Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Helen George (Part Two)

Episode Date: December 25, 2025

In part two of Emily and Ray’s festive walk with the wonderful Helen George, joined by her rescue dog Charlie, the conversation continues with more warmth, laughter and Christmas cheer.If you haven���t already, do catch up on part one. And don't miss the Call the Midwife Christmas specials on BBC One, with part one airing on Christmas Day and part two on Boxing Day. Helen is also currently appearing as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Richmond Theatre until January 4th, with tickets available at https://www.atgtickets.com.It’s a joyful, festive walk with a much-loved face from British television, and the perfect episode to see the year out.Follow Emily:InstagramXWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Firstly, happy Christmas. And welcome to part two of Walking the Dog with the wonderful Helen George and her rescue dog Charlie. Do go back and listen to Part 1 if you haven't already and do watch her in the Call the Midwife Christmas specials on BBC 1. Part 1 goes out tonight, Christmas Day, at 8.15pm. And you can catch part 2 on Boxing Day at 8.30pm. Helen's also currently playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Richmond Theatre, until January 4th, so book your tickets now at ATGTickets.com. Really hope you enjoy our walk with Helen

and do give us a like and a follow so you can catch us every week. Here's Helen and Charlie and Ray Ray. You know there's often someone on set who's the corpse, as they call it, the giggler, the person, like Richard Jervais is famously like that. Yes, yeah. What are you known for? oh god you have to ask everybody else i think probably being quite assertive i'm always encouraging that with women never a bad thing probably quite assertive and you know and also i'm i don't i don't

mess around when i'm at work i'm like okay let's get it done let's do this let's do that i'm very much like i like working at a fast pace because i think my brain works quite quickly um i don't like hanging around so you know I know like I know we could if we've got half an hour to shoot a scene I'm like okay we can do this because you know we can do this and we can do this and they're like yeah and then it becomes like this brilliant sort of fun activity to do a really good job in a short amount of time I really enjoyed that challenge so I think I'm quite sort of but I also you know the drivers sort of we're very lucky would get driven they're always laughing that you know whoever gets to drive me is the best because has the best right

because I'm like, take my wig off as I'm walking off set. I'm like, in my own clothes. I need to get back, feed the kids. So I'm like, I'm quick. Are you? I'm just like in. Yes, I like that. So you're quite no nonsense?

Yeah, I am. Would you say you are? I'm quite practical. Are you? Yeah, in fact, my partner said on my grave, you'll write practical. The romance. The romance. It's like key.

Very practical. It's like he knows that if he doesn't get around to doing something, I'll just go, oh, fuck it, I'll do it. I just get on with it. Yeah. I like the sound of your partner. Yeah, he's great. And actually he used to row, so he's awesome.

That's quite hot, isn't it? It is quite hot. I do like a rower. Yeah. We all love a row. Let's not lie. I know. I've had a lot of time with short men since it's not at all.

Do you know, Helen, the short king summer is over. We've all had our short king summer. It's lovely. it was lovely while it lasted but sometimes only a row will do yeah oh so you I love this I'm getting this idea of this practical Helen are you emotional oh very are you emotional yeah oh good okay I have really big emotions so do I have to control do you cry a lot yeah yeah I do yesterday I cried because people were out doing lovely Christmasy things and I was at the theatre and I was like,

I know this is so Christmas, you're lovely and I don't want to be ungrateful. But I just want to go and have a nice Christmas after I bust out crying. I was like, how spoiled do you sound? You're in work. Suck it up. But you know, I think it's OK sometimes to cry.

