Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Josh Jones (Part Two)

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Josh Jones, the conversation continues with more stories, laughs and joyful dog chat.If you haven’t already, make sure to catch part one, and don’t miss Josh on tour with his brilliantly titled show I Haven’t Won the Lottery, So Here’s Another Tour Show, running until April. Tickets and dates are at https://joshjonescomedy.com.Follow Emily:Instagram X Walking 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 2 of Walking the Dog with the wonderful Josh Jones. Do go back and listen to Part 1 if you haven't already and do make sure to catch Josh live. His show I haven't won the lottery, so here's another tour show. It's touring until April so you can book your ticket at joshjonescom. Really hope you enjoy our walk with Josh and do give us a like and a follow so you can catch us every week. Here's Josh and Ray Wray. In terms of your sort of breakthroughs, you went to the Edinburgh Festival, didn't you? Yeah.

And got nominated? Was that relatively early on that you got nominated? 20, 2020, 2021, I can't remember what. It was the first Edinburgh back after COVID, like the first proper one. I think it was 22. So, yeah, I've been going about seven years. I started in 2015. so yeah been going about seven years so yeah still quite new but I was already on the

I was already starting to close comedy clubs right because I wanted to make sure I was doing and we should say what that means if anyone when you say close like headline yeah yeah and that's the biggest act of the night isn't it is it yeah well it's just kind of like you've you've got to be decent. If everyone else has been really good and then the closer comes on and he's dog shit, God, it really brings the mood down. I've seen it. It's really depressing. So is that a good moment as a comedian when you get that call saying we want you to close? Yeah, because like, especially some gigs, you know, I've been gig in there for years and you start off doing the five minute spot for no money and then you really like build yourself up. Yeah. So it is good. But for me,

I wanted to be more known on the circuit because basically with the circuit and stuff you'll never get booked because of diversity. No one's going to book you to close a comedy club because you're gay. The circuit isn't as asked about diversity or anything. Obviously they want it but you've still got to be really good to close the gig. yeah um so i wanted to just kind of make sure i was at that level before i was trying to get any telly or anything and you did start doing tv didn't you because you did eight out of ten cats yeah how did you find that did you enjoy it yeah that was my first ever telly thing so i was

quite nervous actually i can't really remember any of it it was a bit of uh a days and i don't watch myself back but i've seen clips of it and stuff um i don't really really now I'm like oh god I'm not like that at all really now what do you mean I think I was a bit more camper than normal I think with every year you you become a bit more you like normal self so now when I'm on stage I feel more like my actual self whereas like three years ago I'm like oh god I was properly performing do you know it's so interesting that Josh because I did a radio show with Frank Skinner for 15 years on Absolute Radio. And when I first started it, I'd done performing before I was a child actor.

You can see that, let's be honest. But, you know, that was a new experience for me doing radio like that with a comic and a very, very seasoned, brilliant comic. And what I realised, and I got a really good piece of advice, I think it might have even been from Frank. he could tell that I just wasn't being the reason he'd got me on board was because he liked me as me and then he was really nice about it

he didn't do it in a kind of aggressive way he just said don't worry it will take you a while before you start sounding like yourself and I realised it probably took me about four years unfortunately but I think that's that's a good amount of time do you yeah I think now I think I think I'm the best I've ever been at Stand Up and I think this show's the best I've ever done.

And this is the one that you're, it's called, well you introduced us to your tour. It's called, I haven't won the lottery, so here's another tour show. The best name. I love that. So, yeah, it's just the best jokes of written. I've got better as a writer. Yeah. But also when I'm on stage, I'm like, I don't feel like I'm faking it, if you know what I mean. Whereas they used to really overperform and now I barely fucking move to be honest. And is this one, is this themed around something or is this just you being your fabulous self? It's just basically it's the best jokes have written in the last two years.

