Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Lloyd Griffith (Part One)

Episode Date: December 3, 2024

Join Emily and Ray with comedian, actor, presenter and singer Lloyd Griffith - in his spiritual home, London’s Battersea Park! Lloyd tells us all about growing up in Grimsby with his mum and sister and then how is life changed when he got a scholarship to St James’ Choir School. Lloyd reveals what it's like to walk into a room knowing you can sing, being known for being ‘Diane’s son’ in Grimsby, and his search for this comedic voice. All six episodes of Return to Paradise are now available on BBC iPlayer, with the series airing weekly on BBC One from 8pm every Friday! Follow @lloydgriffith on InstagramFollow 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.

I've actually walked around here with a lot of dogs. All right. Yeah. No, I'm not boasting. This week on Walking the Dog, Raymond and I went for a stroll in London's Battersea with comedian, actor, presenter, and now star of the BBC Detective Show

Return to Paradise, Lloyd Griffith. Oh, and he's also, in case you didn't know, a classically trained singer. By the way, can these people just stop having so many talents? it's getting very irritating. So I was fascinated to hear all about Lloyd's early years as a chorister growing up in Grimsby. And as he explained, the classical music world he went on to study and was a very different world to the one he'd grown up in. So I felt he always had this slight sense of feeling other, which is so often the starting point for stand-ups.

Lloyd eventually went on to become a very successful comedian and presenter hosting Sokrae M and appearing on shows like 8 out of 10 cats. Rose Battle and Ted Lasso, as well as supporting the likes of Rob Beckett and Jack Whitehall on tour. But this year has really been huge for Lloyd career-wise because he's now had a starring role in the hugely successful Death in Paradise TV franchise, playing a detective in the Aussie set spin-off Return to Paradise. And he's honestly brilliant in it. And the show is so entertaining and a great watch. So I really recommend you give it a binge on BBC Eye Player. Lloyd was such a lovely person to go for a walk with.

He's obviously very funny. But he's also incredibly open and self-aware, and he's got that classic comedian's trait of being fabulously curious about the world. We could have talked for hours more, but frankly, Lloyd's a busy man now. And let's face it, Raymond's only got little legs. I really hope you enjoy our chat with Lloyd. I'll stop talking now and hand over to the wonderful man himself. Here's Lloyd and Ray Ray.

Come on, Roe. follow Lloyd. Remando. Has you been to Battersea Park before? Yeah. I feel awkward now, Lloyd. I feel like you and Raymond are on a date and I've admitted that he's taken someone else here.

I feel bad that I'm not bringing a dog. I've actually walked around here with a lot of dogs. All right. Yeah. No, I'm not boasted. So my best friends, we all lived around here and they've slowly got family and moved out to places where they need like gardens as they started their lives their

dog walking lives around here so I've walked around here with Digby with Winnie even with Dexter and they've all moved on they've gone to East Sussex they've gone to sorry and here I am in Zone 1 and it is Zone 1 thanks to the new tube stop oh look at this Pomeranian hello mate yeah it is a Pomeranian so sweet What's it called? Oh, Tutsi. Oh, Tutsi. Loddy's a good name, Lord.

What's yours? Raymond. Hello, Raymond. That's sweet as well. Named after Ray Pala. I don't know if Tutsi likes Raymond that much. What's that sweetheart? She said Tutsi does a lot of barking.

Oh, really? Oh, you can save Raymond. Well done. Very good. Raymond. Do you like Raymond? Yes. Yes.

Yes. Everyone but her own. But your gentle hands, gentle. That's it. Let him smell your hand first. He's getting excited. Oh, does Raymond like a tree? Oh, Raymond. Look at this.

Would Roman like one of these? Well, he will, but I'm going to warn you, he will not eat it. It will take him about six hours to eat it. So can I take it? Would that be, I'm not going to sell them on or something. Oh, so she wants her. Oh, so I give her one of these turts? Yeah, that's it.

There you go. That's it. That's it. He likes them. Oh, thank you so much. Bye-bye. Yeah, they're pedigree ones. Oh, you're my kind of woman.

Pedigree ones, that's what I like. Lovely to meet you. She normally has all natural stuff. See you later, Tussie. I'm relieved you added the granddaughter to me. I'm glad you said that you haven't just stolen them in there. I was more worried about it. They found them.

