Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Layton Williams (Part Two)

Episode Date: November 14, 2024

We’re in Dulwich Park with the fabulous Layton Williams! Layton tells us all about levelling up his career by appearing on Strictly Come Dancing - and how he dealt with criticism about entering the show with a background in dance. He also tells us about his friendship with fellow former-Billy Elliot Tom Holland, how he dealt with rejection as a child star and how he met his partner in a mosh pit at Glastonbury. Layton’s next project is playing the Iceberg (bitch!) in Titanique - New York’s award winning hit musical that is debuting in London on 9th December. You can get your tickets here!Follow Layton on Instagram @laytonwilliams  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.

Really hope you enjoy part two of Walking the Dog with Leighton Williams. Do go back and give Part 1 a listen if you haven't already and do go and get your tickets to see Leighton in the musical Taitan which is on at the Criterion Theatre from December 9th. Thanks so much for listening to Walking the Dog and I'd also love it if you gave us a like and a follow so you don't miss an episode. Here's Leighton and Ray Reh. So you ended up leaving Thruller?

Yeah. And that was like back. That was like, okay, there's not. no job in London for you anymore. Also, no money really. We were really irresponsible when I was a kid. No money was like saved in account or whatever. So that all got blown.

But actually, when I think about, I think I was getting paid like 200 pounds a week to be the star of that show. How wild is that? That is slave labour. I'm so sorry, working tight or love you, but you need to run me another check. 200 pound a week.

This isn't Thriller or Billy Elliott? This isn't no, Billy Elliott. I can't remember what I got for Thriller. But the money was just like, it just went. And Tom Holland did that originally. Are you still mates with him? Yeah.

Do you know what? It was Christmas Eve and I had like a massive nan-na nap. And I woke up to her face time for me. I was like, why are you ringing me at Christmas? Like, oh, my niece is a massive fan I wanted to tell a show that I'm friends with you. And I was like, that's hilarious. It's like, ringing me again next year. You can say hello to my nephew and I'll say hello to your niece.

We can switch. I love that of all the people that Tom Holland knows, how am I the one that his niece wants to say hello to? But that's a lovely thing because it's one of those odd experiences where only you to understand what that's like. Yeah, literally. Yeah, no, he's killing it. Proud of him. Well, he must be proud of you.

Well, do you know what I did actually? I was like, oh, let me have a little listen to your podcast. I want to get like the flow of things where I listen to a couple episodes. And I popped it on and I was like, Tom's sounding very posh. Sounding very different. Is he trying to be somebody else? It's a different Tom Holland. Why is there too?

Someone's going to change their name. It's the Tom Horace who does the rest is history. I was very confused for a minute. I was like, I don't recognise this boy. I really don't recognise this boy. So, Leighton. So yeah, back to Burry. And that was a bit of a sort of culture shock in some ways.

It was massively. Because you can imagine I was spreading my wings. I was out. I was about, I was living my best life. Yeah. And then all of a sudden, back to your estate. back to your old house you know back to your old school where you've not been for like what a couple of years it was it yeah oh bless him catch up with your mates love

they are long gone yes there's a lone wolf maybe he's a head though he knows the cross-country he's about 20 oh there's some more oh yeah oh do you know those ones are like me at school what were you at the back yeah I was from a theatrical, we didn't do things like that. No. My mother called it look away in sick when there was a cycling proficiency test. You're not doing that. See, that's what I did.

When I went back to Bury and I had to go back after, I was like, oh my God, I'm so sorry, my legs are in short, so I can't do any contact sports. Because the boys would just want to kick me in rugby. So I just said my legs in short, I can't do it. So I did get away with some things. But it was rough, yeah, it was a fun. But that must have been tough for you as well, just because I think also when you're a kid, and particularly I'm thinking with

that thriller experience. And again, just from my own limited experience, I remember when I didn't get an audition, it was visceral. So my first audition in my life was Billy Elliott. I think my second one was beautiful people. My third was Thriller Live. So that I had such a good run.