Yeah. Some sort of harder. That's the truth of it. But yeah, there's a bit of a theme. Talk a lot about my family. Talk a lot about how I've moved in with my boyfriend. And I've got a, and I'm living in a nicer area because my boyfriend's a doctor. We're going to get into that because you had.

I mean, I've got to say, I'm a bit jellybags. You've got a Mr. Big, haven't you? Yeah, I do. Oh, I hate you. Yeah, he's an anesthetist. Are you joking? That's my fantasy. Yeah, yeah, just the best sleeps ever.

But yeah, he's really nice as well. So he's actually a nice person. Anesthetist? Yeah. I mean, that's my top three. Yeah. Because what are the other two? I don't wish to go into this on the poker.

Serial killer. No, what I like about anaesthetist, and I think why you and him, already I know, are the perfect, like ying and yang, because they have superhuman levels of self-control. You have to to do that, Joel. Quite calm? Yeah, he's very calm. I'm not saying you're not one of those things, but you're a performer, you're a bit wilder. But actually, for a performer, I'm probably quite chill. And all my comedian friends have always,

I'm, a lot of my friends, I'm probably one of the least ambitious. Are you? I'm not trying to take over the world, I literally just want to do this for a living and make decent money. But I'm not bothered about doing fucking arenas. That looks knacker-in. Do you know what I mean? I don't want to do that.

So like... Yes, I know what you mean. Some people do see it more. I know there are some comics. And I have no, there's no disrespect or shade thrown here, by the way. It's just a different approach, isn't it? Where I feel it happened to be comedy that they chose because they're funny. But if it hadn't been comedy, they would have thought, right, okay, I'm going to be businessmen and I'm going to make millions as a CEO.

I do stand up because I love doing stand up. Right. Some comedians, these, one in my, I'll never say it is, but they won't in my head right now, they would slit my throat for a panel show. Do you know what I mean? Some people, I'm like, you would definitely murder me. for a panel show. Yeah, I think I'm quite chill for a performer. Really?

In general. It sounds big-headed to call yourself that, but I do think don't really lose my rag. Don't really get over-excited. I'm kind of just like... Well, where's your damage? Because all performers have to have it. No, but I've done loads of therapy, so I'm alright, actually.

Therapy's great, isn't it? Yeah, it works, actually. Did you find it helpful? Yeah, it was good. I did a lot of it online. I don't think I'd ever do it online again because I used to get really annoyed because she, I don't think,

well, I don't think she was a good therapist for me so I ended up going for someone else. But she, it used to really annoy me because she was doing it online and she used to blur out a background but I could see it was a Pulp Fiction poster and I knew it was. And I said to her each week,

I was like, I know that's Pulp Fiction Poster you don't have to blur it out. And then each week she'll come back on and it was blurred out. And then it'd be like, but why is this annoying you? And I'm like, just fucking unblower it. So I have to go somewhere. Why did she feel the need? Maybe she felt that wasn't in line with the values of an empathetic, compassionate woman.

Like, tell me about your childhood. Fucking John Travolta shooting up. Yeah, it's interesting that. I had therapy for a long time. and I ended up doing it in a more sort of neurotic New Yorker way where it was just part of my life for 10 years I would go but you know what? Was it the same therapist? Yeah and she was brilliant but I just got to the stage where

my belief is that the point at which you can sort of take ownership and have agency over yourself and say I'm ready to stop. Yeah. If you have the courage to say that to a therapist that's a good sign you maybe it's worked. I found it really hard to leave therapy because I felt like I was doing really well and I didn't need it but I didn't want to like no like break up with someone so I didn't know what to do so I kept for the like the last month or two I was like trying to think of stuff to talk about and I was like turning up trying to pretend I was

sad when I was genuinely really fine well I really you do realize I realized it was just kind of like moaning to a friend. It got to stage, I was like, oh, really pissed me off when she said that. And I thought, no, this isn't the point of therapy that you were mildly piqued because of a comment of a woman in a coffee shop made. It's like, yeah. Also, there's chat GPT now, which I really recommend. Yeah. That's insane. No, I swear. I don't recommend that. Josh, you ask it question. I don't recommend that. I think that's really unhealthy. It's not a person. No, but what's so good. It has no bias. It doesn't want you to come back again. It's not being paid. It does want you to come back. But you just say, what do you think of this? And then it just