The treats of mine. See you later. Bye. Bye. Bye. What cute little girl? Just you know, I've stolen these. What? I'm glad this. The pedigree treats are right? However I have just stolen this child and this dog.

Okay, cool. Well, at least she paid for her own treats though. I'm glad that she added that at the end because it was a bit why worried that she was going to say, just so you know that... This ain't my kid. This like my dog. See you later. See you later on.

Cric it. I was like, oh. Or should have been a nice little Leslie stroll around that we're not having to go to a police station to give witness. Now, she's still talking. She's the most social world in the world. She's just giving out dog treats. She's stealing more dogs. Why is she changing that dog to the pram?

Can I be honest? I feel a bit less special now, Lloyd. I thought she'd like honed in on us because we were quite glamorous tall people. Yeah. And she's just doing it to everyone. She just knows everyone, yeah. Also, I'd like to know whose dog is that? I know she's her granddaughter.

I'm assuming it's her children's dog as well, but I mean, she's really nattering. It must have about seven hours to get around the park. So this, the Batsy Park is the Lively Park. You do a loop and it usually takes me while running. I run around here. But with a dog, it can take anything from like 40 minutes to, oh. And with this dog.

Raymond's scared of the, I think you're scared of the. Okay, darling. He doesn't, he sometimes has a reaction to rough surface. Right, okay. I think he was scared of the little branchy things, the little leave things. He's just, he prefers carpet, I'm not going to lie. He's got a little thing he was stuck in his... What's that, what's that question? Oh, he's got, well you get it out, Lloyd. He's got a little, um...

Oh, it's really stuck in there you go, mate. That's probably why. Come on, Raymond. Twits stuck in his paws. Yeah. Right, here we go. Well, Lloyd, it's so lovely. I'm going to wait till this plane's past for this bit, just for the nice bit.

We are in a flight path, just enough work. Oh, I get you. I don't mind the, flight I get used to it. I like the hustle and bustle of daily life. Which where should we go this way then? Did you go by the tree cutter or under the flight bath? Tree cutter or flight path? Yeah? We'll go under the flight path. Let's avoid the tree cutter. I know a few little sneaky shortcuts around here though today. You're about that. Oh I feel like I'm with Rayleigh Otter and Goodfellas when he takes me through the kitchen. Yeah that's very much it but I'm basically going to talk to you about the Batty Evolution Conference Centre, which is just on the right

And you might be thinking, Lloyd, have you co-hosted the London Football Awards in that venue? And I have actually. I actually spilled my coffee because I was laughing. Both with Gary Denneker, ex-Lester City Forward, and Mark Chapman, not the gunman. I like that you add all these Wikipedia details. Look, Bastie Park has been my spiritual home for the last, I'd say, 10 years. It got quite popular during lockdown, and I lockdown was hard for us all. but for me it was quite hard because people discovered this park.

And Lloyd, you're originally from Grimsby. Grimsby, yeah. So... Which is, I'd say, I'd say the most polar opposite of Battersea Park you can probably... Is it? Yeah. Yeah, it's very different. I would say that Batterie Park is the most middle-class park.

Maybe a takeaway like Primrose Hill. But I'd say that Batsy Park is the most middle-class park in London. And, yeah, I'm from Grimsby, so it's very... I'd say it's quite different, actually. It's quite different. Raymond's... He really does like a... He doesn't like the wheat of...

I think once he gets onto this concrete, but here, we're fine. Yeah, he does not like these bits. Actually, do you mind carrying for one sec? Just while I'm carrying my coffee, I'm talking to... Would you mind, Faye? Faye's so good with him. Just for the listener,

Faye now has a rucksack, a sound pack, and a dog, and a coffee. She knew what she was getting into. Feels like you're going to Calamangiro. I, Raymond looks so much happier now. He's like, right, leave them two talking. We can nest it at the back.

Oh, she's very happy. So, Lloyd, yes. As you said, you were very honest, and I respected that. It took open courage to admit that you didn't come here with a dog today. No, I didn't. So what is your history of pets and what's your... You seem to really warm to Raymond when you meet him.