For me, auditions were, they were meetings. They were, let's talk about this part. So then by the time I went for like my fourth fifth one, I'm ringing my agent thinking, so when do I start this job? And they're like, you didn't get it. So I got a really good run to begin with. And then I was like, oh, okay, this is rejection.

Not only like sacked, also expelled, like it was just such a miserable time. And me and my mum pretty much fell out. I ended up living with my granddad. I had to move in with him because I had zero space for creativity in the house and it was just chaos. And I just didn't feel like I could blend back in anymore. My granddad was amazing. He would help me write letters to schools and colleges. I was ready to just like do anything to get back to London.

We would spend hours every night looking at. up every school in the country, you know, the Hammond, Italian Conti, and writing them letters. And then literally like magic, we get the second season of beautiful people, which is all about this young boy who's gay with his best friend who I play Kylie. And they want to run to London and live amongst the beautiful people. And they're both from like a councillor state. Do you know what again?

It was just like, okay, this is my chance. And no, I'm going to be in London for eight weeks filming. I'm like, I'm not coming back. and I ended up finessing it and I met the line producer on the show she's called Maria and she took me in with her didn't you and her partner her and her partner Val and they took me in and was that really lovely to be living and I just wonder if that must have been really oh yeah because we were the norm then yeah you know I'm living in a household with two lesbians it was just normal to love and whoever you wanted to and live the way you wanted to and it really just

kind of like got me back on track and that I basically spent 10 years there. And that's why I'm still here. So I moved to Dulwich and I bought my place a couple of years ago because this is home now. How lovely. And you were at Italia Conte and I get the sense you really thrived there. Yeah.

Because you were in a documentary called it was like School for Stars. Oh my God. Yeah. You remember that? So I always said, oh, it's the most normal school years of my life. But I was definitely filming a documentary the whole time. It's so camp, isn't it? Like I looked back and there was a video of me and it was like, it's just like really stressful.

because like I've got like GCSE is the next week, but I've also got to, you know, go to the gym. I've got to go to rehearsals and like, and I need to get my beauty sleep and I'm like 14. So funny when I look back in here, I'm like, at least I have that documented for life. It's funny. Well, that gave you good material for bad education,

which you very famously went on to storing and you just completely lit up the screen in that. You're so charismatic. That was, when you look back, that was like a big break that you did I didn't even know it was going to be big because actually it's had its reoccurments over these last like two years and the re-up and the rebrand of it, getting to come back to it, what, after 10 years and then be the lead.

When you're on set, you don't think that that's going to happen. And whilst I was at Italiconte, every single summer during my college years, I was filming. Yeah. So it was like first year of college, first season, second year of college, second season. And then when I graduated, after the third season, we did the movie. So it was just like, boom, boom, boom. But that was a big game changer, wasn't it? 100%.

Yeah. But I didn't know it at the time because my part was cute, but it wasn't like Jack Whitehall. Yeah. But then when seven years later he calls you and goes, they want the show back, but, you know, I'm really busy. Would you be down for fronting it? I was like, let me see.

I'll call you back. I've got a lot on at the moment. But I was like, of course. I feel like it really just set me up to kind of show people that, You know, you can trust me to be a leading man. Like, I'm good for it. I hop. I'd had enough under my belt at that point to kind of go, all right, I can give this a good shot.

And I loved it. It's great. Let's bring things up to Strictly. A lot of people do that show later. And they do it and they're great and they enjoy it. But then I feel they go back to their lives and it's not impacted their career in a massive way. Then there are this group of people who it's an utter game changer. And I really felt that was a case for you.

Oh, thank gosh, because that was the mood board. Let's just say, that was the angle. I literally sat down for hours and I had up all of like, I was searching who's been on, she'd come dancing, and also who's been on Dancing with the Stars. Like it's kind of the same thing. So I'm giving like Zendaya energy. Did you even know that she did it?

