Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Gaby Roslin (Part Two)

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Gaby Roslin, Gaby looks back on the extraordinary success of The Big Breakfast and the whirlwind of suddenly becoming one of the most recognisable faces on television.She also talks warmly about her friendship with Chris Evans, what made their partnership work, and the memories they still share from one of the most exciting and unpredictable periods of her career.The conversation then turns to Gaby’s new ITV series, The Joy of Pets, and why a programme celebrating animals and the people who love them feels like such a perfect fit. Alongside Dr Bolu Eso, Gaby travels around the country meeting remarkable pets and hearing the stories behind the bonds they share with their owners.If you haven’t already, do go back and listen to part one. The Joy of Pets begins on Sunday 23rd August on ITV, and you can also hear Gaby every Saturday morning on Magic Radio.Follow Emily:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadeanX: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to part two of Walking the Dog with the wonderful Gabby Roslin. Do make sure to catch Gabby's brand new show for ITV, The Joy of Pets, on Sunday mornings at 11.30. And by the way, do give Walking the Dog a like and a follow so you can catch us every week. Here's Gabby and Ray Ray. So we need to talk about the Big Breakfast because that was obviously when I first remembered you and it was a huge when you got that. Just the announcement. I remember being huge. That was pretty life-changing that gig, wasn't it?

Two weird things that my mum did. When my mum, I remember her reading, article, she said, oh look, and I'd finished motor mouth and finished motor mouth in the March or April. And I think it was the same week that we finished motor mouth. My mom said, oh look, I've just been reading. A really fascinating thing. They're talking about Bob Geldof is going to be doing a daily program similar to Saturday morning TV.

That sounds like you all sort of show and I went, that's really weird. My agents told me about that. And apparently I'm going for a screen test. I had five screen tests, which is that old story. We had five screen tests and then Chris turned around to the last one. I said, for goodness sake, this is mad. And then he told me. Because he knew you had the chemistry.

Well, we just, Chris and we still do. I love Chris. Really love him. and we just got on from day one. And then I had to go into the office, and walking out of the office, I wasn't allowed to tell anybody in the office that I got the job.

And I got into the car, and I screamed, and I went around to my parents when I said, I've got the job. And my mother went, you're going to be tired, aren't you? Which was very, my mom. Yes.

Yes. That is very, you're on nights, Mick. Yeah, yeah. You're going to be tired. And you did that for, was it four years you hosted? Three and a half. Yeah.

So two with Chris, then a year and a half with all different people. Yeah. And as soon as you did that, it just, it was kind of transformative in terms of there'd be nothing like that. I think it's a shame, I've said this very public, I think there's a real shame that there's not more daring television, naughty television, mischievous television. I think everything's a little safe.

I've said that to many people and that's why the Joy of Pets has elements of mischief as well. So it is, it's very fun. I can see that because I think what was. You're right, it was what we would now call disruptive in the breakfast. You could leave anybody. It was never rude. It was never nasty. And you could leave the youngest person or the oldest person.

It was never, this is for a certain age group. It was for everybody. And I think all television should be for everybody. I still stand by that. I don't think you should ever say this is for 16 to 24 years. Because they're going to say, why are you telling me what I should watch? And also, if an 85-year-old wants to watch it, she doesn't want to think, oh, maybe it's not for me. Just everyone should watch it.

And Big Breakfast was everybody. It was also, because it was family as well. It was a family theme running through it as well. You'd have families on it. But it was like, yeah, it was playful. It was playful, wasn't it? Mischievous. And your chemistry with Chris Evans was just exceptional from the off.

We're very lucky. Very lucky. I love that you say you're lucky. No, but I am. I am very lucky. It worked. I was in the right place at the right time with the right person. but you know I've also I'm you know I was very lucky that I worked with Terry Wogan for 11 years and we just got on and actually and it's not just because I bring it in again you wait till you see Dr Bolu Balu is magical he's absolutely magical this he's he's incredible on the joy pets and you ended up with that show because there was a false turnaround wasn't there in terms of you'd be getting in and presumably you weren't you were just like right there's no scripts there's no scripts so did you have auto cure and? No, no, no, nothing like that. Really?