Yes, I'd love a dog. I'd absolutely love a dog. I'd have a dog as a kid. Always had cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, goldfish, but never had a dog. Just because it was like growing up, he was never really on the agenda. And I'd really like a dog. The problem is, I'm sure you've spoken to a number of comedians about this. It's just not the lifestyle to have a dog unless you have someone that is at home pretty much the whole time.

I mean, you can, you know, there's a parakeet, by the way, lots of parakeets and better. Unless, you know, there's a schedule and stuff. So, I mean, the aim is to have a dog at some point, but... What dog do you think, your type of dog do you think you'd get? Oh, I think about this on the daily. Like, I think I'd rather a lot... I'd love a red setter. I used to, I used to walk to school in Grimsby, Oakley, Oakley School.

And there was a lady that used to walk her dog at the same time I'd go to school every day and it was a red setter and used to run along a little field called the Pluggers. And it looked incredible. It looked like it was in slow motion because of its hair. The whole time it was just like running and it's amazing wavy hair. So potentially a red setter. Maybe a great dane but I'm just worried about picking up the size of poo. Yes.

I'm not sure I can get my head around that. No, I also, it is sort of a bit like Greg Davis has done a shit. Yeah, well, I mean, I've not seen... No, I haven't either. No, yeah, cool, yeah, caveat that. Or maybe, and to be fair, like, a whip it. I think I had quite like a whipet as well. But I think they're quite timid dogs, like, you know, maybe like a greyhound,

but I think they're all quite, kind of, like, quite shy. I think I would need a dog that would jean me on. I go, come on, Lloyd, you got this. I see you with a sort of main character energy dog. Yeah. I think it would be a double act. Yeah, I see that. Like potentially a lab, maybe in Alsatian, something...

I think a beagle I'd get annoyed at because it'd try and steal my limelike the whole entire time. Well, that's the other thing you have to be careful of as a comic. I mean, labs are fabulous. They're so reliable. They're like the John Lewis of dogs. Yeah. Never knowingly undersold.

Lloyd, I want to go back to your childhood, because you mentioned Grimsby, which is obviously where you grew up. Yep. And it was your mum. And your mom was a, was she a single parent? Yeah, single parent. Yeah, me, mom and then, my sister came along five years later.

And I just never knew anything different. Yeah. That makes sense. So like, you know, I went to a school called Old Clear at the start and very much families in the same vein. Obviously, there were some that had dads and some that, oh, look at this little parakeet here. Oh, Lloyd.

Not to distract from talking about early trauma, but there is a gorgeous little parakeet here. So Lloyd, yeah, you were telling me about your childhood, and you've described it. And this is obviously a word you can use. I would be reluctant to, but I'm quoting you directly here. You've described it as working class your background. Oh, yeah, gotcha.

And your mum, am I like thinking she worked at a wimpy at one stage? She did, yeah. I mean, you've done your research, yeah. Just to salute the magpie. Yeah, so yeah, basically mom worked in the hospitality industry, worked at Wimpy in Grimsby. I kind of grew up there and grew there, really, more than anything. And then she had various different jobs working at the sidewalk in Grimmsby,

which was like a little restaurant. And so I kind of grew up in the, as I said, I grew up in the hospitality industry, knocking around in kitchens. My first job was working in the pot wash of the sidewalk. Then I got a transfer to pizza, hut, which is where I grew even more. And presumably, because your mom was having to work and bringing money and stuff, was it one of those, you know, it takes a village situations where you'd have relatives and

grandparents helping out with you guys? No grandparents, just aunties and uncles. So that's, I kind of was brought up by my mom, by my aunties, by my uncles and stuff like that. So, you know, at school, I kind of was given quite a good opportunity at the age of seven. So my auntie, my auntie barrel, she had a mate called Jeff, who had a bit of money. Like, this is in Grimsby terms, not like, you know, Betty Park terms. And he knew that I was a bit of a performer growing up. And at Old Clea, I'd always, like, audition for the school nativity plays and various different things.

Like I understudied Joseph and Joseph in the amazing technical and dream coat without being told what an understudy was like I was gutted

that I wasn't Joseph I was a narrator so I learned his role as well then on the day the lad who was playing Joseph was sick so then the teacher was like well we can't

we can't do Joseph and I was like well I've actually learned it and he's like what I've learned it he's like well that's mental but and then he's like

well go on then so I just basically recited like the first few bits and bobs. He's like, okay, well, looks like we're doing it then. So then I wore the coat, which was tight, because it was tailored to him, bless him, and he was a lot smaller than me. So I then, you know, Mr. Laverick was, was aware that I was, like, a bit of a performer. And so Jeffrey was like, well, how about we get him to this choir school? So in Grimsby...