Dancing with the Stars? Exactly. No, I mean like Kim Kardashian. I know she has her moments, but she's one of the big. biggest stars in the world. I'm like, okay, who's done something like that and continued on to kind of just level up? I'm fascinated the way Bethany Frankl did it. And the sort of business move. Business level ups. I took that into consideration for sure. And I was at a time in my life

I was like, I didn't necessarily have to do it. Like things were going okay. But I did feel like, hmm, am I being slept on? Have people forgotten I'm here? Because I have been here since I was 12 years old. And we have all the new Netflix kids and we love to see it and I love to see them thriving. But it's like, okay, but don't count me out. So I thought, do you know what? If I get an opportunity to go on TV to dance in front of millions of people every single weekend, I'd be silly to say no. But that's interesting to me because that gives me the sense that you're quite kind of smart and pragmatic about your career. Every choice is 100% considered like the way.

I almost said no because I was worried about. the backlash of me already been like a dancer and a musical theatre performer. Oh, you need never worry about that. No one was going to have a strange reaction to that. Do you know what I mean? I knew that was going to cause some heat, but I was like, well, if I do it, at least I've got to do it and then some, you know? So it was really, like I actually had the whole team.

I had an American team there, my British, my manager, like, publicists, everyone. I was like, right, we had pros, we had cons. And we had the whole, like, literally like a board there. And we just decided that actually, because of what I do and my fingers have been quite a few pies, it should just continue the elevation. And I'm happy to be on the other side of it now and said it has. I love the way you talk, the elevation. The elevation.

Thank you. Yeah. And so obviously you did that and you won. Oh, I'm sorry, that's my fantasy. So you'll like, have to say it. You can take that out if you are. No, no, don't. You keep it in.

Do you know what? I do think, no. I do think. I know that's awful. But I have to say. Maybe in people's hearts. Maybe in people's hearts. You were my champion and that's why I have to say that.

I'm sorry. No, no. And I love to, you know, I love everyone in that show. And it's not having throwing shade at anyone. No shade. Oh, come on with the terminology. But I don't know. I just, you were the people's champ.

It was like, I think. think if I could change it. I don't think I would change it though, honestly, because I feel like sometimes if you're winner of these things, you become like a pop, like, is that, that is your thing. And also, can you imagine the upro? Oh yeah. Professional dancer, when strictly come dancing,

we're never gonna do this shit. It's just like, oh girl, let me not give you a headline. You know what I'm saying? But the thing is you couldn't win, like, if you were not doing very well, it was like, oh, blah, blah, but then if you're doing amazing, it was like blah blah, so we just decided from like, we're just decided from like, week two, three, let's just do it. And I love Nikita. We were just dancing together literally five days ago on Sunday.

We did a little tribute together and we're still super close. We did our own shore, actually. Yeah, you did, didn't you? And why do you think there was this, there were grumbles about that? You know, this idea that, well, because I think what's interesting about that is, I think everyone sort of knows that. That's how it works because a lot of people... From day dot, Auntie Claire Sweeney.

She was in the first season, a theatre girl. So why are we surprised? Why we're still in uproar? And also, like, I love me some Les Dennis, right? But if you guys loved that journey so much, why didn't you keep them in? Do you know what I mean? And also, I love Les Dennis,

but I don't want 12 Les Dennis. This is what I'm saying. You need variety. You need to mix it up. Yeah. And the other thing that just annoyed me is that, I mean, there's literally people on this series now that I went to stage school with. I won't say names, but you were in the building.

I'm sorry that I'm cute. I'm sorry. Is it my fault? Like, why am I being punished? We both have the same teachers. Like, but I'm getting punished because I'm good. So I'm just like, do you know what, let's not just be good, let's try and be excellent. That was the energy.

And you were. I know people rolled their eyes with me. Like, oh, late at him struggling in his VT to come out and get straight nines and tens. But like, it was hard. Like, it wasn't easy. Like, because he pushed me to, like, the absolute limit. And really, the choreography. I was there the other day and I was like, okay, work.

