Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Jake Lambert (Part One)

Episode Date: September 8, 2025

This week, Emily and Raymond are taking a stroll in London’s Battersea Park with the comedian Jake Lambert! Jake has risen to fame thanks to his videos on social media - which have racked up over 500 million views, building him a devoted fan base. He’s now on an international tour with his non-stop, gag-filled, storytelling stand-up. Jake is a cat man - he lives with his cat Richard Parker - who survived a very frightening incident and has gone on to become one of the most popular cats in the neighbourhood. Just don’t call him Richard...In this part of our chat, we discuss how Jake went from shy child to stand up, the impact of becoming an uncle as a teenager and why he choses to never swear. Jake is on tour with his show The Sunshine Kid - you can find dates and buy your tickets at jakelambertcomedy.comFollow @jakelambertcomedy on InstagramYou can listen to Jake’s podcast Save It For The Podcast - which he co-hosts with George Lewis - on all podcast platforms! 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.

Now, Jake Lambert, I need to find the bin for Rose Pooh. Oh, okay. So... I'll show how I feel about my full name being in that sentence. This week on Walking the Dog, Ray and I went for a stroll in London's Battersea Park to chat to hugely talented stand-up comedian Jake Lambert. I first came across Jake through his absolutely hilarious videos on Instagram,

and I'm not the only one. I think his videos have wrapped up over 500 million views. He just so perfectly never. Things like the cliched phrases people come out with at work or captions they put on their holiday posts. Along with my personal fave, things dogs would say if they could talk. Well, I know what my dog would say if he could talk. Please can we go out with Jake again? Because this man was not only enormously entertaining company.

He's also just such a thoroughly, lovely, genuine person to spend time with. Jake has appeared on shows like Live at the Apollo and Comedy Central's Live from the Comedy Store. He's also been the support act of choice for huge comedy names like Michael McIntyre and Rummish Ranga Nathan, but he's currently in the middle of his very own international tour, The Sunshine Kid. Tickets are selling out pretty fast because Jake's a popular boy. So do grab yours now while you can at jakelambutcom. I absolutely loved my walk with Jake and I know you're going to love him too, so I'll stop talking now and hand over to the brilliant man himself.

Here's Jake and Ray. Come on Jake Lambert. Shall we go? That was I've never been spoken to like a dog before. I think that'd be a good name for a dog, Jake Lambert. I've had a fair few people come up to me and say that whenever they meet me, they go, oh I know a dog called Jake. They always say that.

And there is a cat that's been named after me. There's a cat called Jake Lambert. Who is that? Somebody in Edinburgh and it was very nice, but they said we decided we're going to go to the fringe and then, I mean I hate to say this big now, I've got to say it, that they said the best show, favourite show, whatever, something that is going to have to sound like a compliment I don't want it to. They said we'd name our cat. So they went with Jake Lambert. I don't know who else they saw, but I

won. So there is a Jake Lambert cat. But then my cat is called Richard Parker. So you have to double name them. I've heard about this and I absolutely love this. Oh, that's nice. So where does the name Richard Parker come from? Well, it's named after the tiger from Life for pie, which I was reading at the time. Yes, it sounded familiar that. And that's it. I remember the vet when I got and they said, you'll come up with a nickname.

I never have. He's always been, Rich Barker. And you get that rhythm and you can't get out. And that's how he respond. That's what he responds to now. He wouldn't respond to Richard. It's so weird. My dad comes over sometimes and calls him Richard.

And me and Richard Barker look at each other. Like, it's so odd. It doesn't seem right at all. I love an animal with a surname. Richard Barker. It's so nice. It suits him a lot. One of the best named dogs was actually on an episode of Tom Bazden who did this podcast,

who I'm a big fan of. He's written a sitcom called Here We Go. Right. And you know when you watch something, sorry, Rose doing a poo? Another one? Yeah, all right. Oh, sorry. All right, Judgey Jake.

But he's just, oh yeah. It's like a little sausage, Jake. Yeah. But one of the best dog names is in this Here We Go sitcom. And I really loved how it was just alluded to very casually. or not explained and you just hear one of the characters go, Lord Sugar. Lord Sugar. And there's something so brilliant about Lord Sugar.

Yeah, yeah. You know, it's so brilliant. Come along, Ray. We've got your ploppy. How do you feel about ploppy, Jake? Not good. Not good. But I think I will use you as a good example for my mum.

Because I want my mum and dad to get a dog. But my mum doesn't want to because of that bit. But I'll say that you're very proper. And you don't lose anything by doing that. You still look proper while you did it. I think the word you're searching for is fragrant. Let's go down here. My cat doesn't use the litter trait.

He, oh, is that a wee, that one? Look at those people on those bikes. I know it sounds like. Should we get them? They look really silly. Yeah. Can you explain what they're like, Jake? They like, you lie.

You're sort of lying down on your back whilst, I mean, we can't say too loudly. They are right there. Oh, yeah, let's go. Let's shit talk to them when we've moved away. They are, I'm going to that, by the way, the Jules Holland is performing here on Sunday. Oh, there's a sign up here called Symphonic Disco, A Night at the Movies, Jules Holland. Yeah, so that's three different nights. He's not doing a night at the movies.

Oh, I see. Just to be clear. I thought he's got a time, some phoicic disco, night. Night at the movies. What a night that would be. He's really branching out and getting ready for New Year's this year. Symphonic disco is Saturday. A night at the movies is Sunday.

Jaws Holland is on Monday. I'm glad we cleared that. We've got to see that. But I imagine some people are going to be very disappointed when Jules Holland isn't doing the theme from Greece. Now, Jake Lambert, I need to find the bin for Ray's Pooh. Oh, okay. So... I'm sure how I feel about my full name being in that sentence.

There's two bins. You've got two options here. Oh, should we use that bin? Do you need a specific one? I've not got a dog so I don't know. But I've seen those dog poo bins. You need to use one of them. Oh, there's one there. I thought you had to use those special. Do they still exist?

Those red bins that we had to put dog poo in. Is that gone now? This is the bit on the podcast when I discovered that I've been putting raised poo in the wrong bins all these years. I've always seen the dog poo bins. Yes. But have they gone now? No, they do still have those.