That's incredible, isn't it? That's much more fun. I still prefer that. Really? Morning live, which I do. So did you have cue cards? Was that how you would... We had some cards.

We'd know flag posts. That's what... Anyone who ever worked on it, we would always talk about, we had flag posts. So we knew we had 20 minutes sections because the news was every 20 minutes. And did you ever sort of like corpse, like just... Always. You're a big laugher, weren't you? Still do.

Yeah, still do. I think what must have been good as well? to be good as well because one thing I've noticed about your interviewing style and I have you know I hear this when I listen to your brilliant podcast which I love reasons to be joyful and it doesn't matter who you're interviewing I think and I don't know if this is something you would have got from your childhood and sort of being in the business or even whether it's something you're naturally like anyway but there's no sense of I suppose reverence when you're it doesn't matter who you're interviewing you'll treat people the same everyone goes to Lou it's my parents

used to say, you know, everyone goes to the loo. They always used to say that to me. I think I was interviewing, I was going off to interview Sean Connery, and I remember speaking in my parents, going, I'm going to interview Sean Connery, and my mum said, great, he shits like anybody else. Okay. But she did, and she was right.

You know, everybody goes to the loo. And that was how my mother used to be. Yeah. So you ended up when you do, like you did a friend special, didn't you, which at the time is the biggest thing. That was insane. It was insane. I mean, we went to, we went to L.A.

to meet them all and talk about it. And I was on the set of friends with the people of friends. And I just thought, what the hell is happening? And the, and I just got, I still, every so often, because people talk about friends. And then occasionally people say, didn't you do it for, yeah? And then they came over here,

and we were with them for a few days. train them around London. I mean it's just insane and then we did the friend special with the three guys and truthfully Matt Perry was one of the funniest people I have ever met so sad if you put a part of each of those three men you had the perfect man yeah it's heartbreaking but I think that's interesting also because I suppose when you're meeting people in those scenarios when people really stand out when they're kind of, oh look at the little dachshund. Does that take you back to your childhood? We had, we had, we had, they were long hair, but we had two dachshunds on the, on the joy of pets,

show two who were in, one of them was in the crown. Princess Margaret's dog, had no teeth, so it had a sloppy tongue. Oh, so lovely. So cute. We all bowed, of course, because of royal dog. I knew she'd have a dachshund. Yeah. She's got, so, she's got, I should, God rest of soul, real ducks and energy, and I mean that in a good way. So, Big Breakfast, you must have been really sad when Chris Evans left. Yeah, oh God. Everyone's seen, you know, I sobbed on air. You were sobbing.

I sobbed when I left, but it was time to go. But I did make, you know, friends for life, one of my closest friends who I miss every day. It's Savi. Paul O'Grady, you know, we met on that. Chris Evans and I, we have the most bizarre catch-up conversation, be like, Gabby, I just wondered about so-and-so. Okay, yeah, no, bye. It was like that.

It's like no time has passed. Oh, yeah, yeah. Some people say that's a sign of a good friendship. Yeah, I mean, we don't see each other. No, we haven't seen each other for a while, but when we speak, it's lovely. We just know what each other's thinking. My family's thing was funny because we'd listen to here, well, I sort of listen across to all different breakfast shows,

and we'd be listening to Chris, and I'd say something, and they go, he just, how did you say that at the same time? And I think, God, that's really weird. But we did, yeah. And I know you lost your mom, Gabby, and I was so sad to hear that because it was too young. Yeah, she was too young. It was 30 years ago she died. But she had, both mum and dad with rail at the same time.

And the day dad got his all clear was the day that mum died. So I think she waited for him to get his all clear from his cancer. He had cancer and then he had a toxic stroke. and then, because he had a super bug, mum was then taken into hospital for hers and we were told that she had up to six months to live and she died six weeks later. Smoking related lung cancer.