But like, we were like, blah, blah, blah. It was just in the best way possible. It was like, we pushed ourselves, you know? Do you cry when you're. make it. I would cry every day if I was doing something like that. I definitely had a few tears. There was a few moments where I thought literally everybody in the UK hated me because it was

just headline after headline and you don't I've never been someone who the press really cared that much about. So to kind of constantly be just having to, I'd be scrolling my own Instagram and it would be like, oh late in this night and I'm what is going on to the point where I had to tell the team I was that I actually don't want to see any press anymore

and I'm just going to concentrate. But what I wanted to do is always keep my vibe. I didn't ever want to be watered down and do no. I said, oh, just, you know, because they're going to write what they want about me anyway, so I might as well just say what I want to say. Do you know what I mean? Are you good at sort of navigating that stuff? Like, do you have therapy dating if that's, and feel like to answer to that question. No, no, I do. And I did what during it and I checked in here and there, but I did just genuinely just go, do you know what, this is just a few people's opinions.

Like when I come out and about, rarely, because you didn't have. have much time to be out and about. But I remember the first time I walked down the high street actually in Dulwich. Like, it must have been like maybe the semi-finals or something. I went into the pub and everyone's like, oh, like we're waiting for you. And people in the streets are just lovely. No one's coming up to you and saying, you're shit, you're this, you're that, you know. So we just kept it moving.

You have also done cabaret and I'm gutted I didn't see you because I, I saw, you would have been in my dream sandwich because I went twice. Oh, I saw Shears. Oh, Jake. I saw Jake. I saw Jake. I love him.

And then prior to that, I saw, I think it's Mason Alexander. Yeah, Mason, yeah. Apparently they were amazing. Yeah, but... I saw Eddie and I saw my best friend John. And I was literally there at the first press night. And for me, after Strictly, it was very... Like, that was the important thing.

Doing cabaret? No, it's what you do after for me. Everyone has their own roots and everyone does their things, but you can imagine the things that... people were trying to offer. What sort of things? Just give me an idea. Well, one producer dared offer me, he wouldn't mean the show that much

was like, oh, would you mind understudy in a role? I was like, maybe not. I appreciate you even trying to ask, but we're not there now. It's been a good 10 years. Come on, let's put some respect on our names. We've worked hard enough. Just stuff like that.

I love how much. Worthy place on yourself. Oh, you've got to. Especially when you've had to work double hard to kind of get, you know, crumb sometimes, what other people you see getting for having as little talent as your little finger. Do you know what I mean?

Have you always been good at that later, or is that something you've learned? Learned along the way, for sure. I've seen how things are done and then you'll speak to other people in the industry, like, and I like to talk about things with other creatives and performers. Will you say, really, just

You're not being ripped off, basically. Honestly, do you know what? Sarah Solomani, who I work with on Bad Education, she's amazing. She taught us that. She's like, if you guys don't talk to each other about it, how are you going to know in order to help level up? And I was like, you're so right.

So I thought we've actually done that as a team before and ended up, we all get to elevate and we all get paid what we deserve. You're sort of self-unionizing. Exactly, because they will try to play us and say, oh, this person's that, that person's this, but you're lying. There's always a clause, darling. And I know the clause is, period.

But I love this because I think it's very, you know, sometimes as a creative, what comes with that is being perhaps vulnerable. Perhaps there's often self-esteem issues as well. Yeah. But you seem so supremely, I suppose I feel like you're an incredibly confident captain of your ship. For sure. I'm definitely like, there's an amazing team behind. I've got to say, like, a recent last few years as well, I've like, wow, feel so lucky to have like the team around us. even my Fabi PR team and stuff.

I've been with Emily, who's, like, since I was 18. Do you know what I mean? Like, I was a teenager. I'm 30 years old now. And we should say that's your publicist, isn't it? Yeah. And it's just like,

and then she brings her team and then new people join in it. It's just, you know, every team. Yeah, but it's still, and I'm sure Emily, your publicist would agree with this. It comes from you. 100%.

But she knows me so well inside and out. Do you ever get needy moment? I'm not like necessarily needy, I don't think, but I just very much so like, like I think I know what I want and deserve. You know what I mean? Sometimes I'm like, actually no.