Oh, okay. But I think the rule is better in the bin than lying on the floor. It's catchy. Is that the official's like it? Or indeed in your pocket, which has happened to me. Yes. Oh, dear, I went to tell my mum that bit. I had to David Gandhi, the male model on this podcast.

Are you familiar with his work? Do you know, I only know of him because of you. Because I remember you talked about him on the show with Frank. And we've been like, how have I not known this guy? And then realized I've seen him every time. time I've got on the tube. Obviously not him, the poster, the vitamin adverts. He's not always been there. Well, he's had those Dolkhan Gabana, you know, with the white pants. Yeah, now I know, yeah. He gave me some pants to give to Frank, actually. I mean, they were new.

He told me that he was once in a meeting with the Dolcchengabana designers, you know, for his new campaign. Yeah. And he realised, I thought, oh shit, I've got a dog poo in my back, in my pocket of his lovely suit jacket. I said, that's awful. They've got you for a pants campaign. Oh, David. It's a lovely looking man, buddy, stinks. Some shit. Making good use of those pants.

Oh, dear. So it's such a joy, Jake. This is lovely. To have you on. And I feel like I really like you as soon as I met you. You're my kind of person I've decided. I decide very early. That's, oh, okay. First impression has been a lot to you.

Yeah, really do. I'm glad I didn't know that beforehand. And Richard. Parker. Richard, I'm sorry. I knew you just said Richard. I spoke to you like I speak to my dad when he comes over. Parker.

Richard Parker. And Richard Parker only has one eye. He does only have one eye. This is quite early in the point. podcast to go into this. He did get shots. Oh no. So I had a lady that was walking past us really looked around there when we said that bit. What happened? Are you? Well, I had him with two eyes and he went out and came back with one. That must have been so upsetting. It was, sorry, this has come up so early in the

podcast, but it was. I don't need ramps into sadness. Well, he, he's absolutely fine. I will say, by the way, if anybody goes or even Googles him, actually if you Google Richard park. I imagine the tiger comes up before him, but I'm working on it. However, if you go on Instagram, I've posted, but basically, as I said before, he doesn't use the litter tray. So I think he was using someone's garden and somebody decided, but I will say this, now I live in Battersea, I used to live in Tooting and it was then. And I moved away. Right. From the shooting in Tootin. But he basically came back. He came back with the, um, the eye was like, brook.

red and he was crying at the back door and then I let him in and he came went running under the sofa and I pulled him out and then took him to the vet this is very I whenever I've mentioned this before this always does get a gasp so you know I thought maybe a cat had got him or or a fox but then when I took him to the vet and I didn't know what happened the vet just said to me oh I can see just prepare itself the bullet's still in there and it was actually in his so they it was it was gone through his head and popped his up. But he's absolutely amazing.

What kind of gun was it? It was just a... I think it was like a metal bee, so it was like a metal BB bullet was in there. Do you think someone had done it intentionally? Yeah. Yeah. I think he's probably using their garden. So I moved away pretty quickly. It was really... That is honestly so horrible, isn't it? It's... I think I had to really detach myself from it. Because also, luckily, and not to do an advert on the podcast, I had pet insurance.

But I didn't understand how pet insurance worked because I'd just moved. I'd not lived there for long either. And I thought that, because I hadn't updated my address. I thought it was like car insurance. I thought, what if they don't collect? And it was thousands and thousands, but they do. They're absolutely fine. But I had to go and had a gig that night down in Southampton.

And I dropped him at the vet and had to go and do the gig in case I was like, I know this is going to be so expensive. I don't know if I can, because I guess the alternative, but some people wouldn't be able to pay for anything. So luckily pet insurance was a man. and they he was so well looked after and now they said he'd never remember ever having two and he goes out and I see him and he does tricks he can like he sits on command he like shakes paw but what happened was when he first came back I couldn't let him out so I would feed him

and whenever he was eating by the back door other cats would come and sit the other side of the door and be there with him so he had so many cat friends and then there's so many cat friends and then I I was putting signs up on the trees down our street to let people know just as a warning in case they had cats what might happen. And a lady came out and she was a carer and she said, oh, she goes, I look after the lady a few doors down. She was asking me where the cat's gone. Apparently he used to go and sit in her kitchen.

And she was like, oh yeah, he's been asking. And I was like, oh, well, don't tell her what's happened. But obviously, I assumed she'd figure out when she saw him. Yeah. But he would go back out after that. And then I moved pretty quickly. I started trying to move and then got away. And now he is, he's very good, very confident with people somehow,

and he goes out and he's got cat friends around. It's very popular. But it was amazing to see, and I'd come into the kitchen, even have to have the back door open. Because for a while, I thought it was going to be hard to keep him in, but he didn't want to go out, which makes sense. And then other cats would just be in the kitchen with him, just sat with him. She had made a load of friends.

He's got all this friends. Oh, is it the Ranger? I love a Park Ranger. There is good park rangers here. This seems to be the bin men. That's the dump truck. Yeah. What a nice world you live in that that might be the park ranger.

I love a ranger. It's got his own police this park as well. Has it? Yeah, we can go see the station if you like. Do you know what? It's really so sad that story. But on the other hand, it's really lovely. I had a lovely happy ending that Richard Parker's okay now.

And you've got him all... Oh yeah. And to look at him, as I said, It looks amazing because you wouldn't know. It's just the fur just completely... Is that what they do? So they don't give Cat's glass eye or anything like that? I guess because they move around so much, it would be quite harrowing if it popped out.

So I think they just stitch it all up. And then you just... And he quite likes it to be like gently stroked over that bit. But he's... Yeah, he's very good, Richard Parker. And he's... I think Ray would like Richard Parker. Oh, they'd get along.

They're sort of... They're very similar. Ray... Can you see how Ray's got more of... cat energy. Very much cat energy. Because I grew up with Burmese cats and he was, he's, he's very similar to a Burmese cat. Like they've got a slightly sort of eccentric personalities. Right. Oh, so yeah, do you think you got that from the cat or they got that from you? Excuse me. I think that's a good point though. I wonder if, because I used to think, you know,

and people said, oh, you're like your pet. Yeah. People say that. I just think how ridiculous. But you know, Jake, I really think it is true. Yeah. Is in you end up just having the same energy? I think so. Yeah.