it gives you a response. I love chat GPT for those questions. Like I'll say, do you think it's wrong that I want to do this? And my friend did this or whatever. We'll say, well, based on looking at the kind of responses that most people will give to this, it always tells you you're right. no yeah i'm not lovely but i think this is really bad i don't think you should be doing that i think that's really bad do you i think i don't think you should be asking an ai and like do you think it's all right that i spoke to my cousin like this no i think that's really weird oh josh you hear what i'm going to do go back to therapy and don't use AI anymore i'm going to go to chat gpt and says my friend Josh Jones thinks this is the terrible idea.

Don't bring my name into it. I don't want those people after me. Josh, look at these. I'm quite scared of ducks. Are you? Yeah, I'm scared of geese. That's geese, isn't it? It's because I've been with you.

I went, I once dated in Mancuny, a lovely boy, and he used to go, what about these? He would say these all the time. I love that. Like, he'd talk about groups of people and say, I don't want to end up going with these. Do you know whereabouts in Manchester you were from? Don't ask me questions. I will remember. Oh, where was he from?

I'm going to remember. Oh, look at these geese. They're cute. So that's interesting what you were saying about the, you were talking about going on TV and just that thing of finding your voice, I suppose. Yeah. That you go, maybe do you think earlier on,

you come out a bit louder and you're kind of trying sell yourself maybe more? Yeah, I think you're just trying too hard. Yeah. Whereas now I just think I'm just way better and I don't need to try as hard. And also, but like, I think if you look at any, like if you look at something you did two years ago, if you're not a bit like, then you're not improving. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, like if I was still on chat GPT in two years, yeah. You'd say, Emily. that's not good. No, I really want you to stop it today. I really want you to stop it. I don't think it's really, I don't think that's good. So, you've done, I tell you when I really, really warm to you

and I thought, oh, he's a bit of me. Comedically, it's all right, anesthetist. I, um, I, I saw you on a few things and I saw you on Jonathan Ross's Comedy Club, full disclosure. So Jonathan Ross is a really close. That little poop. Oh yeah. Family friend of mine. So his wife Jane, his wife Jane is my best friend from childhood. Did she not do the woman in black film?

And kick ass and she's done so many. So we were mates before she met Jonathan. Oh, nice. And then she met him and fortunately I adored him, even though it was older than us. And I thought, why aren't that old man? But we love him. But I know you did Jonathan Ross's Comedy Club. Yeah.

And you also appeared on his chat show. Yeah. You must have, that was a great. Yeah, you only found out about two days before. So that was a bit weird. And it was you, I think it was Catherine Ryan, Matthew Modine and. And... Otie Mabousie and Craig David.

Yes. Yeah, that was mad. How did you find that? Did you... From Craig David? Well, just the whole experience. Yeah, I just thought you were a bit weird, really. I don't know why I were there, really, but I enjoyed it.

But it was more like his and you were a comedian. So he did like this nice thing where I go out at the end. And it was... Yeah, it was really good. But it was, again, it was just a bit surreal. Yeah. Because I was like, oh, yeah, I'm going to chat show. And I'd never seen Stranger Things, but he was from Stranger Things.

Matthew Modi, yeah. And everyone was dead excited. And I didn't, I had no fucking idea who was. And then it was funny because he really laughed at you, though. He really laughed at you. Yeah, he was really nice. He was the person I kind of spoke to the most. We really got on.

I was like, fucking, how are we going for a drink? This is like, I made him, mate. And I thought he was great. But he's a bit where, because we were brought out, he was brought out before me. And he was like, oh, I'm a bit nervous and a bit nervous. And I was like, oh, you'll be fine. You're going to, why are the fucking, he's from Hollywood? Why aren't I telling him he'll be all right?