Like it's expensive to be doing it. Do you know how it's not cheap to look that good? It's not cheap to look that good. So like sometimes you're paying, I remember once, I think I gave out an Olivier Award and I remember clocking up everything together. I think I've literally spent about two grand to give out an award. by the time you had it all up and I was like, this isn't feasible

I'm not getting paid that much money yet but then it's that interesting investment that you're Catherine Ryan comes back around I can remember you know before she'd got to the career heights that she'd got to now and I love this that whenever

you know it was her thing I'm going to make an effort if someone asked me to speak Oh I'm showing up and I'm showing out yeah and she would get hair and makeup up she wouldn't mind me saying this she would even if it was a small little thing she can't get her makeup because it's like investing in my career

Exactly. So nowadays, when you're rocking up, you can be like, yeah, but you need to look after me because you know I'm going to be the cutest dress there. You know, Getty Images do not lie. That's what I'm saying. Dave Bennett does not lie. Well, can we just have the latent quotes? You can take them all. When can we get this out, this book? Because I literally would wake up every morning. Getty images don't lie. Getty your life. I've heard about hips, but I didn't know Getty Images have got in on the act, Shakira. They just, they just, it's there for life.

So shoot that one bad photo, you know, they never go. Well, I want to get on to your latest project, which is so exciting. So much fun. You are not going to keep me away from this. It sounds like the... No, you have to. I want to see you dance in the boat. Yeah.

So this is Titanic. Titanic. The musical, which starts at the Criterion Theatre. Yeah, we're at the criterion. 9th of December, that's the one. What I love is that when most people, you know, It's huge this show. It was massive in New York.

Yeah. I literally saw it last week. I saw it last week for the first, like, I'm a bit nervous as well. You know, you've already committed something. Obviously, I saw the archives and I read the script. But what if you're watching it and you're thinking, actually, this isn't that fun for me.

But it really, I think it's going to be fun. And we're going to be able to recreate it with a London eye as well. It's kind of inspired, obviously. Of the movie. By the movie. And it's... With Celine Dion Bops. So she's sort of an narrator figure or something.

something that seems through her eyes. Yeah, Celine DeYoung character kind of narrates it. And in her mind, she was on that Titanic. And it was Titanic. And she narrates her version of what she thinks went down with, Jack and Rose and all the madness. And I play The Iceberg bitch. I know that because most people,

when they get these West End roles, it's quite formal. And I'll put an announcement on social media, but I'm delighted to announce. I will be taking part, I will playing the role of Gaston. Oh no, I look at Leighton's Instagram, I'm the iceberg bitch. Get into it, literally, because you can't take that seriously.

I'm so sorry, it's ridiculous. Like people are like, what? And I'm like just come and see it. Like, this iceberg is like reincarnated. It gives like, it gives Tina Turner meets RuPaul. And that's my number. That's the dogs that my mom has. Oh, those are French bull dogs, Leyen.

Oh, did I get him wrong? Is that what your mum had? Yeah. Come on, Ray. You see, Ray's a bit refined. Not into them. He's like, I don't want to play with those types. So, yeah, we're doing River Deep Mountain High.

Also, I'm so sorry. I love me a good cabaret, long show, deep and, you know, meaningful and we're really thinking. But after that, I'm like, let's just do something fun. Let's just do something camp. Let's do something really silly. It's going to make you laugh. And you are out of that theatre. By nine o'clock.

Thank you. No interval. Make sure you get a big drink before you start. I would even say two. And we're going to get presumably we're going to get a bit of my heart will go on. That's Celine sings that, right? It's going to have to, it's 100% there. I think potentially might be a finale.

I don't want to give anything away. But the show is out there to be seen. It sounds very much like my kind of show because it's one of those shows. It was off-broadware originally. And then I love those word of mouth shows. It wasn't everyone talking about it, so you've got to see this. You've got to. And that's why I did it because my manager said it's one of the funniest things he's seen and he's got some good taste. And my best friend and so many people were like, oh my gosh.

And it almost didn't happen for me. I just remember the dates changed. And then I realized if it's here at Christmas, I was free. So I just thought, let me put the feelers out and see. And they were like, oh, wow. Like, yeah, of course. And like, the role isn't like the biggest role in the world. But it is sometimes it's not all day, every day.

the MC, Billy Elliot, Jamie. You've just got to like, muck in and have fun. And I've never brought a show originally to the West End before. So I thought, apart from thriller, which was shared before,

four people, so I don't really like to consider that one. And I got sacked. So this is the first time for me to kind of be the first. So it's exciting. I'm so excited for you.