And this is your uncle? This is my godfather. Well, he ended up being my godfather. Yeah. But he's basically my auntie's mate. Got it. And so there's a school in Grimsby called Seventy. James Choir School, which is like the only, St. James Grimsby Parish Church was the only parish church in the country at his own choir school, one of three in the world, St Thomas Berlin and St Thomas Fifth Avenue, I believe. So it was like a real specialist choir school where they had a choir in the church and, you know, there was a real musical link there.

So Geoffrey kind of like paid for me to go to this school. Wow. It was sort of like a Daddy Warbucks. Yeah, we're like a Fairy Godfather. It's how we saw him. That's how it came about. But what was really good was that I then, I auditioned for the choir,

and the choir master came down to see my mom. He said, oh, Lloyd's got a good voice and we think we can develop him, and I think he'd be a good addition to the choir. I think you'd like it. So it's basically 8 o'clock every morning, rehearsal. That would go straight into school.

Then after school, every day, apart from Wednesday, there would be even song. And so that would be straight. after school up until 6.30. And then two services on a Sunday, one was like, oh, the thing is, he is a busy boy, thinking, I ain't, that's too much. And then he's, and obviously he gets pretty much a 50% scholarship,

which could then get increased. And I've just double-checked. He's fine. He is fine to do that. So then I became a choir boy. But then it meant that I was kind of looked after. That was preschool and post-school, taking care of as well, because I was at choir practice at 8 o'clock in the morning

and then go into Coral Evensong and then finishing at 615 and so yeah and then Saturdays it was actually cheaper for me to go to Old Trafford with my cousin Sam

and her then boyfriend now husband because it was £7.50 a ticket to Old Trafford back in the early 90s and then we get on the coach

should we go in the car and we go to Old Trafford. And that was cheaper than mum getting a babysitter all day for me. So I just go to Old Trafford. It was cheaper to go and see Man United. It was cheaper to have childcare. Imagine that now. Like, absolutely not. And so...

It would be cheaper to buy a nursery. What an incredible opportunity, Lloyd. But I'm interested, was this sort of no surprise to anyone? Like were you the kind of kid who was... You know, you get those kids who say, you know, ladies and gentlemen, the Lloyd Griffiths show, coming to the living room. Were you always...

A little bit like that, yeah. Yeah, a little bit like that. I was always like the buffoon at school. I was always, you know, a performer. Not of my family were performers, but they were naturally very funny. And I think that goes back to what you said earlier, about, you know, being working class,

I think humour is so rife in working class communities and backgrounds because they need to laugh about the situation they're in. I don't want to talk. down about it but you know personally like all the comedians that i like are working class because i think that you are always punching up and not punching down those dogs are going out of you were quite would you have been described as an extrovert like what would your your friends what would their parents have said if they were saying oh what's lloyd like oh he's a very i don't know really i think i was just always trying to make people laugh i was a bit of

performer I think I would like I would make light of the situation like I did a show I did my last tour show on Friday night and two friends came even K and like they got to driven to school in a Ferrari like their dad had like a number of cars and stuff and they got to join the school in Ferrari and they always like okay Eve's like I actually remember it she was like there was a day where you came to school we were in I can't remember what a car in I don't think it's Ferrari because it was like more than two of us and she was like we're in a car and you drove into the drive at St. James and you were in front and she said I can't remember what car it was but I was like I would have been my auntie's car to like a Vauxhall or you know and a Ryan or something like that and she went and basically you got your stuff at the boot you closed the boot and then the badge fell off and

and you basically made a big like you acted it out you owned it and was like oh picked it up and put it back on did a little tap of the boot and then off you away and then she was like it's like the fact that you just just owned it you made it in to a performance piece and just kind of got on with that. I was all right, you know, nice. But I would always, always, like, try and be like the class clown, the jester. And I think, yeah, it was maybe like escapism. Like Grimmsby's got the highest amount of lottery winners of anywhere in the country.