Yeah, that's tough. And I wonder, how old were you? Were you in your 20 years? Yeah, and the thing is about her dying, I was, this is the other, I told you a couple of weird stories, that when she was in hospital, she was reading the paper, and she said, oh look, the BBC are doing a wish-fulfillment show.

And that's exactly your sort of show. And I said, yeah, that's, that is. And she was still in hospital, and I didn't tell her that I'd been in for a meeting for it. And then when I got the job, I said, so you remember, the wish performance show she said yes you're doing it aren't you and I went yes anyway she died so she never saw it she died two months before we worked so six weeks after her death we were working on it but it felt I felt that she was there she was like I knew going to do there because I did that for four years on BBC Saturday night it's great wonderfully wonderfully

happy show it's interesting though because you were going through you know your career was suddenly going like that everything and then it's you get hit with the worst news, the worst possible news. And that must have been a sort of complicated time for you in some ways. It was because also the press were having a go at me because, you know, it was my turn. But to be honest, I love my job so much. But I was working, doing something that I love,

making a show that I was so enjoying. and that that did obviously that helped me so I'm just looking the trees I think there might be more trees are collapsing which are slightly worrying do you think so Gabby another branch just fell I think there's a guy there

working on it oh hello little terrier Yorkie is it is it Yorkie? So cute I love the way you know what Yorkies look like remember an old video recorders when you press past forward yeah and they go really fast I know they're so sweet

I was wondering, what do you think you've... How do you think you changed after your mum died? And do you think you changed, Gabby? How did I change? It's funny, lots of people ask me that. I don't think I did, apart from I more... So I began, when mum and died would both feel in different hospitals with different cancers.

I decided to read everything I could about health, nutrition and fitness. So that's what I learnt from it all. I also remember we called, Dad called me up and he said, the hospital said we have to get to the, we have to get there quick. So I remember, weirdly putting on mascara in the car. My ex-husband was driving, obviously he was my husband at the time. And we went to pick up dad and I remember looking at the sky and thinking, wow, the sun's coming up. oh the sun will come up and that's what happens every day and I've I was brought up by parents who believe in living and enjoying life and living in the moment and all of that so that's very very much a part of our lives

and do you know that sun coming up thing is really interesting you're right I understand that that feeling of I remember I'd think I'd go into a coffee shop to get a coffee and you're thinking my world has ended My sister's died. But you're alive. I know. And it took me a while. And actually, do you know what? I read your book, which I really recommend. I actually like listening to it on Audible because I find your voice quite comforting.

And there was a bit that you said it's called Spread the Joy. And I really recommend. I found it incredibly helpful. Oh, I'm so pleased. And there's a bit, it's just, there's sort of exercises you can do as well, which I love. And there's one thing you mention in it, which is about not feeling. embarrassed about crying or your emotions you know you you talk about how people will often say don't hug me because I'll cry and I've never really thought about that

before it's something I remember at mum's funeral saying that's my best friend did you say to her don't hug me because I'm gonna go and I had to be strong for dad but then later on she hugged me I cried and that was fine you know it was remember she was pregnant with my with her second son and and I always said he waited because she had him just four days later. So he waited. He knew that I needed his mom then. But

also people, there were no rules to grief and I say this again and again and again. I remember waking up one day and my heart, as you all know, feeling really heavy. And I had to go into Soho to talk about whatever you want, the Saturday night show. And I remember walking through Soho

and I was like, oh my heart's really heavy, what's that? And then I realised that was grief. But then also I was in the meeting and we were all laughing. And I remember sort of walking out and thinking, that's really odd. I was laughing. And mum's only just died a few weeks ago. Oh, that's okay to laugh.

Mum laughed. Mum laughed all the time. But, you know, it's only, and that's somebody I know lost their parent recently. And he called me up and he said, oh my God, I feel really guilty. I was laughing at the new episode of Ted Lassau. That's wrong, isn't it? No, that's right. because you were feeling and he went, okay, all right, yeah.