Yeah, I think I just needed a good cry. Sometimes you need it. I bet you felt better afterwards. Yeah, I did. I did. I did. I had to redo my makeup and get on the stage. And I think that's what's so good about theatre

is that you can't indulge it. Actually, when I've done sort of meaty, big theatrical, you know, plays or musicals that are very emotional, it's quite good to have that emotion, you know. Like I was going through the separation with the father and my children when I was doing The King and I, and actually having, I mean, which was mad,

because I was, like, typing Madden in the wings and then going on stage and performing. But it means that you're kind of, there's a vice there. You can get rid, you can expel your strong emotions, your big emotions in those scenes and that's you know therapy in itself I think that's so true what do you think of therapy do you I've had therapy do you like the concept of it do you think it's a good thing yeah it's a really good thing I

think there's so many different types I've had so many different types over the last yeah me too stuff yeah I think it's really important I think it's just helpful because I have friends who say to me oh why do you spend your money on therapy you can just talk to your friends no it's not the same it's not because they'll get bored after a one just be frustrated with you for not changing your life and also I don't know about you but it's like the loop the mind loops that you get yourself into and sometimes it's about retraining your brain to thinking a different way which your friends can't help you with and also I totally agree with you in

that I don't know if it's fair because we all know we've all been through say breakups or whatever you get you have to enter what I call the forensic room where you're literally saying repeatedly the same thing but I don't understand but then on the Tuesday this happened it's not fair to put any friends through that. No, they get sick of it. I want to pay someone to have to listen to that where we talk about, but that last trip when we went to look at estate agents,

you know, and he was showing me houses. It's like, no, that's boring. You've heard that 12 times. Oh, yes, walk up here. That'd be bad. Yeah, and also that, you know, you don't know what they're going through. They could have had a massive argument

with their partner and they're just, you know, hating everybody. Exactly. So they're going to give you the most negative view. So, you know, you need to pay someone that's completely outside of the situation. What we're saying is we like to keep it transactional. No, but I agree with you.

I think there's, it's a, feels like a healthy thing to do. Yeah, I think it is now and you know, it was always so frowned upon when I was growing up. It wasn't, well, it just wasn't a thing, wasn't a thing. I mean, how far we've come. Yes, you're right, it was see, well, you know, when you think of the language that was used around mental health back then,

I mean, obviously I'm a different generation to you, but people used to say, like, But describe it as the loony bin and things. I mean, it's awful, awful, that that's something that is so great in the last, just even the last 10, 15 years that even men are starting to talk about this stuff, particularly, you know. Yeah. I want to talk to you about another project of yours because you're appearing in high society, aren't you? Yes, yes.

At the Barbican, I'm so coming to that because it's one of my favourite films. Yeah. With it's Grace Kelly and Bin Crosby. Frankson Art Track. I mean what a trio. I know. I'm really looking forward to it. It's really nice and I love the Barbican. I've seen so much over the last few years there and I love the space. I love the area. I love Farringdon.

So I'm really really looking forward to that and it's with a brilliant director and fantastic producers that I've worked with before so it just feels very very natural and lovely and it's our first year not filming midwife we're not doing a series this year so are you not no no why is that film they're doing a prequel this year on the um the nuns in the blitz so they're going back in time so this is a great opportunity yeah for you to do some other projects exactly um but are we going to get a series 15 then yeah because you've wrapped on that have Yeah, so that will be shown in January and there will be a series 16 down the line. Yeah, but for now we're going back in time.

And we need to reset things because, you know, we've been doing it for a long time so there needs to be a fresh breath of air into us and, you know, the film will give us a really good chance to do that. So yeah, it's exciting. So how fun, and do you get to wear fabulous dresses in the high society? Well, we haven't even started. We're not even, they're just starting to pass. Are you in rehearsals? No, no, no. We don't rehearse until the spring.

Okay. So I'm meeting the director next week to talk over things and, you know, it's really exciting being with something from the conception of it as well. Such lovely little roads down here, aren't we? Isn't it pretty? It's all light, and it's all quite posh. Chumly Walk. Notice I pronounce that properly, I hope you're proud of me. I didn't say chomily, I said chumly. Chumley.

Yes, very good. Yeah, and where the theatre is, it's so Christmasy, all the lovely houses around the green. with their lovely lights oh is this cute green near that no this is richmond green so it's little green so we're going currently we're on the way we're accompanying helen um back to the theatre where you're based for your panto yeah as the fairy godmother yeah i love it you're so fairy godmother if i asked your partner yeah and i said What quality would you change of Helen's? What would he say?