And people go, oh, wow, that must be, like, the town must be so lucky. It's like, well, no, just everyone's playing it because they want a better life. And I don't mean that in a, you know, most people that win the lottery in Grimsby, Have a better life, but stay in Grimsby. You know, you want that bad life, but you still want to be in that area.

And I think for me, I wanted, not a better life. I was very happy in my life. But I was quite aspiration. I was like, do you know what? I'd look at, you know, I'd watch have I got these few years. I'd love to be on that. I'd see Lee Evans, Billy Connolly, Dawn French, you know, birds of a feather. Just been like, oh, I'd love to do that.

And I just never knew it is a thing. But I think in the back of my head was always like, I want to do something like that. And then I just carried on doing. the singing and carried on doing the acting and auditioning for the various different parts in school plays and that's so telling Lloyd that story about the Vauxhall I think that's fascinating because we should say this is because St James is the school that you went to I suppose it was quite affluent kids there was like a mix of old money and very new very rich you know I mean

like your scaffolds that are done well that are sending their kids there that wouldn't necessarily have been given the attention at a comprehensive school, but in St. James was like between, like, there was no more than 14 kids in a class, like maybe 28 to 30 in a year. So you did get given more attention. And when she actually mentioned that story, I was like, well, that had been, it's quite rare that I got driven to school. That was a period of like two or three years where my auntie had a job around the corner from a school, so she would drive me and my sister. But most of the time, I got the bus, like, I got the bus, which again, sounds so normal. But for this school, it wasn't. I'd get on

I'd get on the boss in my little Harry Potter outfit. And then I'd just, with my little briefcase. And I think I was one of three kids that got the, or maybe one of three or five kids that got the bus to school. So, yeah. But also like, going back to earlier about being, you know, part of a single parent family, I just knew no different. That was just my life.

And I just got on with it. And it was great. I wouldn't ever complain about anything. You know, like, we struggled for money. I remember there were days where, like, mom would be, looking for bus fare down the side of this over. You know what I mean? Like just we didn't, like we literally,

it was, it was very hand to mouth, like very, very handsome mouth. So there were days where like, you know, there was a couple of days where one we had to go and speak to the neighbors, and I'd have your purse at work, any chance to borrow a couple of quid, or, you know, or like 50p.

And obviously it wasn't that she left a person at work, she just, we were doing not have the money at the time and stuff. So it was very, yeah, it was, it was, it was, it was, often a struggle and also as well, much more of a struggle for my mom, because then I was then,

at this school where she had to pay $125,000,000, $1.25 a term for school dinners and then there'd be like trips. And so she'd just have to work extra shifts and take on extra jobs. And at the time, I didn't really realize, you know, I was never like,

Mom, I want to do this, I want to do that. But she would realise the opportunities that were good for me. You must be so grateful to her now, Lloyd. Yeah, yeah. And like, you know, she is now the source of a lot of my stand-up, which she's fine with. But, you know, my mum,

knew everyone like you walked through Grimsby and uh it'd be like oh you Dianeson it's like yeah i'm Diane Sun yeah it's quite funny because the role roles have slightly changed now obviously I'm still very much Diane Sun but people are you lies mom she's like yes I am yes I am the other day I went to an Indian restaurant with my mate Nigel and uh I walked here and I guess it was going back to grimmie is great because it properly brings you back down to her we're in there and they go oh hello mate I was like, you're right, go, Sam, you're, I was like, going, oh, go on, what's it from? Diane's son. I'm a main line, like, wetting himself.

Like, there you go. I was like, yes, yes, I am, Diane, son, yeah, yeah. I also, you know, do you have a blue tick? I think I'd really like Diane. Yeah, she's great. Is Diane sort of take... Rema's really loving these spins, by the way. I know, I'm sorry.

Diane's quite, I imagine, is she... Don't mess with Diane. Well, no, she won't beat you up or anything, but like... No, but I imagine she's the kind of woman. Because women like that takes strength and guts, you know. But I think she's proud of both me and Hannah and stuff, and Hannah, my sister works at the National Theatre in London. Does she? Yeah, interesting you've both gone into the arts,

always. Yeah, Hannah also kind of did a bit of performery, but she was deaf in one ear. And so she still managed to do her singing grades and stuff. But yeah, she decided to, she always loved the theatre. So it's going into the arts that way, which is lovely. It was interesting when you were talking just now about being at a privileged school. Because I had a slight sense of that just because I went to an all-girls quite posh school in North London.