Yeah, and I think you, that thing about not, as you say, just thinking, oh, I'm feeling this, it's neither bad nor good. It's just how I'm feeling. And I had a thing, funny enough, when I was in Devon, I was reminded of what you'd said, only yesterday when I met a friend who was working on a production that my friend does, and I hadn't seen him for years since university. and he said it was all, you know, as it is when you're catching up, how so and so, how so and so.

And then I said something and I said, oh, my sister, who's no longer with us, and he just put his arm on me. And he said, I heard, I'm so sorry him. And I thought, oh my God, I'm going to cry. I never cry really when I talk about my sister. But then I thought, no, it's because I haven't seen him since I was 22 and she was still alive then.

And it's all the poignancy. That's like that. Exactly. No, that's exactly like Samantha. Samantha? That's exactly That would be weird I'm giving it a joke That would be really weird

That would be really weird You see what we did there We laughed and I like that Yeah yeah But how wonderful that you had that moment And also how wonderful that you didn't have somebody Do this And obviously this is a podcast

I'll have to explain But go Oh I give you the head tilt Yes Don't head tilt me All my friends A friend of mine has just got over breast cancer And she said

She used to say Somebody head tilts me I walk away. You don't want that. Don't head tilt. Some of the most powerful thing you can say, and you learn this from your own experiences. A friend of mine, Mawena.

You probably know Mawena Banks is lovely. And I always remember... She's Pepper Pigs' Mum. She's Pepper Pigs' Mum. And she sent me the most incredible email. And you know what she said? Gabby, after my sister's start, she went, this is shit at him.

And it was one of the most powerful things I received because there was no sorry for your loss at this for difficult time. She just went, this is shit. Yeah. Yeah, it is. So she writes very well. She didn't say that in Pepper Pig, we should say.

Or anything else that she's done. But she writes brilliantly, but she knew what to say and that's perfect. Well, you know what to say. And I have found your book, and we should say, yeah, your book spread the joy, which is tied in with, I'm going to call it your joy movement. Which sort of. I'm very happy for that because I think we've got to do more. There's some really, really, really, really dark, bleak news.

and we all know that we're fed that 24 hours of every single day and I think the good needs to be louder and the joy needs to be louder and I'm very lucky because I do a show called The Make a Different show for the BBC on Sunday afternoons and it's four hours across the UK of positive, incredible stories of amazing people and we get the biggest stars on it

because they want to also put out positive stuff you know we just need to let it without saying to everybody, be positive, which I think that's fake. But you just need to hear about all the amazing things that people do. And you are also recently been working on, I mean, it's already my favourite show you've ever done and I've not even seen it yet because it's called The Joy of Pets. And this is going to be out later this year. No, it's out very soon.

Oh, it's going to be pretty soon. It's out on the 23rd of August at 11 o'clock every week, every Sunday on I, Ray and I are going to be absolutely glued to it because he loves watching other dogs. So talk me through this and how it started and what it's you and a vet is it? Yeah, it's Dr. Balu. I had an idea for a TV show called The Joy of Pets and I'd been talking about it for a while. Nothing came of it. I put it to one side and then on my Sunday afternoon show Bolu came on as a guest and when Bolu left I called up my agent and I said, oh my God, I wrote a show a few years ago called The Joy of Pets. I want to resurrect it.

I want to bring it back to life, but I want it to do it with Bulu. And she went, wow, send it to me. I sent it to her. She said, this is great, it needs updating. And they went to a production company. And I said, this is the show. They went, oh, we love that idea. And then they worked on it and wrote it up, and we worked on it together.

And we asked Bolu, and he went, yes, please. And then I had the meeting with ITV. I contacted somebody at ITV. And I said, please, can I come and can we have a coffee? And I literally sat down and said, okay, so there's a show that I came up with the idea with I'm making it with Banticoot. And she said, oh, I love the guys there. I said, yes, so do I. Aren't they brilliant?

And I said, it's called The Joy of Pets. She went, I love that. She said, is it about pets and joy? And I went, yes. She said, can you send it to me? And they said, yes. and we got ad-funded. It's an ad-funded show.