And I can't wait to come and see it. Yeah, you must. We'll get you on the press night list. Oh, thank you. And this presumably Are you quite good, Leighton? Do you like... Because some of your work involves being sort of solo.

But do you quite like being in that ensemble? I think I do. I think the MC character was quite isolated, actually. So I'm really looking forward to kind of like sharing the load and mucking in and jumping in and, you know, hopping on a cheeky harmony. It's been a minute since I've had to do a harmony, darling. You know what I mean?

But I'm ready for it. What line am I on? Hopefully... No, I think I'm going to go for a cute baritone. I'm not a bass girlie, but tenors, there's some gorgeous singers in that show, so I don't need to give me that. If you're not a singer, just forget the last 10 seconds. You seem so phenomenally well-adjusted. Oh, thanks.

What do you put that down to, Leighton? Definitely my family. Keep me just 100% feet on the ground. Whenever I go home, it's just like, yeah, okay, it's just, I'm just laying. Do you know what I mean? And I don't know. I just, there's people surround myself with, it's my friends as well,

we've all been besties since high school. Like literally still have my best friends from Sylvia's and Italiconte. Like they're getting married now. People are having kids. People are getting engaged. And we've all been through all of it together. So we keep each other just on 100.

Yeah. Because life can get a little bit, you know. It's a little bit crazy. How are you at confrontation? I'm quite cute in it. I've asked that question to a lot of people, and it's the first time anyone's ever responded that way, are you? I can shut it down if I need to.

I don't like to, but if I see if it's going to go there, yeah, we can read a bitch. So if you're upset with a friend, would you be comfortable calling them saying, look, I'm really unhappy with this? I don't like the kind of unspoken, like I'm like, let's just talk. about it because the more you don't talk about it, the more it gets swept under the carpet, and then all of the feelings and start to get a little bit blurred and then it's a bigger issue that it's supposed to be. That girl, what's, what's tea? What's popping? Really? That's so good that you're like that. Do you think that's more of a northern thing,

I think? Maybe, because I found that with other people they don't want to talk, oh I'm just not comfortable talking about it. It's just like, oh well, we're never going to get to the bottom of this then, you know? So you let me know when you are comfortable with it, but on the most part, I don't even think I've fallen out with friends. We've really just, we're not really that kind of friendship group, to be honest. And if we do, we nip it in the bud and then we crack on. And I can hold my hands up when I know that I'm in the wrong as well and I apologize. But confrontation doesn't really come to me that much.

The drama comes to me. Yeah. But I try not to be giving me too many fucks about things that are not really my business. You know what I mean? Yeah. Stressing about things beyond me. I'm like, oh, girl. What do people get most wrong about you who don't?

know you, Loughton? I think people think I'm probably way more of a, you know, big-headed, cocky, diva, all that energy. But don't get it twisted. Like, a diva is a female version of a hustler. Do you understand? As Beyonce one said. Like, we're hustling, we're not divas, we just know our worth. I love that.

And that's what I think. I think we'll just know what we want and we know how we want to get it and passionate, deeply passionate about what we do as well. So that makes it like even more so like, oh. And also, I want to kind of got me to kind of fall back on as well. So that's why I'm always like I'm working. You know, we're doing 10 things a day to make sure the roofies stays over my head. I like we as well.

I love that you say we a lot of the time. Yeah. We're doing this. We're doing that. It's like we're an entity. I love that. You mentioned your partner. earlier yes and that's has that been for a while that is that relatively recent not last

glass store the glass door before we're mentioning it in terms of glass doors yeah we're doing in glass doors and we met glass door across from a mosh pit at very early hours of the morning you know I want to say three to make it sound cute but it's probably more like six seven and the sum was up but we were just still partying and we literally ended up spending like the whole of the festival together like chasing each other around and like sort elton together like it was really the most beautiful place like meet somebody like that and the fantasy didn't stop at glasdor continued and we were like joined at the hip and that's someone as well it's important sorry ray's just doing a wee all good against a bin probably belayton that's not a good

look for us come on look i'm doing it now for us for us come on but that's presumably lately latent something that would be important would be that whoever you were with is kind of comfortable with all the with all the nurse mess yeah drama the vibes the he is that's one thing that also keeps me super just like and grounded because I met him just before I knew I was doing strictly but I met him just before the madness begun and I was like I think it was like the second or third day I was like just so you know if this is going to be uncomfortable for you things are probably going to be amped up a notch.