Like Ray's quite sort of hysterical about noise and very noise sensitive and a bit kind of like, oh, every time he hears and the police siren. Yeah. I'm a bit similar. Come on, Ray. And you both seem very good sort of doing your own thing.

Yeah. Yeah. And you sort of do that together. which sounds like some sort of oxymour but I think it makes sense. Exactly. Yeah. Free spirits, Jake.

Yeah. And so Jake, you're sniffing a bit in there. Tell me about your experience with pets growing up because it was slough you grew up in. It was. Yeah. Yeah.

Slow. Didn't have any. So my parents had a dog before I was born and I always wanted one. Oh, he's got. Oh, he's okay. He had some leaf stuck through it. He's got a little leaf stuck through.

I imagine he goes. Yeah, but don't draw attention to him, Jay. Oh, okay. I mean this is not in a bad way, but it does, it's very full, isn't it? From the top to the bottom. It's sort of like the bottom of like a broom. Does he clean up the house? Does it like dust under the bottom when he's finished walking? No, it should be. If it was a Disney film, he would be. Right. This is when I hold him up, like the Lion King. So did the Lambert's, they had a dog before you were born? And then I always, always wanted one.

And I was never, never allowed. So I had rabbits. My dad bought my mum. lovebirds for one anniversary. That's so sweet. Yeah, I think he thought that and she didn't agree. They would get out quite a bit and then we'd have the whole street trying to get them back in again. We lived in like a coldiesack

and I just remember them being up high in the tree and in the end we realised if we just left the cage open they would just come back in and then one day we left it open and a budgie flew in. So it's quite funny that tonight they do actually quite like to be in there. It's quite good to know. Am I right in thinking your mom worked for American Airlines?

How on earth would you know that? I know things. Yeah. And your dad, and this is what I love, your dad worked in golf. Yeah. I don't know how you know. Where has that ever been? Oh, it's my producer.

She can find anything. I can't. She knows it all. I'm like, you know that those memes you get where that one friend who knows their way around Google. And then you see there's a clip of minority report or something. Yeah, yeah. You're like a Swifty, the way they figure out stuff she said and clues. Blimey, because I usually, if anyone asked, I don't think I'd ever given that answer because it's so boring.

I love it. Oh, do you? American Airlines so glamorous. Right, she does actually get to travel around a lot. So actually, I just think it's a bit of a nothing answer, but maybe it's because I'm what I'm used to. But she travels all around the world and she helps them set up in different places. She gets to go over to South Korea and South America. And is it a sort of like?

Like corporate role and what I'm saying is she's not going to be topping up my drinks. No, no, no. And I do get some benefits. It's very nice when I travel. Yeah. Yeah. So we were very... Tell me, Mr. Lambert, what first attracted you to the American Airlines?

And your dad works in... What does your dad do in golf? So it's like, it'll be like golf tournaments and stuff. He works for a company that puts on those events. And again, he travels quite a bit. But usually up in Scotland, putting on events. Because I'm so used to it, they've done it all my life. I've sort of, I never asked questions when I was younger and I still really haven't.

Really? But I know that, you know, we used to go to America on holiday a lot because it was probably free. Yeah. So we were very, like, it was a lot of standby when we, I remember having to go to the airport just very smart in case people didn't last minute decide to buy a business car to get and we'd get together. That's what it was, a lot of, uh. And did you have, did you have? Do you have siblings, Jay? Two older sisters.

So I've got two older sisters and I've got nine nephews and nieces and one great nephew, one great niece. Because I'm from Slough, so people start to do stuff very young there. Oh, do they? Yeah, I didn't. But I became an uncle when I was 11. Oh, I love that. I think that's why I don't want children now. It sort of was out of my sister by the time I was 13.

Do you not really? No, no. I'm good with animals. I'm good with them. I like hanging out with them. But I sort of am sort of, I think even my nephews and nieces see me as just one of their cousins rather than an uncle. Yeah. I think I'm just sort of one of them.

I think it's becoming so much more acceptable to acknowledge that for your generation, which is obviously a younger generation. I found I never really saw kids as being part of my future. Right. And I feel particularly, I think it's a little harder for a woman to admit that. Oh, okay. You know, because it's seen as kind of what's wrong with you or that's your purpose or... And I think the more people that feel comfortable just saying,

oh yeah, actually, it's just not really something I'm giving much thought to or I'm planning. Yeah. I'm not saying, I sort of think that's quite healthy that, you know, you guys feel more comfortable saying that. And it was a lot easier for us to have that conversation while a child was screaming in the back when it was. Yeah, that's good.

It's really justifying our decisions. Oh, good decision. And you're lovely. Is that a via Marana? Beautiful dog. You're the lovely ones. Hello. Lovely texture.

What kind of dog is that? She's a leopard dog. Chocolate Labrador. Oh. Hello. Hello, Lab. These are cute dogs, Jake. There are a lot of dogs, yeah.

A lot of these dogs. One of them came to check me out and then left. One, two, three, four, five, six. Imagine going out with six dogs, Jake. Could you handle it? No, I'm struggling with the one we've got. Do you tell I just pointed to that one? He's just there.

He's there. They're very good around other dogs. They're all just very... Yeah, because they do it every day. Right. They're very good. They come out every day and see lots of dogs. And Raymond's doing well because he's clearly the smallest

and he's the only one that doesn't know any of these. Yeah, but I think, you know what? I like this, because... because it stresses the importance of socialising dogs and training them. And people always say that, I don't know what's wrong with them. They're just mad. They just run up. People, I tell you what's wrong with them, you.

Do you know what I mean? It always is. Because they just miraculously expect dogs to know what to do without training them. What a lovely life. It was so lovely to meet you. Yeah, nice to meet you. Oh, thank you. You too.

Bye-bye. Come on, Raymond. This is Jasper. Oh, thank you. Goodness. This is Raymond. Raymond. An amazing name.

Thank you. He's acting like he's used to that, isn't it? He really is. He's like, this is what I expect. I expect to be adored. Yeah. He really does. Oh.

I'm not used to this. I don't go on dog walks. I thought this was a joke about how it happens, but it actually does happen like this. What's that? Just talking to strangers and then the, what is it? What's the name? All the questions, they're real.