Are you quite good at that, Gabby? Like, you just said, I called up someone from ITV. Are you quite good at, right, like, are you doing it? Are you somebody who's happy to pick up the phone and say, what's the worst that can happen? I sent an email. And absolutely. So, yes, I will always do that because I love what I do.

I'm never not thinking. So when I walk, and I walk sort of seven, eight, nine. 10 miles a day. And when I'm walking, I'm always coming up with program ideas. I'll always, you know, I don't sleep because I'm always coming up with ideas. And that's how my book came about because I was walking and I just went to a publisher and I went, I've got this idea about a book, or spread the joy. But that's how I sort of, I had a show on Radio 4 for four seasons called Talking Pictures. It was because I walked over Primrose Hill and thought, wouldn't it be funny if an impressionist revoiced

very famous film scenes with other actors and then it happened. But I'm always thinking of ideas. You're quite comfortable. You know what stops a lot of people is fear of hearing no? Oh my God, I get a hurt. I hear and know a lot. There's loads of other shows that they say no to. Yeah, okay, that's a shame.

But Joy of Pets is something that I believed in. And even though somebody had said yes, and then there was a change at the channel and then it didn't happen, I'm really pleased. It's now, because it's worked as it's supposed to, with the right production company and definitely the right co-presenter who you will fall in love with, Bolly.

And what do you guys do? Every person and every animal, and I'm not kidding you, does this? Hello. Every animal. It was just every animal. Ray, would you like Bolly? Oh.

Would you like Bollu? You so would. And what is, so the premise of the show, are you meeting other people's pets? Yes, yeah, yeah, no. So Bollu goes into clinics. So we're all over the UK. Bolly goes into clinic so we meet all of those stories.

He fell in love with the praying mantis. I fell in love with alpacres. Listen, we've all done it. Therapy alpacres. Can you get therapy alpacres? They're amazing. This woman, she has 39 of them. We're going on BBC breakfast next week with the alpacas.

I need to meet these alpacas. We're going on next Monday we're going on BBC breakfast because they love the story so much. So Alpaccas and Bollu and I are going to be on BBC breakfast talking about joy of pets with the alpacres. I loved them. I'll show you a picture of the alpacas. Oh yeah, do show me your alpacas. I'll show you, yeah.

You don't often hear that in a park. Bray, we're going to love the joy of pets, aren't we? And there's definitely dogs as well, Katha. Oh my word. Oh, good. You all go, so there's guide dog training dogs. There's a blind husky called Cookie, who we all totally fell in love with. There's, oh, there's so many dogs.

There's dogs everywhere. Look, we also, look at that. Look at that. Look at the black towel. So Gabby is showing me. Is that a chow chow? Yes, a chow chow chow. And a picture of the most amazing chow chow chow ever.

And they have these blue-bluish black tongues. And there's some nice guinea pigs that came on the show. We have every pet. Also, I fell in love with chickens. I didn't know. I just want chickens now as well. I want everything. We've also, where else?

Where are you excited about this? This isn't me holding. This is a tarantula, but I'm not holding the tarantula. That's the skin, because it's like a snake. They shed their skin. So that's the tarantula. Are you scared of spiders? Not at all.

No. I'm not either, you know. But so we had a tarantula owner. We had, hold on. Let me just find you the... The Alpaca. You're looking good to the joy of poets. Oh no, the tortoise.

This is the fastest tortoise ever in the history of tortoises. Well, you've got formed with tortoises. But this tortoise, oh my goodness. There's another dog. So there's dogs everywhere. I'm just trying to find you the alpaca. Oh, look. Oh, they're so lovely.

Look. And they work with special educational needs young people. Look, Will. So cute. He wanted an alpaca now, don't you? And they work with people with dementia as well. How lovely. Amazing.

And we worked with medical assistance dogs and street vets who go out and work with homeless people with their pets. So yeah, we've just, I can't, it's packed, the show is packed, and it is joyful, and I'm nearly a vet. I keep saying to every week, am I a vet yet, and Balu tests me? I think I'm almost. Almost a vet. I learned about brushing dogs' teeth, because Bollu is adamant about that. Do you brush raised teeth?