I was literally two days before it. I was gigging in Hull. Why am I telling him? Oh, don't worry, you'll be fine. I was shitting bricks. But I was like, oh, don't worry. I was like, if I fucking mind to try and come out. One of the most famous Hollywood actors.

I had no idea where he was. Really? He was charming, very attractive. Yeah, do you know, what a silver fox? Yeah, suave. You made a funny joke about Stranger Things. What did you say? I remembered it.

It really made me laugh. I'm going to remember what it is. Well, I didn't watch. I watched it when it came out just because I hate watching myself. But sometimes it's good to know because I'm like, oh, did I say any good jokes? What did I say? You were very, very funny on it. And I remember, I remember noticing how.

It was really lovely, actually, because I think it shows them in a good light. When you get a Hollywood person who gets British humour, and he really, from the off, you said something, and it was something about being asked to play a straight person or something, and he said, I'm not that good, I'm not fucking Narell Street. And he was crying, laughing, and I thought, I like you. Do you know what I mean? Because he got you, I liked him. He was really nice.

Yeah. He was really nice. I liked him, but I liked you more, Josh. Yeah, thank you. He was real nice. I'd met Catherine before, so that was nice because I'd already knew her. Yes. And then I think, I don't know if I'd met Oity before that, but I think we followed each other online. And I'd never met Craig David, but, yeah, it was nice. It was weird.

It was one of those, like, well, aren't that a mad day? Do you think you managed to, are you comfortable with that? use someone because some people sort of they go into the entertainment world yeah and that sort of becomes their world you know it's an extension I was living in London and I was kind of like told you need to live in London you need to live in London for two years mainly because if they say I can get you on the Jonathan Ross Show you need to be camera ready yeah so it's like um you need to live in London and all that sort of shit and then I was just like but because the only people are know from London um

who live in London, everybody who lives in London is from work. So my whole life when I lived in London was just work and I fucking hated it. I like a good balance. I want I have a good career but I don't want my whole life to be my career because I don't want to be on my deathbed. I think when I'm on my deathbed, I'm not going to... It doesn't matter if I did live at the Apollo.

Do you know what I mean? Like it's not a big deal. When I'm on my desk bed, I'll be calling your partner saying, can you hurry me along and let's do this nicely? He'll be chatting to Jackie VT say, How long have I got left? Who should I leave my money to, chat, GPT? Investing in AI is a huge growth potential.

On my deathbed, I'll be like, Josh was right. Yeah, but that's interesting. So I think you've always had that sense then, have you, of like, you know, so you were, when you came here, do you think part of you was thinking, I don't think it's right for me to be. Came here, had a mini breakdown, started therapy and left. Because it just...

Well, it just felt like all my... Your community was back home. Yeah, I just felt everything was about work. My friends back home were complaining that they never see me because I'm just doing stand-up or whatever. None of my family give a fuck that I've been on television. They're like happy for me, but no one gives a shit. What do they say?

If I came home and was a bit of a dickhead, they'd be like, who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Do you know what I mean? No one gives a fuck. So, like, I don't know. I just think I kind of lost myself for a year or two. Yeah. And then I didn't really know why I was doing doing it. And then I, yeah, I don't know. Went back home. And now I've got a really good work life balance, I think. Well, do you know, I think that sounds like you're very intuitive and that's self-aware because I think possibly as a performer where you're, you become very vulnerable. I think, in a lot of ways. I think isolating yourself and separating yourself from your community,

just in, you know, in the name of ambition or whatever. I think that can be a mistake. Not for everyone, but for some people, I think so important having that those people. I don't want to throw any other comedians into the boss. But what I will say without naming names, there's some people who work so much and they are so famous. But I've met them and I'm not envious of their life at all. I reckon we're talking about the same people.