How do you feel? about that, Jake. I can't believe it's... Well, do you know what? Why I like living around here is because I love 101 Dalmatians because I love like the... I feel like this is where it was based. Because even like the architecture of the buildings look like that. And I was like, oh, I think

I'm living that life without having the dogs. We should say we're in Battersea. Oh, we haven't introduced the park. I can't remember. That's down to me. I think we know that. That interaction is something I really love because sometimes it ensures, because the nature of the work that both of us do, I suppose.

is that sometimes there's a lot of kind of solo stuff that you're doing. Do you know what I mean? Because you're not in an office working with people every day. Yeah. And I think it's a really nice way of ensuring you're constantly engaging with people so you don't go mad at. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, because if I go for a walk on my own, nobody comes up and talks to me because you just, you are, it's much more acceptable if you've got a dog with you. It would be very weird to go up and go, hi, how old are you?

What's your name? And I love your hair. How often do you get a car? Just two ladies stroking it in the middle of the park. What a walk that would have been? Are we getting a photo here? We're going to take a little picture if that's all right. Yeah, of course that's okay.

Yeah, we've got a sort of a dead bowling green behind us. Do you think it's a funny background? Do you think it would be better to do up by the tree? It's a very tropical garden through here. Oh, let's go there. That becomes the tropical gardens. So, if you like. Did I become the diva then?

It didn't want a photo done with a dead bowling green. I just thought we could probably do better than that in this park. I think you're right. We do have the bad seed chimneys in the background, but it would be quite small. Do you know what I'm seeing with you? Go on. You're quite a perfectionist, aren't you? Yeah.

Yeah, that's nice that comes across. But isn't it, yeah. I admire that quality. Oh, that's nice, yeah. That's a nice way of it. I just got myself as being very particular. I like that. I'm very particular.

So when I got here and I was offered a tea, I said you can leave the bag in because actually what I do at home is time it for three minutes. But I thought that would be so demise. If you said, would you like a tune? I say, yes, please, can you time it for three minutes before you bring it to me? So I've got the bag left in. So I am particular, but I can be flexible when I need to be. Because I think that would have been quite an impression. I love that.

And I'm interested, we were talking about your trial to the minute ago, before Ray's fans all showed up. Yeah. And I'm interested, you've got a really likable energy. And I would say, not all comics have this. You know, some comics you meet and they don't instantly strike you. You wouldn't know they were comics. Yeah, okay, yeah.

I call them the Rowan Atkinsons. Where often they're hilarious, you know, they're hilarious, but that's not. But you wouldn't. He presents as someone who did engineering at Cambridge. Yes, yeah. Whereas with you, I would talk to you for two minutes and think, this guy does something to do with comedy or. Oh.

I was wondering, is that a sort of energy that you had in your family growing up, do you think? Was it, do you know what you mean? Yeah, I think, well, growing up, I was a lot more sociable with children my age than very quiet around adults. So now, all my uncles and aunts, they can't quite believe what I'm doing. It doesn't make sense to them. But for my family at home, the whole thing was always about having a laugh and sort of being very friendly. It was very welcoming people always around the house. So I think, would that answer that?

Because to me, it was just normal, so I don't really know. But then I think if you, yeah, one of my sisters is very sociable. But I think if you, well, I remember one teacher at school, she was teaching me for three years and then couldn't believe when she found out that I was related to one of the other Lambert's, Claire Lambert was my sister. Why? We were just very different, very different. So maybe it's just, I don't know, just me.

But Claire's nice, but she was like bad at school. I was me Were you quite a good boy then I think so yeah yeah But I just neb I was always so scared of any trouble Still I am I say it was Yeah

But I don't know Does that answer your question Sometimes I'm not very good at answering questions I get I think the compliment flustered me Did it? Yeah I didn't know how to handle it Do you struggle a bit with compliments Oh god let's not do a deep dive I don't know

I just it came from nowhere I don't do anything I like to ruin I was getting all the attention But that's the thing with comedians I think we, people think we're always going to be the life and soul of the party. But I think we like it because we get to decide when we get the attention. Yeah.

And I think that's what I was doing when I was younger. Around the children, I would go, now I'm funny. And then at high I'm, I'd go, now I'm going to switch off for a bit around the adults. I'll let them talk. Were you quite shy then, Joe? Yeah. Yeah. And then I never let my mum and dad see me do anything.

So if I was even playing football, I remember once playing football and I looked up and realized my mum was watching. So I just stopped. In the middle of a game, this is like a competitive game and I just stopped. and started crying. We got you some special treats yesterday, some venison, didn't we? Blimey. Next week on keeping it real. So you're trying to get some of that advertising money coming in?

I'm not going to get the Greg's campaigns. Hello, Harvey Nichols. Would you be interested to sponsor my podcast? Go, blimey. So shy Jake. I love shy Jake. Oh, okay. I think shy Jake was also thinking, oh, I'd quite like to perform, presumably.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's difficult to get over that hurdle of, I want to perform. And I have friends like this. My friend Molyne Banks, who's a writer and a brilliant comedian, I said to her, you've got that thing if you're an introvert who's found that you have the talent

of doing an extrovert's job. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it. And you have to manage that? Yes. Would you say that would be fair that you're possibly an introvert who's good at an extrovert's job? Yeah, because I don't like to do the big act outs or anything on stage.

I don't do any of that because I think that... Sleepy would do it and it's fine that they do and it's good that they can, but I'd be too embarrassed. I'd just sort of stand and have a conversation. If you watch me on stage, it's like this, basically. I'm just talking. And when you say the act outs, Is that more the kind of physical comedy?

Yeah, yeah, that sort of thing of big things. I just sort of tell you the story and then you can just make it funny in your mind and imagine what it would be like. But some people go big and do the big act outs and I'm like, I basically just walk on stage, stand there, then leave. I barely take two steps to the left, two steps to the right.

It's just like, I always treat it as though I'm at a house party and then the attention has come on me for a bit and so I started to hear some of my anecdotes. And then it's other people's term. Like I never put hecklers down because I'm like, oh yeah, feel free. Have you got something to say? There's no reason, there's no contract that you're not allowed to speak.