Do you know, I do, but unfortunately, genetically, he had real problems with his teeth, so he's had quite a few taken out now. Do you still brush the ones? You still have to, the remaining ones. It's pathetic. No, it's not. No, Bolly would be very proud. Yeah, you have to do what's left. He doesn't like it, but what can you do, Roe?

Well, I can't wait to watch this show. Well, Ray can't wait to watch this because Ray already, he loves SuperVet. Like I say, he likes, ideally he likes dogs being told off so he can feel smart. No, this is a lot. He'll enjoy. Bernice Mountain Dog, who is much stronger than I am. There's a funny moment of that. But you could imagine, it was like the comedy sketch moment.

Yeah. And I'm interested. You're someone who works so much. Like you work a lot, don't you? I love it. I work, well, at the moment, I am working. But do you think that's also, I'm interested, I can already tell you're one of those people

who, like I say, is kind of, why not? Let's give it a go, let's pick up the phone. And that implies you have a certain inbuilt resilience, or have you had to learn that? I think I probably, I think I must have always had it. But my parents were, they always said, follow your dreams, don't hurt anybody in the process. I know I said that to you already, but I think that's where you, you know, just be polite. My dad saying to me, when I got my first TV job, he said, don't forget the person who sweeps the floor is just as important as the person in your ear.

And, you know, you're an executive producer. And it's the same in television and radio. a team show but also there are times when you do you know that the show doesn't happen or whatever and in the same way that you know people I know who want to be actors always say just get ready the people will say no to you and you won't be right but there will be the right thing just never give up on your dreams are you a people pleaser because you're very you have this incredible charisma and great energy and I and you're a positive person

How do you draw the line so you have boundaries as well? Do you know what I mean? Well, I remember being in Sainsbury's once and this couple came up and went, oh, you used supertamp hacks. That's a true story. And I went, there we go. That's really odd. And I said, did you really just say that?

And the woman went, oh, I did. I'm so funny because I see you on television. I hear on the radio. Yes. you've just discussed the size of my vagina and she just went oh no I have haven't I and that is always something that I think sometimes you know

but no I've always been I'm like my kids I used to wake my kids up by sitting on top of them and singing musical theatre songs to wait them up so I've never been but I think I think one thing that a lot of adults do is forget the child within and I think I think my dad was like that my granny was like that so I

never have you know everyone I'm 33 every birthday but with the mind of a sort of 12 year old is excited about life so yeah well I like that you know when I'm walking ray and because he's cute and looks a bit Disney and a bit surreal I sometimes and it's really interesting it's normally a sort of quite buttoned-up businessman you know not like that similar to the gentleman we've seen. That's why he suddenly brought to your voice. Yeah, I suddenly thought, oh no. But who, and I, it's a heartbreaking moment that I see him look at Ray and this little smile spreads across the face as if it's suddenly his unspoilt childlike heart. And then suddenly he goes, oh, silly little thing or something.

Oh, really? Because I think, and that, and I think, no, go back to your initial reaction, which was it made you happy. Yeah, yeah. dogs make me happy but also I think with everybody I think it's the same as jumping over a puddle as opposed to jumping in a puddle it's the same as

hopscotch it's the same as because I do this thing and I've done it on my socials where I say I'm going to see how many people I can get to who say good morning back to me and I've got the most I've got 23 and people are always different because of who you are

a celebrity I don't know who I am I'm not everybody those are ridiculous So I just say hello to people and people want that. And actually it's the same as I was talking on the radio the other day about hopscotch. So I went and did it and I drew hopscotch in the centre of London. I did hopscotch and just to because I just and I was playing and people joined in. And also the other thing I do is chitty, there's a street called Chitty Street. And if I'm never going near it, I sometimes just go and stand in there and I sing Chitty Bang Bang really loudly and people sing.

