckily, I found mine. Yeah, I would agree with you. And it can be an inselly thing. You're absolutely right. where there can be this toxic idea of,

oh, can't believe the bitch has friends owned me. And you're clearly never going to be that kind of guy. Yeah, also, you don't sound like a very good friend either. But I don't know. It's something I used to do it, I think, a bit. When I was certainly, when I was younger, I think that I would have this habit of, if I quite was attracted to someone or like them,

I think, oh, I'll get them by stealth. I'll get them next. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Because I'll win them around with my personality. Films have a lot to answer for with stuff like that. Yeah, it was really toxic that message I got. But I thought what happened was they suddenly ran, left their fiance and turned up.

It was you all along. It's always been you. Never happened. But that's what I mean. So what happens is I think sometimes, when it happens a lot, when it becomes a pattern, when you inhabit that space as the reliable, the reliable platonic friend who fills in the gaps for someone in between their relationships. You've just got to be careful that doesn't turn into you becoming Life's Consolation Prize.

Totally. Yeah, I do think that as well, but I think some people just take longer than others, right? It just takes a while and that's fine. It's nothing's for life. I don't think people should worry about that. And you met the right person? Exactly, yeah. And what a lovely.

and you had a lovely proposal in Japan. Yes. Did you kneel down, Ed, when you proposed? Nah, I don't want to do that. Also, we were sat down already. You were in a little park? We were in a park, Shinjuku-Giom park. And we were sat down already,

and Charlie's still livid at me that I had to wait for her to finish a pastry before I proposed. So she had like flakes of pastry all over herself. Yeah, we were sat down already. You can't kneel further than that. If I got up to Neil, then I would have been above her, which I don't think is the vibe that anyone wants to create. You knew she was going to say yes, though.

Yeah, I think she was dead cert, I reckon. And also, who's going to say no if you're already on holiday? That's very awkward, isn't it? Well, just the logistics of getting back on your own. Logistically terrible. And honestly, she'd done most of the organisation, so I would have been screwed. If she'd said no, we'd have to part ways. Wouldn't know where I was going.

What if I ask Charlie? I'm not saying I won't. Would she say was the quality you most needed to work on? Oh, within our relationship? Or just you as a person. What do you think? Interesting. What are my biggest flaws?

Your word's not mine. That's what you're asking. I've asked for one. Tricy. Do we even think of why? No, to be honest. I think I get over-focused on things. I get hyper-focused on things, and I can't see the wood for the trees sometimes.

Whether it's something in my own life or even just something in the house, like the state of the house or anything like that, I'll be hyper-focused until it's sorted out. But quite often the hyper-focus doesn't lead to me sorting it out, it just leads to me complaining about it. So whether it's something in my own personality or something in my career or something in my general life I can be a little bit over fastidious sometimes and getting a grump. Yes. But you know knowing those things doesn't help I'm not going to stop doing it. I bet you're good-natured though you're not a grumpy person. Sometimes I

can be very grumpy actually. Can you? Yeah I'm broadly good-natured I'd say but I do get I do get grumpy about some things. I'm not going to come out and say I'm good-natured all at the time no way. You see that's she'll hear this and she'll be absolutely livid at me saying that. That's the Take No Prisoner's Lawyer. Yeah, yeah, that is. Yeah, absolutely. And then this is my prediction.

I think the Take No Prisoner's Lawyer gets you a little bit intolerant, low tolerance sometimes. And then what happens is the empathetic nurse mum comes out and you apologise, I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that's true. Yeah, yeah. I think as long as I can maintain sort of 75% nurse at all times, I think that's amazing.

You've got someone to come and cycle past with the closing theme of the podcast. Do you know what I love it? I think I've quite nailed you. I'm quite proud. Yeah, I think so. I'm not a complicated figure to be fair. Are you not? No, I don't think so. Never thought of myself as complicated. You know who says that? Who?

The most complicated people I've ever met. Would you have therapy? No, I haven't. You know, never say never. I would. You know, I think it's probably extremely healthy for everyone to have therapy regardless of what. whether they think they need it or not. But, you know, I simply haven't done it. You're not very neurotic, though? I don't think so.