I'm like, it's fine. If anybody goes to the toilet, I'm like, pause for a bit. Yeah. I mean, some of the audience probably don't like. I want me to carry on with the show. But I'm like, let's just all check our phones and just chill out. It's very relaxed. There's no point of doing the whole pretense.

When I first started comedy, everyone was telling me about finding your voice and what's your persona. And I was like, I don't think that's correct. I think because comedy changes a lot. Obviously, it used to be people in a suit in front of a curtain. Then it became T-shirt and it changes a lot. Yes. And I realised that podcasts were coming through and you have to be yourself on a podcast.

So I was like, it doesn't make sense if you are being one person on a podcast and then going on stage and being somebody else because the audience will go, well, who's the real you? So I thought, what if you just did the same thing all the time and just be yourself on stage and yourself off stage? Then it's easier as well. We don't have to change. You're absolutely right. I think that's a really interesting point that it has changed in that there was this idea of comedians, certainly when I was growing up, where there was a persona. You know, there's very much you stepped up, you know, and it was a bit sort of, Mr. Saturday Night.

You'd come on, you're the turn, you're the star. Whereas now, because as you say, we've sort of slightly fetishized intimacy and reality, and I don't think that's any bad thing by the way. way but it means that you're absolutely right you can't there's no distinction now and it would feel very odd yeah if you had say a social media account telling people about your life and speaking and then you were coming on with a sort of bow tie and a gold top hat you know it would be like what yeah exactly that yeah delivering it like it was really very punchy a guy come up to the other day and he said they go who's this I'll tell you what my wife

You haven't got a wife. Do you know what to mean? Exactly. Yeah, you go, what's real here then? None of this is real. And then that must have, it's so interesting. Tell you what? Mother-in-law.

What do you mean? You've never married. So it's, I just thought, what if I just be me? And I just chat. I'm certainly not missed a Saturday night. Probably sort of like Sunday early afternoon. If I had to pick a time, that would be ideal. I love a Sunday gig.

Because everyone's, no one, especially if it's not a bank holiday. because nobody can be is going to be too drunk. They're relaxed because they've had the weekend and they're like, oh this is like Thursday is the same. They go, oh, you know, probably, especially now after COVID, they're working from home tomorrow.

So like, great, you know, I'll go up, this is the last thing I do, then I've just got tomorrow, then it's the weekend. So Thursday and Sunday. Although I was at the comedy store last night and the audience were very strange. Then today I've been tagged in loads of stories. There was one girl was Russian, some were Greek,

and they all were posted about the fact that they passed their listening exam. So I think they all came to the comedy store to see if they could understand English. The dream audience. I can't wait to message the other acts and go, just so you know, we're not all terrible at this. We were part of an exam. And do you remember, a lot of people, comedians do remember that first sense of pleasure, I suppose, of rush of pleasure they had when they made a room laugh.

Oh, yeah. Well, actually, mine was I remember being at school. This isn't me making, I remember making people laugh, but this is the moment I realized this is what people think of me. It was me and Renee Hearn, Mimi Militinsky, and it must have been Kirsty Baxter. This was year two at school. And we were sat around and they were saying, everyone was bored. We're like, we're bored.

And then Renee said, Jake, you're funny, make us laugh. And I was like, oh, and then I panicked. And I was so lucky at that moment, a bird pooed on my head. And they all laughed. And I was like, thank goodness, because I had absolutely nothing there. I had nothing prepared. I hadn't thought that way. I would just sort of say things in the moment to make people laugh.

But I got away with it. But I always remember that moment of being like, oh, that's what I am then. That's what I'm seen as. Yeah, I love that. And presumably, did you do performing at school and you were in plays? Yeah, but again, it was not. letting my parents come along. And then afterwards always wishing they were there and then sometimes realising they were stood at the back sort of behind a curtain sort of hiding. So they

were there to see. They knew I didn't want to know. I was very shy. But yeah, but not in front of the other children and other parents. I was absolutely fine. It was, but I was always like that. Like I didn't even like listening to music in the house when I was younger because I was embarrassed for my parents to know I had taste. I didn't want them to know anything about me. Yeah. I just didn't want to know. So I was like, I didn't give anything away. I remember like not even wanting them to know I started drinking tea when I went to university. So I was like, they're going to think I've become an adult. I just didn't like anything like that. It's so weird that self-consciousness, isn't it? Yeah. That idea, I think I inadvertently sum that up quite profoundly when I was the child once. When I said to my dad, and my parents were both very theatrical and in, you know, and so very loud and embarrassing, you know. And I remember him talking.

he'd go into restaurants. I thought, why can't you just be like normal parents? You'd just say, hello, we've booked a table. I'm like, hell, hello, well, men. You know, coaching fucking Shakespeare. And I remember them coming and booming, and I just went, there was one day I just had enough. And I just went, shush, people will hear you.

That's it, yeah. But just think there would have been some girl there with their parents going, why are you two so normal? Like, really annoyed that they're maybe, you know, when the people get to subscribe, like a wet lettuce, is that right? Wet behind the ears, that the same thing? But they've got, sorry, I think maybe I've booked a table.

They go, you know you've booked a table. Just tell them, you called up, you booked it. They must have been the opposite. So no one's ever, they always, it's what you're used to. You don't like. But however, I can imagine if my parents had been like yours, I'd have been like, oh God, because whenever the Lao person does come into a restaurant, it makes me go so quiet.

Yeah. If there's a Lao person, I'm the same. So when you're going through that age, I can imagine why you would have been like, please, not everyone has to hear that we've arrived. Now, I just wanted a Labrador and a semi, you know. I just wanted to grow up on a nice Volvo. But actually, you're right, looking back, a childhood like mine, you get maybe better memories.

And it's great to have been part of that. But it's like when you go and see a film that's really bad, it's brilliant to look back on. Yes, yeah. But when you're in the cinema at the time, it's like a bit, oh, God, will this never end? Yes, right. But isn't that interesting as well?

Because media, that thing that you were saying, I want the semi-touch house and love it. You've been sold something on TV. And then if you think of anybody you know, I don't know of any family that has the normal life that I've grown up seeing in TV and film. Everybody's gone through something. Everybody knows.

That's so true. There's no. I don't know where this exists. And then I bet if they do, they're the most boring people you've ever met. But I don't think it does exist. Everyone's got something. They would have like this perfect thing of this is it 2.4 children is that one I don't know what that meant What how can you know that many? What does that mean?