We'll chat afterwards. But yeah, there's some people I'm just, I'm really not envious of your life. But it's interesting. They think everyone wants their life. I think it looks dreadful. Yeah, so do I. So whereas I'm like,

I want to have a good enough career where I'm selling tickets and people what are coming see in there. Yeah. But I've not had to like sell me so to get there and I'm not, I don't need it to be in front of found. of people because you can sell you sell a 300 seater you've made a decent amount of money yeah so it doesn't need to be a 3,000 realer yeah do I mean look at

this lovely fountain do you like a fountain Josh yeah but because we've been working for a while it might make me need a way do you know it will do that is it one with money in it he can't see it's quite like for yourself now and you're dating in an ecstitus they earn a bit I can still rub oh well do you know what I can't wait to come and see you on tour I'm going to you should you should yeah of course can and so can tell me the dates so we've when you're touring until so we're touring now till April we've added extra dates oh that's a good sign is so yeah we added like 20 extra dates nearly so now it's like 44, 45 dates altogether

which is my biggest tour I've ever done and it's nice because I love the circuit but it's quite nice to not be on it for 45 gigs of the year and have people come to see you on purpose which is so different and so lovely because you know what they get in

and it just makes the gig like so much nicer do you know what I mean Josh has been really supportive and nice to you in this business. I'm thinking specifically maybe of other comics. Like older maybe comics or people from the generation that came before you or... So loads of people on the circuit

you might not know of but like a lot of like older people who have been going for 30 years on the circuit have been really nice. I think I'm quite lucky that everyone, not everyone but like 95% of people have been really nice to me and I've got a lot of friends who have a lot more horror stories with other comedians being assholes.

Maybe that's the energy you give out though because I think you're an interesting having spent, may I say an absolutely lovely walk with you. I've really got my steps in as well. Good. Good. What a good idea for a podcast.

Do you know I think you strike me as someone It's a difficult balance this but you it's an interesting blend you have of you're open and vulnerable yeah but you've I can sense you're someone who's got healthy boundaries as well oh yeah yeah do you know what I mean so you're not like come and kick me I'll do anything to be your friend no yeah I don't really I'm not I'm not a good networker that's one thing about there was there was so my PR's here it's very lovely here today but there was a PR from a few years ago who wanted to do my one of my

Edinburgh fringes and we had a meeting but we didn't go with them and I said no and they came up to me in a bar in Edinburgh and she was like oh I'm really sad that you didn't choose me but she like perked her lips and she went oh really sad and I couldn't help it I shouldn't have done it but I just went oh fuck off just walked out I can't be doing with none of that fake shit so I can be an asshole when I want to be to be honest so I try not to network because if there's a tell if there has been a tele producer who has been a bit of an asshole once as well and I just pulled him aside and I went you've been a bit of an asshole did you how did it go down

that I've never done that TV show but I I'm not scared of yeah like I don't like nobeds and I will say it but then I'm the knobbed actually but like yeah I have So I don't overly network because I don't trust myself. My agent doesn't trust me to say anything either. Because it's a very smoozy sort of industry, isn't it? And sometimes it's really fucking fake. It is so. And I've not been raised around fake people in my life ever.

Everyone I know is really authentic. So then to be like quite in a schmoozy industry. I really struggle with that, because I'm like, oh God, just say what you want to say. But you know what? Authenticity is such, so rare, and I think you have to hang on to that. And it can be difficult. I know what you mean. I feel sometimes I, like I know I, there's sort of a way things are done. And I can be a bit extra and crash into situations. So someone will be talking at a party to someone high status. who's like very high up in TV or something. And I don't care about that.

Because I don't really give a shit about status because I've kind of chosen to be outside of that. I will just crash over and treat my fellow. Hi, how are you? And I can see their friends sometimes thinking, why are you talking to me like this? This person's really important. Don't be so normal with me.

Do you know what I mean? And I think, I can't. This is a bit vulgar, but it's something my mum would say is we all shit. Do you know what I mean? So like no one's, No one's above anyone. But yeah, I don't know why.