I said very early on, I can't stack a dishwasher, and I really can't. It's the one thing. I'm fine with everything else, but with a dishwasher, I will literally throw a fork in. I've got no respect for it whatsoever. I love the way you said that. You managed to make it sound like a line from a Tennessee Williams play. I said very early on, I can't stack a dishwasher. Well, I'm sure there's many more things, the big emotions possibly, but the dishwasher's up there.

And also, I don't put lids back on things. I'll sort of put them on. Oh, you're one of those. So he's always picking up the piquillian, it smashes on the floor. I'm intolerable to live with. Do you know what? I'm starting to feel, you know, the poor rower. I know, I know.

No, I think the row has made a very good choice. Let's be honest. He's got a lot with this one. Oh, look at these whippers. I know they're lovely. They're very elegant, aren't they? Very. They're so aristocratic.

I always feel like they're going to snap. Do you know what physically snap? Like those legs. Like I sit on them by accident. No, it's like those very rich, very thin aristocratic ladies. I feel the same thing. Oh, yes, I love them with the big pearls. And they're so skinny.

They're so. Because they're so tight with their money. They won't eat. No hot water. No using. Just gin and tonics. They sit there. Well, another blanket.

Like Princess Margaret. Oh, hello, darling. Lovely. What is he a mix? Is he a dashen? No. Pure. Sorry.

It's because you don't see them very often. No, so he's called a standard accent. Oh wow. All the ones you see are miniatures. Is that right? Yeah. There are actually three sizes. There's a standard, which I like to call a proper accent.

Yeah. There's a miniature which you, you know, it's very common. Yeah. one which is really where it's called a rabbit, which is even smaller a cage. The rabbit. I've dated some of those, I think. I've dated the rabbits. It's so nice to meet your beautiful Daxon.

Very shiny. Have a good day. Bye-bye. Now, have we gone the wrong way? No, Will you tell us where we're going? Is there a way to get back up here? He'll sort us. Thank you.

I love these houseboats as well. I always drug to me. Oh, so do I, but I worry about the leaks, Helen. Do you think the leaks, and also the septic tank? You have to deal with that. Not women of our calibre. We can't be doing that. Do you think, what do people get wrong about you?

I'm thinking partly because of the character you played. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Do people sometimes make incorrect assumptions about you? Yeah, I think so. I think, yeah, I think people confuse me with the character all the time. And think I'm probably as confident as she is. which I'm not and I think yeah I think I think I think people think that I've got it all

sorted and I've got it all sussed but I'm very much not like that in my own life I think the confidence is probably the biggest one although I'm getting better and I think with a show like that like you say it's huge stars on it you've been running for so long people get incredibly invested it sort of feels like family yeah do you know what I mean there's an intimacy I think yeah and they want to sort of hug you and be with you know they've grown some of you we've got a younger audience as well that have grown up with the show and we feel like friends and sisters to them and family so yeah this way what's on which is rather lovely isn't it yes yeah it's

really really lovely and I think you know as many men as women watch the show now even though they wouldn't like to admit it they do yeah but no um yeah i think people do confuse me for the character we've got the same voice in the same face if people don't recognise my like i always get recognised for my voice do you yeah yes it is a very distinctive voice whereas i suppose because you're not wearing the nurse's uniform and the bob gnome. Posh gnome. I bet your family are really proud of you Helen. Well I think they are we're not really that you know we don't really tell each other. Do they not? Well no we're just quite British like that. I always find it a bit much from people say stuff like that.

I'm like oh really I don't know how to respond. So you would it's not the kind of it's not big gushing emotions. No. No. No. No, I mean, my partner's very lovely and gushy with me, which I really love. But no, I don't really, you know, and I just, it's sort of, it's a wonderful job, but it is a job. Yeah. And so I get very sort of, you know, I don't tell people when I'm doing things. I don't tell people, like with high society, my friends have been going, oh God, you're doing high society. Because they'll see it on social media or something.