No, I don't think you are. And I get the sense, I mean, I don't know much about this, but I think it seems really healthy, because, you know, like you're on tour, and I know Charlie is a producer, but she's also, am I right, thinking she's in a bad? She's in two bands, yeah. Yeah, very successful in her career,

but also in these two bands and does wrestling trains. and all of this stuff. I think it's fantastic. We all need different stuff that we get on with, right? It's mad. I think probably

kiss of death or any relationship is every day sitting on the sofa watching TV together. You need some other thing that you're both doing. So also you've got something to talk about. Yeah.

Like if she comes home from something, we've always got something to chat about and quite often in the evenings we're not just sort of sat together staring at the TV where, you know, I'm cooking,

we have a nice meal together or she practices guitar I go upstairs text her saying turn the guitar down I'm going to bed because I'm ready to sleep from about 930 if I'm not gigging are you yeah I'd rather I mean I don't I keep myself up because I'm like come on you're not you're not 80 they do have to stay up till 11 to be like come on remember remember Ed this is you're not you're not ready for death yet but I think I probably could sleep at 930 really yes I see that in you yeah love it

Absolutely love a sleep. Afternoon nap, yes. Do you like a nap? God, I love an afternoon nap. You see, you have got the kernel in you. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah, there's definitely a kernel in that. We used to know an incredibly posh family,

and the dad, I mean, he was so posh, he used to gone to London to Brighton every year, one of those people who the telegraph would be folding, brought into, and he used to say, and he had one of those silly posh names, he was called Faf. Yeah. And no one quite knew why he was called that. It's not a name.

But, you know, it was just like Farrth. And Faf would say when people would come over for dinner and things, because it was all that British politeness thing. Instead of saying fuck off home, Faf would say, right, oh, I think we're all very tired now. And we knew that was our cue to go. I did that the other night. It was my wife's birthday the other night. We went out to celebrate. And the same thing happened last year.

Then, you know, she's all excited and with friends and Gideon, she invites a few mates back for another drink at ours. She's like, it's that alright, people are coming back? You go, yeah, it's your birthday, absolutely fine. And they come back and they're all sat in the sitting room and then I go, would anyone like a slice of cake? We've got some birthday cake. And they go, yeah, that'd be great. I'll go and hand everyone out some cake.

And they go, okay, good night. Did you go to bed? What time? That was a bit later. That was about sort of one o'clock, I'd say, half midnight. Did you just say good night? Yeah. Did you not have a problem with doing that?

No, no, no. Well, I don't mind them being there, but I want to go to bed. You're not people pleaser, Ed, are you? Well, I think my career is mainly people pleasing. I think that's definitely my onstage vibe is please. Please laugh at me. I think what that's about is, yeah, please like me.

Yeah. I think it's slightly different because you want to charm people and win them over. And so your job is being naturally charismatic and working at that a bit. But I think... Offstage, no, not at all. Really? Yeah, I think, you know, I want to be charismatic and charming most of the time offstage, but once someone gets to know me, I'm not laying out the red carpet.

If I'm tired, I'm going to bed. I love that. I'm quite impressed by those levels of, you know, the fact that I don't think you'd have a problem saying no, though, to people. No, I don't think so. Really? But also, also with that, with that, like, I'm going to bed, I think people thought it was funny. So I was like, I can get away with it because. It seems sort of like quirky and a bit funny.

I was like, great, this would be my persona, because I want to go to bed. But it's still at that age where it's quite cool and funny if you do that. Yeah. A bit like when people say when they're in, you know, and they say, oh, I love gardening or I'm getting really into me.

Sure, it's a bit, yeah, oddball behavior. Yeah, but once you start getting the walking bath, you say, yeah, I love gardening. It's like, yeah. I would like one of those walking baths, actually. Oh, so would I. Yeah. I still don't quite get how they work.