I think most comics are just, I've not really had any problems. But when I have had the odd problem, I've called them out as well. I love that, Josh. So, yeah, I feel like I'm, and also like I have my select group of friends who they all come to my house to cook for them

and stuff like that. Yeah, you're a good cooker here, are you? Are you? The anaesthetist man did on his feet? Yeah, he has. He's, um... Do you like that we, I will never...

I don't want to know his name. You don't need to know his name. I know he's the doctor. I don't know his name, really. How did you meet? Tinder. I know, they have doctors on Tinder. Wait, if I'd have known that.

We'd all... Do you know, there's a specialist dating site, isn't there? If you want to meet a doctor or someone... That's a red flag, though. If you're going for them for their job. When it was unified... I'm dating.com, I was like, their headcases, their mental headcases. If they're like, only firemen, I'm like, you're fucking insane.

Oh, okay. I'm glad I know now. Will Ray just sleep for the rest of the day now? Oh, yeah. Do you know, he's got the best life. I would want to come back as Ray. I mean, he's, he really does, doesn't he will? He's very spoiled. He's propped up, like Princess in the Pea on four pillows with an elf banker. over them in the car. Can I smell him? Is that weird? Right. Oh, look, he loves you. I'm smelling

your dog because my dog stinks and she needs a bath and your dog smells quite nice actually, so that's good. Hey! Because of the mic, I can't tell what's the mic and what's his head. I was wondering, God, you've got no gloves on, don't need them. With Ray. With Ray? Tell me about, before I let you go, which we must, because it's freezing and you're a bit, you're a busy man. But I want to, but I I want to know, tell me Josh, you took part in dancing on ice. Yeah. And you left dancing on ice. Yes.

Because of an ankle injury? Yes. Or because you hated it. I did hate it. But I, I have to see my ankle. But I'd never done reality telly before. I didn't really know what it would be like. It's not for me.

Why? It's just, well, they kind of, I can't real say too much. I just didn't like it. It was a lot more produced than I thought it would be. Was it? Do you know what I mean? I just think, I feel like when I do comedy stuff and tell her, no one tells me what I can and can't say and I feel more authentic.

Whereas when I was doing reality, I was like, can you say this? And I don't really want to be told what to say. Because then it feels like I'm not, there's no point of me being there. How did you find the skating? In fact, I wished it was ice hockey, actually. I think that would have been better for me. The dancing was the hard bit. Yeah.

Were you good at skate? Were you good at skating? I'd never skated before in my life. And I actually got alright at it. It's bloody dangerous though, isn't it? Yeah. It's been an extreme sport. Well, I twisted my ankle.

Could have been worse. So you left? So I left. Do they still pay you if you get into? Yeah, so I just went home and played Mario Kart. I was buzzing. Didn't give a shit. I'm absolutely obsessed. I actually love you.

Let's get rid of the anaesthetist. Just get married and... Oh, I'd love to be in a fake showbiz marriage with you. Do you know what? I've absolutely loved you, Josh. Thank you for having me... Yeah. My hangover's gone. Have you enjoyed it? Yeah, it's been good.

Have you liked meeting right? Yeah, he's shivering though, his reason. So we're going to come up to Manchester and see you and Ellie and the anaesthetist. and the anaesthetist. Yeah. But Ellie at the moment is reactive, so I'm going to get her trained because I don't want her to go.

So am I, to be fair, though. Just be backing at each other about chat TBT. She's on it all the time as well. It's the problem. Josh. Well, we're also going to come and see you on tour, and that's until April.

And if anyone wants to get tickets, they can go to... Joshjonescom. I'm on there all the time anyway. I made that website myself. Did you? I'm really proud of it actually. Yeah, because someone wanted to make it and they were going to charge me two grand.

I thought, fuck that. I'll figure it out. So I made myself. I'm not paid so two grand to make a fucking website. It's shivering because it's cold, so we'll take him in now. Bye-bye, Josh! Bye! 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.