And my parents were, I know it's all relative, but in my case, because my parents were more artsy-fartsy, bohemian weirdos, you know, they weren't wealthy. Yeah. But what was interesting is being at a school with a lot of very wealthy people, where we weren't particularly wealthy. I'm interested in how you dealt with that because for me, I think I sort of, I became very good at observing as a result of that because it was a part of you that wanted to assimilate a bit.

So I watch people all the time. And I would always say I was like, I wasn't the Great Gatsby, I was that Nick Carraway figure always. And I wonder with you, I think, I wonder if that's something that you did. Did you, you don't say, like you had any shame over being different though.

No, not at all. I think I just took it all in. I was chatting to somebody there. I actually did a bit of material about it in a stand-up show for years back where I was kind of like a bit of a chameleon. I would just observe everything, notice the different ways, how people are different, you know, how people spoke and stuff. And like when you're like just in the, in the literal sense of speaking,

you know, I would see how people spoke and I would try. and emulate it. When we were when we were taught how to sing, when we were taught how to sing without an accent. So that's kind of, I worked with a bit of a blank canvas. So I remember going when I went back to St James after having had like six months in Exeter, like my teacher's like oh my gosh, like what's when you've come back? Like pretty much RP. And I'd be like, hello, hello, everybody, how you doing? It's like, what's going on? And like, If I listened back to that old recordings of me as a kid, like it was still a bit of a grim asby twang and stuff.

But I think what I did, I did observe. And I never felt like I had to, you know, the money thing, I was like, well, that's just, it is what it is. You know what I mean? Like, it was never really an issue. But I think I just wanted to, what I did do, I just fell in love with the music, which is one of the wankies things you can say.

But like, I just wanted to be a really good singer. And that's the one thing that I just fell in love. love with, adored, felt there was this amazing community, like the singing community, and I just wanted to be, do more of it. When you have a voice, because you've got an incredible voice, Lloyd, and I'm always so jealous of people with a gift like that, because I think it's like this amazing party trick. Yeah. I think it must be so great. I would walk into rooms thinking, you don't know. You don't know what I've got up my sleeve. Have you ever, we've ever, we've, Are you ever in situations?

That's actually a really interesting point because you wonder if that's kind of why. Yeah, it's probably more hard hitting than I think any therapist. Whether I walk into her and going, you don't know, I've got this. I don't know. I don't know whether I walk in with like maybe like an assumed arrogance or confidence or kind of. I never like when I'm in, in a, I never like get social anxiety and parties. Sometimes I don't want to be there. Like, I'll get to a, you know, I'd rather not be here.

These aren't my people. Like now. But he's that thing and going, oh, yeah, I can sing. Worst case scenario. Blitz spirit. Do I mean? Get out of piano. Oh, we, I just little cockney.

That's not actually how I sing properly. Can you please not sing that in Bathursty Park? It's not good for the brand. Sorry, guys, that's not. Also, I was more worried about, like, actually, how bad it sounded. But, yeah, I just sing. for me like there was I was gonna do nothing other than seeing that when when St James School was kind of like geared towards you know going to higher education

hopefully university the majority people did go to university it was a good school it was like a grammar school it wasn't like a it was a private school it wasn't a public school it was you know it served the purpose in the area and then I'd go on places like I go to like Eaton for the Eton coral courses and I'd be like oh this is ridiculous like not next step but this is like four of five, this is mental. Like I'd go there, all the kids, all like, oh hello, hi, how's you know? Hello, Oliver. I'm like, oh yeah, Lloyd. Where you from Grimmisbury? Oh, Grimmsby, lovely. Like, where's that? Like, oh, it's on the east coast. Right, lovely.

Yeah, no, you might not even make my friend Monty. Who's Monty? Who's Monty? He goes, oh, his father's the Earl of Yarborough. I go, well, no, I don't know. He's famous day, I think he went to Hoping him. But yes, I was, then I just realized, oh, right, this is a, like, there's a huge gap, you know, between where I were at school and actually other choir schools and other, like, actual public schools. Well, you realise, Lloyd, there are tears, aren't there? You know what I mean? Where, you know, and then you get to that ridiculous tier, which is where they think, what was it, that thing Alan Clark said about Michael Heseltine, he said he was new, he was new, Ereche and not proper, posh, because he had to buy his own furniture.