Is that what people have looked at your childhood on the face of it in terms of your house? Oh And thought oh they're like a TV advert family. Yeah there was it was my mom and dad two older sisters and me We lived in a coldiesack where everyone knew each other right we had like a plumber a police officer we had the Nobby the Postman and because we didn't have Sky and I loved watching friends he would tape friends for me and when he was doing the rounds I'd deliver the tape for me so I could watch it before school so I could go in so I'd also seen the episodes that everyone was talking about so it was very nice so you're

right that but you know but then it's that whole thing behind closed not that it was like not that but you go oh you know but other stuff or maybe of course yeah normal childhood then in in film and TV the the 11 year old doesn't become an uncle. Yes, absolutely. You're right. You're right. You're right.

You're right. You're right. I know, he's very fluffy, isn't he? I'm not. How old is he? He's eight. He's nearly nine. This is why I have to carry him.

He's a bit lazy. He's called Raymond. Oh, he's really sweet. Oh, thank you. I was like, a coat. I know. Well, your coat's similar. I know.

Hello, we're there. Say hello. Oh, you're so sweet. I love you. Raymond. Lovely to meet you. Thank you. Bye.

I'm quite invested in them. Can I tell you my favourite bit of that interaction? Go on. It's when they asked how old. And you said eight and you went to say he's knocking on a bit, realised she was old to change it to her. He'll soon be nine. He just gave them maths.

I couldn't possibly confirm or deny. But yes, that did happen. He went to say knocking on it. He's eight, so he's not... Nearly nine. Nearly nine. If you know numbers, you'll know what's coming. I did think that.

Thank you. Wow. I cannot believe how much... I mean, I'm not surprised because he is exactly as people describe. He does get a lot of likes. He gets a lot of attention. But you know, I think it's very good for me. I think it's like what it must be like going out with Harry Stiles.

Yes, yeah, yeah. Well, I think that because people keep coming up to us. And what's odd? Nobody has referenced the fact that you and I are wearing microphones. We've got a lady behind us wearing headphones and a box of wires. It's the power of women. Why do people just, he's that eye-catching that they've ignored everything else? What I've noticed with you is that a couple of people I've seen have sort of double-taked you.

And there was a bloke I could see earlier and I really felt for him. I just, because he was obviously thinking, should I take a sly picture or would that be weird and then he was sort of put the phone away and then he just was walking back staring at you and I thought oh you're making it really awkward but I wonder if because you've become so well known now through all the brilliant work you do on social media and just insane numbers you've had on that yeah for the listener if they don't know because they'll be they'll be listening to this going well how have I never heard of him which is the case of it so bizarre because and because it's the internet Yeah.

You don't know when it's going to happen or who. It's not like if I was on TV all the time, I would expect it. Right. But you're never prepared. And I'm sorry, I just spoke over your question and just went in with an answer that you might not have even been asked. No, I'm interested to know. But it's happened, it just, the most bizarre places are when I least expect it. I was on holiday in Naxos in Greece and then went into a restaurant on the first night.

And this Greek lady just went, oh my God, I love your videos. and you just cannot, you never know when it's going to be. So it's international as well, obviously. Yeah, so I'm on my first tour and we put on some dates around the UK to see what would happen. And then people were like, why aren't you coming to Buenos Aires? What's funny? When I go abroad, because they, people here,

if they know me or follow me on social media here, they know that I've maybe done a bit of TV, but I've not known that much. But if I go abroad, they don't know that I'm not all over British TV as well. So when I go to, I mean, even if I do like I did Australia, I've done all around Europe, I've been to Athens, I've been to Bergen, I've been to Antwerp. They all know me there. But I think to them I'm a bigger thing because they go, well, we assume you're huge in the UK.

But I've sort of just spread it all across. It's bizarre. Like in November I'm going to Lisbon, Paris, Barcelona and Reykjavik. And I don't know how or why, but that's sort of, I guess one big person there shares a real and then it's off. And then suddenly everyone there thinks I'm at, it's very odd. So yeah, I never know when I'm getting, I don't see it anymore. But people are, as you just noticed, yeah, people see it more than I do. Yeah. And then I just, and then sometimes I don't know if it's about to be, are you,

about to ask me for directions or a selfie. I just, I don't know which fun's coming. I was going to ask, talking of, you know, I want to get you to this point of being this huge phenomenon online. And you went to university, didn't you? Yeah. And you did, was it filming you did? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm old school, babe. I do my research. I don't just turn up with a pink backdrop and Leon lights going, hey, babe, bless your podcast. I do the work. Oh, who was that? hanged at. Well, it wasn't anyone. I'm joking.

It was more of the generic concept. The generic podcast of the, um, those microphones on the end of claws. Yeah. You know when they hold them? Oh my God. And they push them away when they're laughing. That whole thing. Push them away and go, ah, ah, ah.

And they, oh my God. It's only when I've done things and you turn up and they go, what's your name again? And you know what I mean? Yeah. Do something. Do something. Just like Google me what? Yeah.

Yeah. Just all I ask. One Google. Know my name. Yeah. I never know whether things are a conversation or an interview. I feel bad I'm not asking you questions back, but I want to, but then I don't know if that's part of the podcast or not.

I think you're the first person that's ever said that. Oh, okay. It's because everyone has just had it without talking or... No, because I think that's really lovely, that you sort of almost... You don't feel you want to over-dominate the conversation and make it too much about you. But it is very much about you. Right. So we can ask each other questions.

Nice. But it will be a bit more that I'm being more nosy. Oh, okay, yeah. But you can absolutely ask me questions. Oh, now I don't understand how I'm putting on thoughts the first question. Look what we found. There's a pink alien. Oh, God, that's absolutely terrifying. Look at the pink alien, Jake.

It's a pink alien with, have you deflected because you don't want questions asked. No, I don't want questions. No, she'll tell you. You've distracted me with a pink alien. I think if you're going to do this kind of thing where you're asking people questions for a living, I don't think you can start being buttoned up about your own life. Yes, right.