People join in and I see how many people will join in with me and they all sing Chitty Bang Bang. And the other time it happened, which I've written about in the book, is that I was on a train. It was after COVID. It was sort of the time that people still had masked everything. But there was a guy listening to Living on a Prayer really loudly. And I didn't realize, I was standing up and I didn't realize when I was like,

Living on a Prayer. And he looked up at me and I carried on and he started singing. and the whole of the tube carriage all we all sung living on a prayer and then got off people got off at the next stop and we're all cheering and when I'm with my kids I say to them oh girls I'm just going to sing

they go do not while I'm here but I do do it not with front of them because they get mortified but that's their job they have to get yeah yeah how are you with confrontation luckily I don't really I don't really I don't I wouldn't, I just,

what I mean by confrontation. Be polite and be nice to everybody. But what I mean by confrontation is there will, there are times, even with friends or work colleagues, where you have to have conversations, you slightly dread where you have to say, I'm really sorry,

but I didn't love that the way you did that or. But I don't, I'm not somebody who wants to criticize anybody. I think, I think there are conversations. You can have conversations. You don't need to be confrontational. You don't need to be negative. I mean, I, you know, we all know,

people who have, and I've got somebody I know who was bullied recently. And I said to her, what you have to do is be, don't ever be, it's always about her. It's not about you. It's always about the bully. It's never about the one who's bullied. So all of that is important. And if you remember all of those things, and I write that in the book as well, but there's a coping mechanisms. And I just think that if somebody's going to be confrontational or not very nice to me. I don't want them in my life. I'll just go, okay, thank you very much and I'll just step away. I'm not looking for an argument. That's why I would never do traitors. Have you been bullied over? Yes, no, I was. I've talked about it. Yeah, because of my, probably because of my

shyness. But yeah, there was somebody years and years and years ago, and he, it was about him. Years later, I found out it was about him and he was very jealous. But not very, very often, is about jealousy or something. Yeah, it is, isn't it? The bully sees something in you that they want or are envious of or... So I like your attitude is when they go low, you go high. I mean, yeah, and just be the better person, be the kind of person. Just be kind.

You know, I think that, you know, whatever my politics, that I don't agree with certain beliefs of certain people. and if they're going to be confrontational to me I'll just ask them why you know why I've got a tigger from the tree no I'm fine are you sure

apologies for going It's probably the pollen But I will You know they I'll I'll usually just say why Why do you hate Whatever it is Yeah yeah yeah

And I'll give me a reason I go okay that's your choice I choose to Not you know I think I think there's so much anti around at the moment. Yeah. Which is a real shame. And I also really strongly believe that anyone, anyone can be who they want to be.

Whether it's whatever their sexuality, whatever their religion, whatever anything, just be tolerant. Actually that's another thing that my parents taught me tolerance. Always be tolerant. Yeah. That's a very precious thing to teach someone, I think. Yeah. Gabby, but I love talking to you. Well, thank you very much.

let you go soon because you're a busy woman with a busy life. I do have to go. I do wonder back. But honestly, I could talk to you all day. Oh well thank you so much. What a joy you are. Will is just my favorite smiley person. Do you just smile all the time?

He's very smiley. I've been told I've got quite a resting bitch face so I'm glad you know. Oh my God, not at all. You're so smiley. Do you know what? I always think it's an energy thing with people isn't it? And when I just love Will, energy. You get it with people, don't you think, Gabby? Do you find that when you work with people?

Totally. Totally. Before I let you go, I should ask you as well. You obviously do the magic show. I do magic from 10 to 1 every Saturday and I do the Make a Different show, 2 to 6 for the BBC. Yeah. On all local stations at the same time, which is lovely. We've got the Make a Difference Awards coming up again in September. And then I do morning live in Manton. and Joy of, that's BBC Daytime, and then I do Joy of Pets on ITV Sunday mornings. And you also host your brilliant podcast, which is how we've seen each other at the same. We were, I was called the one I do with Frank Skinner at the same place. And I know you had the brilliant, is it Didi Conner and French from Greece?

Oh my word. I've never. Unbelievable that was thinking of. Yeah. We grew up with that film. You said you've seen it 70 times. I know, probably about 2000. All jokes like I ticked off on the box all the times I'd seen it.