So the idea that you wouldn't just inherit all of your own. Yeah, yeah, that's such a fast. Yeah, but I think that's so interesting, yeah, that idea that when you have something like that, you know, and I'm not just talking about, you know, someone who sings. I mean, you've got an operatic voice, you know, you've got an extraordinary voice. So I would, I think that's such an amazing thing to have, like I say, because whatever you do, whether it's comedy or whatever, I would feel, I think that would make me feel more confident. Because it's like, well, I've got this reserve. I've always got this.

Yeah. I think so, yeah. And I guess I think that's probably more... What I mean is I probably think it makes you a better comic because you feel relaxed and I never... Certainly when I see you perform, you never seem thirsty. Yeah. Yeah, I think, I think, what was funny,

like the amount of times where I've done gigs and like people use the barometer of how hard the gig is, They're like, we'll know how hard the gig is as to how quickly Lloyd starts singing. And they go, and they go, four minutes in, and they're like, oh God, we haven't got the singing. And there have been gigs where, you know, it's just like, well, I'm just going to have to sing for 16 minutes

because this is not a gig where people want to listen to jokes. I did something the other week with Lee Mac. I love, Lee's a hero, my, like, I say like. Lloyd, you're pushing at an open door. Lee? Oh, Lee's, Lee's the best. Like, you know. For me, he was always like,

Sean Locke and Lee Mack are the two greats. And again, it goes back to, I think, the working class routes. And you're having to work for it. I mean, not just going to a nice school and then going to Oxbridge. And then, you know, there's no safety there. There is no inherited furniture. You've got to work at it. And I still lose my mind, the fact that I'm now I'd say I'm friends with Lee.

Do I mean? Like not pally, pally, pally, pally, but we get on and we see each on the street. we have a chat we've done an offer together I said not going out did this thing the other week with him and um he came up to me and went right if i'm struggling i ask you know i'm struggling when i'm going to ask you to sing i was like that's lovely when my idol is going if i'm struggling i'm going to ask you to sing and i just thought that is that is a dream someone someone's calling me you can get it no not at all it's an o800 number so i got no idea who that might be so let's leave that the thing is about being here is that we are in a flight path

and not only the Heathrow flight path we've also got the Battersea helipad or the oligarchs and you know for when I'm going to you know junglers Cardiff yeah but even likes this park though because there's lots of

sort of what I've called promenades yeah something about Bathsea Park it feels like a bit of man with the top patching wouldn't they I think why I like Living in Battersea I like to be near water because I'm from Grimsby slash Heathops

and you know and then also So the prom element of Batterie Park does, I think, remind me of Cleethorpe. So, yeah, very nice. But yeah, going back to the singing thing, I think I always have that. And it is always a party trick. And, you know, like I did a radio show you the day. And it's like, oh, will he sing?

It's like, okay, yeah, you know, it always gets wheeled out. And again, I'm fine with it being wheeled out. Because it's, you know, I've worked hard on it. And, well, not just me, but, you know, my whole family have worked hard on to get me to where I am. Who is it, Louis? It was actually Thames Water. Do you need to speak to Tens Water?

No, not at all. Are you sure? They want to install a water meter. I guess this is quite a good question for the listeners. Should I get a water meter? What do you think this is, James O'Brien on LBC? Well, James O'Brien on Martin Lewis, kind of a little bit of both, really.

Because I live on my own, I'm like, to think a water meter would, you know, a lot of the time in my way, so I guess other comics would have to think about that, well? I think, well listen, if anyone is listening and has any advice for Lloyd, as regards. Please keep us in the pod as well, if that's right, don't take out the edit. Oh, this goal? Yeah, this goals, yeah. You ended up, Lloyd, going to Exeter University.

I did, yeah. And that's, again, that's quite a posh. Is that quite posh. Oh, my God, yeah. Is it? Is it? Who are Henry is. So I actually, I, um, oh, it was ridiculous.