That's why whenever I interview people, I always am really happy to talk about my own childhood or I'll say, because I think it's sort of fair trade-off. It's like if I'm asking you to tell me about your childhood, it's a bit off when a journalist or an interview just goes in and says, well, you won't find out anything about me. It's like, well, come on. If we're sharing here,

have a conversation. That's when people open up. I think it's fair enough. Because I'm fascinated by, because I used to, so I lived in Canada for a while. Did that come up on your deep dive? Yes.

Okay. And when I was there, I would listen to yours and Frank's show because it like made me feel at home and I loved it. And I remember just driving around there and I would put it on and listen to it just in the night.

And that would be my thing I was going to do that evening. I just wanted to drive around and listen to it, because I used to listen to it in the car when I was here. I used to love that. It always made me think and miss home. That also helped me with missing home. Jake, that's so lovely.

I had no idea. That's really lovely. So would that have been back in the early days maybe? Gareth, maybe. 2012, yeah. Progress. Yeah. And I remember hearing his anecdotes of being a comedian,

maybe I remember once him saying he got on a train, then a promoter text to say, I've got a gig and he had to get back off the train. and me being like, wow, what a life. And I love the idea of it. And then I always remember, because you would read out the last three digits of someone's phone number. Yes, and it was 390 or something. And then they started calling them prisoner, prisoner 390.

And I remember at one point you just went, um, 669 and Frank went, no, thank, just too early. Oh, God. Oh, God. That sounds right. I think about that once a month. And that was well over 10 years ago, but it was very funny. But yeah, it was great. Well, that means so much to hear that.

And particularly that you heard the Gareth years, which, as you can imagine, I remember incredibly fondly. Oh, of course. And then he got to meet him. I got to gig with him. Then we got to become friends as well. I didn't know you were mates with Gareth. Yeah. So it was so nice.

And I would tell him all that as well. I'd get to say, you know, that I got to listen to you. So I've gone back to... No, you must never apologise because I love that. That's made me so... No wonder I like you, Jake. Oh, that's nice. Because Gareth people are my people.

people and I miss him so much. Like, it was kind of physically hurt. You know, it was kind of like, this is so unfair. You're kind of shaking your fist at the sky. Yes, yeah. But it's so nice because you realize little things happen, funny things, and it just makes me laugh when I think about hilarious things. When I spoke at his funeral and I remember saying something about,

and it was really tough, but his family had asked me, and I remember saying something about, um, hello. A little girl didn't like me. I remember all the funny things he used to say. Like, we went to, he went to a restaurant and said, I'm going to have to leave because I'm finding it too stressful to decide what to order. He lived! That was also a great impression.

A really good impression. That's so lovely. Did you, you told that? Yeah, I just said, you know, it was that thing where I started off saying all the things I loved about him and then then I realised and funny enough when I said that Nick Helm who is a friend of Fizz just lost it because

not because of you know because it was so Gareth anyone who knew Gareth and he said and he wants sent me a message because his brother I don't know if you know is a really successful director cinematographer yeah I know the name I didn't know that was his brother

Josh Josh Richards is it That's good up the IMDB. Nomad land. Yeah. Yeah. Him and his wife Chloe do all these things. So anyway, and Josh was going to film school at the time.

And he was going, it was when he was starting his career. And I remember he sent me, I think it would be nice if I was in New York. And he said, oh, you should meet up with Josh. He's living over there. And I said, oh, that'd be nice. And then he said, just so you know, I texted my brother to ask to meet up with you, but he might be too good looking to meet up with you. He needs to be busy

I won't have time But it was just It just Yeah No one had a voice like Kesey Just to hear him wasn't it It was so

It was almost like he was smiling On the inside You could hear it no matter what he was saying He would say you would go Hello Emily Yeah Gareth how long have you known me Anyway

I could do an entire podcast on Gareth But that's really touched me actually Jake And it makes a lot of sense now. Right. Because Garish people are my people, always will be. He was so lovely. So you went to university to do film and were you thinking whilst you were doing your degree, I'm going to be a stand-up?

No. Well, I guess actually when I was there, I did start writing stand-up. I didn't know what I was doing. But I was there basically to pop off the real world. I was like, what's the one thing I like? I like film. I'll go and do that. and then I would always want to make comedies though

but even when I was at school I liked English and I liked media studies and I liked drama but when we had all three of them were so separate what we were studying I would always say to the teachers can I not write the stuff that we do in drama and then film it and make a thing I always wanted to just do stuff myself anyway so in the end it took me years to realize about stand-up

it would be like I wanted to be like a teacher I'll be like, I'll be the funny teacher. I want to be a police officer. I'll be the funny police officer. And then realized the one common denominator was I wanted to be a funny person. I'm just going to do stand-up. But then I was making my short films

and it takes so long to do that you write it, you direct it, you perform it, you edit it, and then I realized that if I just did stand-up, I can just do that all in a day. I'll just write it, go and perform it, edit it the next day of what I did and didn't like and direct myself on stage. So I just sort of, I think a lot of,

My dad actually said he read Lee Maxwell Autography and then he said it was like reading yours. It was all these clues of like, this is what you're going to do, but it just took you a while to get there. Yeah. But I was lucky, I think, because I left it a bit later,

that I did have a life and I did go and live in Canada and I did have some proper jobs. And what were you doing in Canada? Well, it was quite bad, because I didn't really understand. I just went, I've got family out there, so I just wanted to go and be out there because I got into university out there,

but it was too expensive that I couldn't do it. It was like 15,000 a year to be. international students so I couldn't. So I thought I'll do university, then I'll go and live out there. So that was 2012. And I ended up accidentally sort of working for an oil and gas company, which isn't great. I realized. But I didn't know.

They were like, do you want this job? And then I was like, oh, okay, I only did something. We didn't know. I didn't know quite understand what it was. And everybody, it's so normal there because it's Canada. They've got all the rigs up north. I was like flown up to this place called north of Fort McMurray, which is just, as I got there, I only went to see,

they were like, just so you know what we do, they sent me up there, flew me up there to see it. And then I was like, I didn't know why they flew it. I think when you've got an accent like ours and you go aboard, they think you're a lot smarter and have more authority than you do. I've got, I had no idea what I was doing. They think you're sort of like a general or something. Well, yeah.