Yeah, I don't really, I just get on with it. Do you watch yourself on the midwife? No, no. Would you watch it on Christmas, at Christmas, for example? Yes, but I probably, you know, hide under the cushions when I come on screen. Really? Because it's not normal that we should watch ourselves as humans because that's, well, it's narcissism really, isn't it? You know, from a technical point of view, I will sometimes just to see what my body's doing or my head movements or something like that if I'm worried about things.

But particularly when you're starting out, I think it can be immensely useful. Yeah. It can be constructive. But from a vanity point of view, no. I also agree with you in that I think, I suppose it's the same even with listening to yourself. I found when I started working in radio, I thought, I'm going to listen to myself on my own, not with other people in there, whatever. Yeah. And then just to fix technical things that I didn't realise that maybe inflections or nervous tics or whatever.

But actually, I totally agree with you. Once you've sort of, because you just want to make sure you're sounding like yourself. Yeah. But once I've done that, it's not really my business what I sound like. As long as I don't sound technically bad. Yeah, 100%. I really believe that because also, you know, we don't need eyes on ourselves. Human connection is about communicating.

And when you're watching yourself, you're not communicating with truth because your eyes are on yourself and not outward on the other person, if that makes sense. Who's one of the favourite people who've worked with on that show? You can't actually, because you can't have a favourite. It's not fair. Well, they're all such dear friends. Yes. And I bet they have become amazing friends now.

Yeah, but I have learnt my craft from these incredible women from Jenny Agatha, who's got this huge, vast career. And Judy, equally, you know, a massive career. And so incredibly talented. And Linda Bassett, who is just fabulous, you know, just surrounded by really talented. And Emerald for now has such an interesting. Yeah. That's amazing.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. She's amazing. It must be sad when they leave. Yeah, I think it is. I've got used to it now. But for a while, it was hard because there was sort of a wave every couple of years. Like Miranda and all these ones. And I sort of felt for a minute that I'd been left behind. But actually my choice was that I wanted to stay with this show and I was invested in this show.

Yeah. And that's what I was supposed to be doing. So I had to really own that and learn to own that. But for a moment, it did feel like there were ghosts everywhere. and now i think i've come full circle with it and um we cut her do you know you know where we are don't you yes we're over there we've got you about these houses are the lovely houses look they've obviously had the decorators and to do those these are it's like the home alone house yes this is is it richmond green hello yeah this is richmond green and it looks like witches are presumably

thank you they wouldn't have stopped if i wasn't for helen and this is why ted lasso yes that's true was filmed here because this is very much a sort of Americans idea of what they think. Exactly. They think everyone lives in houses like Benjamin Disraeli. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, I mean this is the English dream. This is Mary Poppins, isn't it? It is beautiful. It's gorgeous. I love it. So we're going now to the... I really love my walk with you, Helen. Oh, me too. It's been so nice because I don't always get to have a good long one with Charlie.

these days it's sort of snippets in between shows. I'm so glad. Yeah, it's lovely. And yeah, I think you're sort of everything I hope you'd be, but more in some ways. Oh, thanks. Because you've got a very mischievous side to you, which I like. And I can tell you've got a brilliant sense of humour, and that's an absolute mast. I think you've got to laugh at yourself.

I think you've always got to laugh at yourself, and I'll be the first to take the piss out of myself. Yeah, I'm much more dappy and I think people think, you know, I'm always, I'm always messing things up on stage in this pantom. Really? I'm always missing my cues, my entrances, saying the wrong words, saying sounds that aren't even words. People just looking at me like, are you all right? You're having a stroke. And how do you juggle it? Because it's a lot to do, but do you get some help and support with your kids and stuff? I do. When you're working on these projects like this.