And that was a video. So I think I'd seen it 70 times on the video. And then I got the DVD when DVDs came out. And then I just watch it all the time. My kids, my kids, we all know, I know every word of that. Every single word by heart. Yeah. She was great.

So you've done a lot of episodes of that. Yeah, I really have. I think it's been going, weirdly, I think it might have been going five years, and I'm not quite sure how that happened. But we've had all sorts of people from Judy Densian, Michael Boubley to next week. Next week, I don't know when your podcast this is going out, but next week got Lucas Jones, the most incredible poet. He's phenomenal.

And today's one that drops his all a monk, who was a West End, star and he went to Thailand and we learned to be a monk, a Buddhist monk and he's got a book out as well. So we've got a real cross-section of people. Look at those. That's quite joyful. Do you like those? I love them. I take the girls. The pedalo. I love a pedalo. Yep. I do. And also on the canal, you can go on a go-boat. Have you been on one of them? No, that's fun. Oh, they're fun. They're really fun. How do you, because you're quite a part, you're very positive. Bless you. Thank you.

I love that, Gabby, you're so sweet the way you say bless you. I love that. Well, she sneezed. No, but not everyone would do that. I just didn't even think about it. I just didn't think about it. She looked so happy that you went, she went, thank you. So how do you, I'm interested.

If you're having a sort of a low moment, how do you process that? Do you sit with it? Do you just allow yourself to be sad? Oh, you feel? Yeah. You've got to allow feelings. You know, it's really important to feel. And I, but I do, I am, I am, all my friends, they just go, God, are you always, sorry, I'm just about, I might go.

Go that way. Do you mind? No, of course not. No, of course not. You're sure, you don't mind. I'm taking you out of your way, but that's the way I need to go. I want to walk you where you need to be. Oh, bless you.

But my family, you know, my family, my friends and everybody, they'll go, oh my God, you never guess what? What happens if, I go, yeah, but actually it's going to happen, it's going to be okay. How do you know? And it's about reframing and doing all of that. So, you know, if I, if I'm, like when Joy of Pets didn't have happened the first time, I was like, oh, I'm so frustrated. That's so annoying. I thought, right, I'm not going to get rid of it because I believe in this show. And then look what's happened. So, and I just, I, so, but also, it's really good to let things go. So things aren't working or friendships aren't working. And I also, that's in the book. Just say no. It's one of the most powerful things. People are fearful of saying no. So just

say no. Look at all these new trees they've planted. Well, also, I think also letting go without anger is a Yes, but letting go, saying no. Yeah. And also friendships, not all friendships are going to last. And if somebody is toxic, walk away. Just walk away. I mean, this is a bit awkward because you're saying this as you're about to walk away, Gabby. Yes, but you're not toxic at all.

There's nothing toxic about you. Oh, my God. There's nothing toxic, is there? He paused there, Gabby. He didn't. He said no, straight away. Oh, well Ray and I, I mean, we were your biggest fans anyway. Oh, you're very sweet.

And I include him because he has a big say in what we listen to and watch and download and read. Are you going to get another puppy with me? Yes. I think I'm going to. Do you know why? And this is sad, but I believe in being honest, because he came into my life and what he represents is big emotions. Yeah. And we only get a brief time with dogs.

So, do you know what I mean? Well, that's why I was thinking. I think you need another baby. But it would be lovely for him. as well you can go for a little one oh should we get a little rescue that's what we'll do Gabby I have so love thank you so much it's not just been very very much having you but it's been very I as you give me a very happy heart oh my god thank you I do lovely lovely lovely thing to say I do feel that I'm

going to be skipping into mine I've got to go and do a voiceover and then I'm going I'm going to be going huh they're going to think I've got a good completely enough to be mad. You have, you give me a happy heart. You're very charismatic, lovely person to spend time with it. Thank you for being so sweet to Ray. And will you say goodbye to Ray? Yes.

Bye-bye, Ray. Thank you for looking after me. Thank you for the cuddles. Look at you. Ray's giving that sort of, yeah. Come on. 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. Thank you.