I also had, and I'll finish this anecdote, then I'll go on to the next one. Is that okay? Yeah, yeah. I basically so I went up there and there was these loud noises it was like boom and it was really dark

and we're in the middle like we're so far in the middle of nowhere so up north and if you look at the map of Canada it starts just to break away and become these bits and nobody goes and that's what this was

and I thought people were dropping stuff big things all the time and they said no we play those noises so the bears and the wolves don't come in that's and I was like is that the only defence we've got against them just loud noises But then what happened was...

Is that a heron? Is a heron? Yeah. Oh. A guy with the proper camera taking photos. Oh, another guy with the proper camera turned up. They don't have much definition there and on the body front. Oh, that would have been the moment to get.

Wow, yeah, he took that personally. They don't have much of a waste. I don't know if birds have waste. I don't know if birds have waste. I don't know how to respond to this. Well, the owl doesn't. The owl doesn't have any. does it? No. What bird has a waste? I think the pigeons a bit more shapely. I see.

Yeah, a bit more complete. There is like an outline to them. The crow has definition. You see, yeah. Where would you put a belt on a bird? Do you know what? If I had to imagine a bird with the belt, I think the owl with a leather, a leather belt, I can really see. Tinch the waist. It just gives you that extra few inches. A bit more forgiving owls, if you're listening. So go on, let's get back in Canada. Meanwhile, Back in Canada. Oh, back in Canada. So basically what happened was, they had this,

it's a thing, I was in Calgary, a thing called a Calgary Corporate Challenge, where all the businesses compete, and it can be anything from, like, football or, like, soccer, to, like, tidly winks, chess, darts, and everyone competes, and there's a big leaderboard. It's like their own Olympics, they do. Yeah. So they said to be, oh, do you play football?

And I was like, oh, yeah, you know, but they meant soccer. And I was like, oh, I played on my, like, university team? Yeah. And they were like, oh, amazing, well, you can lead that. And I was like, great. Then that weekend, American football was a big sport they watched there, but that's on a Sunday.

There's another charge of reminder that we've made the right decision. I went in on a Saturday. My friend was sat watching American football, and it was this huge stadiums, like, 60,000 people. I said, what's this? American football is on a Sunday. He went, and this is college football. And I went, oh, no.

They think I was on TV every week. playing in front of stadiums. I was like, when I said my university team, my university had 12 teams and I think I was on the 11th. Yes, because university team means pretty much what we would consider professional. For them, that's what they thought. Whereas us, it's just the team that, you know, you just play out because you're at the university. Exactly. There was absolutely, you know, there was so many of us, they just had to make 12 teams so we could,

they could fit us all in. So, and then suddenly had to really turn up. So I put myself in the center of midfield and just. kept making passes out to make it seem like I was like, I'll just sort of be in the middle so I can control stuff ultimately because I wasn't that good. But the fact that I could kick a ball did put me above most people. Can I ask you another question? Is it true that you're in Harry Potter? Yeah. So I was, yeah, so I was in, because it was in Slough and they'd film it not far away, they'd come and pick us up from there. We'd basically like a minibus would send us up there.

So I was an extra. I was, well, I had two things. I was a Ravenclauster student, and that was in the Deathly Hallows ones. And if you Google it, there was a fire on the set, and it was my coat that caught on fire. But I didn't tell them that at the time, so I think enough time has passed that I'm probably fine.

And now they make it, I feel like I can talk about it now because they're making a new version of the whole thing. So it has moved on enough. How exciting then? And then, do you watch the film? know them. Yeah, yeah, I never. So, my niece is obsessed with them in that, you know, classic. She's 14.

So she's, you know, I had to watch all of them. Do you know, I've never seen, I've never seen, I've seen the first one, I don't know. But there's a bit in one of the death of the house where Neville was running across a bridge. Right. And it's my footsteps running. So they, like, they were just recording me all day running up and down a bridge.

But that was it. But I would just be there and then it was very fine to his Voldemort. When he would chase us and it would be like the big, the wide shots. So the camera, there was no audio, he would be calling us all names as he was chasing this. Because to scare us, and he'd be like, come here, you little. And then it'll be the S, what, C, where? You can swear.

Oh, I don't really anyway. Oh, do you know? No, it doesn't suit me. There's some words I can't say, like, bloke and geezer, and I can't swear either. It doesn't make any sense when it comes from me. Really? Yeah. Do you not swear much in life then?

No, no. And it's so funny. Jake, how lovely. I kind of love that. Oh, thank you. Well, I don't know. But because I don't do it on stage, I can never believe how many people come up to me afterwards and go, I love that you never swore.

It's so funny they notice what's missing. Luckily, they don't notice there's some punchlines missing, but they notice that there's no swearing. What do you think that's come from? Is it just, it was never conscious then? It's just never really being part of your... Just never, yeah, my friend's doing it and me being like, why aren't we doing that? It feels like, it just always felt, I don't know, I don't know, I just always thought it seemed a bit silly, so I never did it. Wow.

Like if someone just, I don't know. It never really made sense. one ever put the word effing in the middle of something? I'd go, well, you've lost all sort of, emotions got in the way of what you're saying now. Do I mean? So I go, oh, you've lost it a bit there. You've lost me there. Or if they go, I think it's funny when people say something's a bit like, I don't even want to say that, but to say that.

That's funny, because it's so dismissive of something. But if somebody goes, then this effort, I'm like, no, you're just emotional now. I don't really believe what you're saying. Yes, it's almost got, it almost is so much more powerful. when it's used in context or actually if you have to, my dad used to, some of his language, because he used quite, he was a bit of an intellectual and he used quite flowery language, much of which I didn't understand as good. But it meant, you know, he was not a fan of that either.

Yeah. Just people just saying effing this, effing that, effing that. And I do swear, but I know what he means when he says it becomes a replacement for vocabulary. Exactly that. He used to say, and I used to laugh at him because he never swore. there was a man once who pushed into him on the tube or something when he was going through the barrows and he just went, you were littered swine. But I like that better than you. Yeah. It's going to stick with that man a lot more afterwards because he's going to really go

and think about that. Are we Googling it? Yeah. What am I? I really hope you love part one of this week's Walking the Dog. If you want to hear the second part of our chat, it'll be out on Thursday. So whatever you do, don't miss it. And remember to subscribe so you can join us on our walks every week.