Why doesn't the water leak out? But anyway. There'll be some impressive sealant or something. Yeah. A man's just walked past. Yeah. He's got that lovely bronze chestnut chest. He's a man for certain age.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a sort of sexy beast look with the gold chain. Yeah, yeah. And the Porsche 70 sunglasses. Is that a look you'd be adopting? I don't think so. I don't like the sun. Sorry, did you want to park your bike?

here or something yeah well we're going yeah we're going oh you're so kind what a lovely man ed right let's gather up the picnic blankets come on ed let's get you home do you know what ed i can tell what a nice person you are because we had a bit of a challenging situation today which was we'd agreed to do this walk and i know how precious your time is so i didn't want to cancel it but it is the hottest day of the year it's very hot and ray ray gets hot so we had this issue on our hands where I thought well how am I going to do this and keep very very comfortable the way you dealt with that and you just very calmly said oh let's sit here even though it's not it's quite a strange place it tells me

a lot about you I don't want any stress I don't want him to feel feel ill also imagine walking around essentially wearing a big black fur coat on this day it gives me something sort of Huggy Bear or something. Yeah, a little pimp dog. Look at the butterflies there. Do you like butterflies? I would think I'm indifferent to butterflies.

Okay, I'm revising my... I don't trust the way they move. Just chill out, you know? Well, do you know what? I worry that also, because of their origin story, I think they've always got issues. You know how you said, you describe in glutton, you said,

never quite shake that idea of who you'd been. Yes. Well, how did you describe it? Fat man brain. Sort of fat man brain. Did you have that? Yeah, I think so. I mean, I'm always sort of, probably less so now, but after I lost weight, you sort of feel

like an undercover fat man who's snuck into thin towers. But yeah, I think, you know, your mindset becomes quite set in stone, you know. What does that mean then when you have, as you call it, fat membrane? Like, you know, when food comes around that everyone's supposed to be sharing? Yeah. You see people just sort of idly taking bits and they're not really thinking about it. Whereas I am immediately looking at the amount of people, looking at the amount of food, and I am divvying it up in my head.

I'm like, well, that's how much I'm owed. I need to have that now. This is this whole thing that certainly engulfed London restaurants which is it's all small plates and they go you'd sit down at a restaurant and they go well can I explain our concept you go well you can but I know what it's going to be it's going to be small plates two to three per person and everything comes at the same time and we you share them but that just drives me mad because then things arrive that's clearly for two people and there's four of you at the same person table and I'm going, well, how am I going to, there's not a knife sharp enough to cut that

into four equal pieces. So it's stuff like that where I'm like, food-wise, I'm always, you know, I'm hanging out by the buffet. If you're at, you know, one of those events where there's someone going around with a tray of nibbles, I'm following them most of the time. So you do think about foods a lot? All the time, yeah. Yeah, all the time. Do you not like sharing it then? No, I don't mind sharing it as long as people share fairly. Do you have that tone of voice when you're out to dinner? Yes. I'm a laugh. I'm a proper laugh.

See, even now I'm thinking, so finish this, go home. By the time I get home, I've got a record another podcast. I'm not going to have time for lunch, and that is a day wasted as far as I'm concerned. You're quite strict about your three meals a day. Yeah, I don't want to miss one. we're not going to get on because I'm a bit like your other half Charlie I'm a grazer you're a grazer you're a picker yeah when I go away I come back I'm like well where's the food what food did you eat yeah I'm like well there's a jar of pickles in the fridge sorry

I didn't realize you were a big rat I mean you do the great British menu of course you should say yes you're a judge on that I mean who knew Ed Campbell this is the interesting about having a career in comedy, especially these days, yeah. But presumably you would never have foreseen this, your career going off in this direction. No, not at all. You work on, you do the traitors, which you do brilliantly by the way. Thank you. The spin-off show The Traitors Unplocke. Yes. Which again is just sort of made a pact with myself a few years ago of going, well, the things are going all right. I'm getting you know, offers in. But I should only say yes to things that genuinely

I genuinely enjoy and would enjoy talking about, especially things that are sort of technically non-comedy. So doing GBM and doing traitors is like, it's not a job that a comic has to do. So I just need to make sure that I'm actually enjoying it. And those things are fantastic fun. Can I tell you something? You're very popular.

You're very well-liked. Well, that's nice. Who have you asked, though? Do you know, your tone took on a bit of a... How many portions are we going on? And this is quite rare. I don't think I've ever heard a bad word about you. Oh, that's nice.