I do. great nanny but it is a lot just organizing like school bags and you know the kids in this show will say oh it's such a lovely lie until 10 o'clock and I'm thinking I was up at five having a shower in time to get the kids breakfast get them packed up for the day taking them to just mean it's just it's a lot but you know we all have to do it don't we as parents yeah and we you know there's no point complaining about it I just get up and get on with it Well, apart from yesterday when I just cried because I wasn't at Christmas dinner. But you're, again, sometimes I feel great after a good cry.

Yeah. And I think I'm increasingly, I love friends that just let you, let you cry. Let you cry. I've got some great friends that will let me cry. Yeah. Yeah, I have as well, actually. How do you? I don't let myself break down in people, in front of people very, very often.

And I don't ask for help. I don't do stuff like that. And then when I do, on the few moments that I do, I'm always so surprised that people are ready to come and scoop you up. Isn't that lovely when you've got brilliant friends like that? Don't you find as well? That's the thing. I don't ask for help.

I don't ask for help. And then when I do, people say, why didn't you bloody tell me sooner you were going through this? I would have been around. I could have helped you. And my best friend is amazing. She's like that. Is she?

Oh, she's incredible. Yeah, she's one of those very strong, she's a screenwriter actually. She's called Jane Goldman. Yeah. So she does like, she does a lot of Matthew Vaughan's films. And I've known since childhood and she's one of those people. You'll go, I don't know what to do about this. And she'll go, why didn't you just tell me, we'll sort this out, it'll take two seconds.

Yeah. You feel. Pragmatic. Yeah. Pregnicism is such a gift in someone. Don't you think it is? Yeah. Yeah.

Are you quite pragmatic? Well, I think I can be when I don't let the emotions take over. I am quite pragmatic. Charlie's had a good walk today. So didn't you take Charlie to the theatre with you? Yeah, so he's always so on set, he's with me. We've done a play here together and I put him in the play actually, which is great. I love that.

Sorry, he's in the dressing room, he's got his little bed and he's all fine. He's used to it now. He comes on tour with me. Charlie, have you had any? nice time. Have you enjoyed it. Thank you so much. I've loved this. Right, I'll give you that. Have you enjoyed it? I've absolutely loved it. I'll drop you. I'll take you up here. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We'll treat you to the bitter end. Bless you. Oh, vein of my life of podcasting is the wheelie suitcase, Helen. Oh, and also I didn't wear soft shoes. I've had heels on the whole time. I'm so sorry, I should have

thought. No, I like it because it proves to people, because I've been doing this podcast. I was an early One of the early ones. I was early to the party, yeah. But I like it because people realise it's genuinely, we're not on a studio pretending to go for a walk. No, no. No, it's good to just get out. I think you get more out of people as well when they just need to keep.

It's just more relaxed. Yeah. I should ask you before I'd let you go. Yeah. So as it's Christmas, I need to know what are your plans for Christmas? Are you going to be up to your eyes in Panto? Are you going to get a day or? I am.

No, I've got, um, well, I've got two shows on Christmas Eve and two on Boxing Day. All my family are coming on Christmas Eve, so that will be magical. So you don't get much time to prepare on Christmas? No, so then I've got Christmas Day off, but I'm going to do all the prep before, but I'm hosting. Can the Rowan not get the turkey sorted? Yes, I mean, we'll be doing it together and his mom as well. I would have thought he'd be great at the turkey.

He's going to stuff that turkey. He's going to be in charge of stuffing the turkey. I'll do the potatoes. He's got the arms for it. I won't use that as much. the trailer Helen saying Helen George or her partner he's going to stop that turkey I don't know where your mind is oh dear well I hope you have a wonderful Christmas thank you so much I hope you do too thank you so much and Ray lovely Ray it's been so lovely we'll let you go now thank you so much

we'll give you a hug now well thank you so much bye Ray and your biscuity is Bye Helen. Sweet pee. Bye Helen. Oh no, how would you say it? It's say it an apostrophe it's been here. Bye, Helen.

Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye. Goodbye. It's been wonderful, darling. Like a theatre director. That's what it is. 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.