Yeah. And I'm about to do one of the biggest shows in the UK. And he was like, oh, okay, you know, cool. But he used to be an actor like 10 years ago. He stood as an actor, but then he went into hospitality and now photography. So he knows the game, but he's not doing it anymore. I said to him, if you become an actor again, we might have issues. Because I've been there, got the T-shirt.

So please stay in your hospitality bag, stay in your photography bag, cook some cute food for me, take some cute photos. But don't be coming for my auditions. all right because that's not going to ride and he doesn't he's so over it thank gosh so it really just works because he understands why i would go to however many lengths to get a role or why you're so no passionate about it and stuff and i'm so pleased for you yeah and i was so thrilled and i saw i've been snooping on pictures of your interiors oh they've left later and get into it you and i have something in common what a lot of pink interior choice

Oh really? See, did you see the wallpaper? Oh, I saw the wallpaper. I got them to do the whole flat. I thought, oh, we'll do two rooms. I said, oh, the flat's small. I said, you'll want to do it all. Go on.

Are you quite extravagant? I wasn't to begin with in there, and I think you do the same, you get a house, you paint all the wall flat, and you paint all the walls white and I'm like, but I'm not boring, I'm a colourful person. I've got zebra trousers on, do you know what I mean? So when we had the consultation with them, and we came up with all these ideas,

I was like, yeah. Yeah, let's do it. I want to ask you a question before we let you go. Not that I want to let you go because I kind of think Ray and I might want to move in with you. Oh my God, you're always welcome around for a live-lap latent experience. I want to ask you one final question, which is, I often ask people this.

What do you most hope people would be saying about you when you leave a room? And what do you most fear they would say about you? Let's do the bad one first to get it out the way with. Oh, fear maybe that always is full of himself. He loves themselves too much type vibe. Because I think there's a fine line and sometimes maybe I can cross it when I strut into the room in four glam and think I own it because maybe I do.

That was a half joke. But then, in the same breath, I would like to think, actually, that I would hope they think I brought a lovely energy to the room. I've made everybody feel comfortable. I've kind of brought the party. I would like to think. When we're my friends in a room, if the dance floor's dead, give me five minutes.

It's going to be popping. You know, we bring their energy, bring the vibes And that's not always everyone's cup of tea But what I have learnt of recent is like Even Beyonce has haters Like you're not going to please everyone, do you know what I mean? Even Jesus had him apparently So we can't be out here stressing about that, can we?

Do you know what I mean? But I would hope that people are like, oh, he's fun And, you know, what a lovely young man, young. Oh gosh, can I still say young? That's just what I was thinking. What a lovely young man. Oh, why you are? So I can't say young, thank you. Laten, I mean, I've absolutely, I've loved this.

You've been such a brilliant guest. And what do you think of Ray? Has it made you think that a dog might be more of a possibility? Is he quite dinky? We're talking about Ray right now while they're pissing up her wooden pole. But do you know what? Yeah. He doesn't bark.

I need that. He doesn't shed? We're not doing yapper, yapper. What's the brand? He's a collab between. He's an imperial Shih Tzu Because he was from originally They kept him in the Chinese palace

As the Emperor had one And it was a sin punishable by death To own a Shih Tzu outside of the palace Oh wow So a little bit royal I love that That's why he's superior But you know what some people say superior

I say knows his own worth I like that Latent we've loved it Ray can you say goodbye to Latent You're being a bit disgusting And we're with Leighton here Bye, Ray, don't you worry. Still think you're cutie.

And we're going to come and see you in Titanique. Please do. Bye, later. Bye, bye, thank you so much. Mw-Muh. 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.