I'm sure there are people that you could find. You could track them down, I'm sure. Maybe that'll be the second phase of my career. I'll move into becoming a bit more hated. I would say that means you're pretty well adjusted. Yeah, I think so, but maybe sometimes I worry I care about. that too much. What do you mean? Like I think you can care too much about everyone liking you. It's not really possible is it? Does that matter to you? I think so.

Do you care about most people liking me unless they're in my house and it's 1am? at which point I'm happy for them to hate me as long as I can go to bed. But do you know what Ed? Increasingly I think whenever people say I don't give a down what anybody thinks of me. I mentally fall away as a sociopath. Yeah, I can't get on with those people. Or people who say, I just say what I think to people's faces. Why?

That's not how society works. It's not a positive personality trait to say, oh, I don't talk behind people's back. So just say it straight to their face. Awful. Well, it's the reality show contestant, isn't it? Yeah, that's the classic. Yeah, which is, I mean, obviously great for a reality show, but certainly not a way to live.

You've got so many fabulous tattoos, and I don't think you should have a comment on personal. I agree with your appearance, but I just wanted to say, in the way that I would say, I like your jumper or I like your, I think they look so great. I think you're allowed to compliment people's tattoos.

Are you? Oh, good. Because I got them deliberately. Oh, good. They just, I just think they're lovely. Thank you. Yeah, I think the key was I only started getting them in my 30s. Why was that?

Well, I always thought about getting tattoos, but it's just nice to be in a situation where you can afford to go to good artists. And also, I think around that time, Instagram is huge for tattoos. And you can actually research artists and find different styles and stuff. But I quite like when you see someone, like, in their 70s, old faded navy tattoos and stuff. I'm like, that's the... Oh, yeah.

That's real tattoos, but mine are a bit fancier than that. When I went to Japan, I discovered in the onsen that I went to, the baths. Yeah. And that stage, I think they've changed it now, but you couldn't go in with a tattoo. There's still loads you can't go in. Is that a sign your yakuza or something like that? Yeah, it's just associated with that. I don't think anyone thinks that, you know, when I'm walking around with tattoos,

that I'm a member of the yakuza with my bum bag, But it's just what it's associated. And I think it's that older generation in Japan, still frowned on them a bit. But there are loads of bards now where you can go in with tattoos, which I was gutted to find out because the last thing I wanted to do when I was there was take all my clothes off and go and sit in a hot bath with loads of people I don't know. Come on, Ray, Ray, we're so close. We're so close, Ray. What a thoroughly charming man you are, Ed Gamble.

Bless you. You were everything I hoped and more, and I think you deserve all of your success. Well, thank you very much. Because you're a lovely man. Well, that's nice of you. We'll wait for all the secrets to come out now. Then you're going to look like you can't judge anyone. I've loved our walk.

It's so nice. There's a little ice cream thing set up now. Oh, would you like an ice cream? I don't think I would, you know. No. I might get one. I've not had a proper meal today. It always feels weird kicking off with ice cream, you know.

I understand. God, you're really self-controlled, aren't you? Sometimes. Okay. Hello. Well Ed, I really enjoyed our walk. Well, so did I. It was lovely to meet you.

You too. And I'm really, I might come and see you on tour. I might sneak Raymond in to a hot diggedy dog. And where should people go? Is it just... A gamble.com. Okay. Yes.

And obviously listen to all for me. And do, I really, if you haven't read the button, please do because it's brilliant. Out in paperback now. And also, I love the audible version because you get this bonus chapter with Kumae which I love. Yeah I'm glad I did that that was fun. It was fantastic and it just gives you an insight into your lovely dynamic and relationship and friendship. Yeah he's a good egg. Well you know what you're a good egg Ed Gamble. Thank you very much. Thank you. Oh the way is this thank you very much. It's so sweet. I'm a sweet guy. Thank you to your

mother and to your father. Yes both of them. Thank God for both of them. Well you said goodbye to Ray. Bye Ray. I think he's working at the ice cream stand now. There you go. He's just sat in the shade. Bye. I think he's the real trooper of this episode. I really hope you enjoyed that episode of Walking the Dog. We'd love it if you subscribed and do join us next time on Walking the Dog wherever you get your podcasts.