But I actually, wanted to go to Oxford. Yeah. so everyone like because I was a train so my voice broke the balls dropped and I wanted to be a

counter tenor which is essentially a male alto where you sing hi in your falsetto voice and I think again I did that because it was different

it was something that's a bit weird and I kind of liked that but also I just loved the voice the actual voice I love the sound of counters you know I listened to people like James Bowman

Alfred Della Michael Chants, all these haunting voices. Oh, I'm mine doing that. So I didn't, sorry Lord, I don't understand. Do you get the choice then? Do you say your voice falls between certain ranges and you can choose? Is it like boxing or something? A little bit, yeah.

So your voice will break and then you'll either go really deep and be a bass slash baritone or you'll be a tenor and quite high. Most people then, if you're a bass baritone, you then have a falsetto voice, which is then, you know, like male out of town. It's like Jimmy Somerville. Got it. BGs using their head voice. That's kind of how

you can choose basically or solentility, oh, this is your range and so therefore you'll probably be a tenor or a bass or you've got a very good alto voice. So I decided to sing alto and then they're quite a rare commodity because not many 18 year olds

want to sing like a girl, weirdly. Especially like late 1990s, early 2000s. And so I was like, well, actually, I'm just going to do this. And a few people are, you should try and get to Oxford. Like if you can get an A and 2Bs, they have a little bit of a backdoor situation whereby, if you're a very good singer, they'll give you a choral scholarship. And then they'll be like, right, well, we need them in the choir.

So, you know, so that was, okay, fine. So I went and did the choral scholarship. And again, I was in my own. I'm, wow, this is amazing. I mean, I just want to, I just want to sing in these choirs. He's like amazing choirs. and they're like, oh, you just need an A and 2Bs. We'll take you over the A and 2Bs.

And I got an A and 2 E's, which is the opposite. This is absolute noise central there. Oh, don't worry. And another helicopter. Don't worry. That's going to pass, and the Ranger's going to go soon. Hello, Ranger. Follow up, Ray.

Why should you just swing over this way? Yeah, let's go this way. So Lloyd... Ray's looking at that step and going, well, I'm not doing that. No, he's so entitled. So, Lloyd, you did music at your left to Exeter. Had you decided... then? When did the comedy thing come into it?

Were you sort of having a bit of a tussle in your heart? Well, do I want to be a singer or a comic? Or when did the decision to become a stand-up happen? Well, much, much later. So I went to university, read music, I was a choral scholar at the cathedral. And then again, it was always that I'm just going to be a singer, so I was like, well, I'll move to London.

I'll get a job in a choir and I'll save a bit of money, and I'll do a postgraduate degree in opera, and I'll just be an opera singer. And so that's what I did. I moved to Guildford. I got a job as the LA vicar, like a lay clerk, so a man singing and a choir in Guildford. Then got a normal job and then when your voice breaks, and even then I was probably like 22, 23, like 21, 22, you'll still take time for your voice to mature. So I was like, well, I'll give it two or three years and then I'll apply for music college then. Then I was working in London.

and went to a comedy club and just fell in love with it. Like I just wasn't aware that you could do it. Like Lee Matt makes a really good point in his autobiography. But like he just assumed that people on TV was just like a special group for people in London. You know what it was for a long time? Yeah, 100%. But even like the element of actually doing stand-up.

I wasn't, I'd never really been, I'd seen Sean Locke at Leeds Festival in 2002. But then you know, you fast forward to 2008, which was like the first time I'd gone into an actual comedy club and I walked in and it was the backyard comedy club in in East London and Lee Hurst, who I knew from, they think it's all over, was hosting. Milton Jones was opening. Nobody knew who he was and Mickey Flanagan was closing and nobody who he was. And I was just in awe of this gig, like 220 people in this room all laughing themselves to like death. Just to be in this

amazing vibe in this room and I actually went up to Lee afterwards I was like what's going on here what is this he's always a comedy club so are the comedians oh well you said basically they've been working tirelessly for the last 10 15 years he's like you'll see them on TV soon I was like and what like and I was just asking about do they own money goes yeah so they're like a couple of hundred from here but the closure and the opener they'll do other gigs elsewhere so they might do two or three gigs as an evening I thought wow like I was that's how did you get into it? He's like, well, not here. But he gave me a few hints and tips like to go to

Cafe, the Comedy Caff on Noel Street in, in Shortwich, go to downstairs at the Kingshead, Crouchand. And so I did all that. And then I just, it was. So you did like open mics and stuff like that. Open mics, yeah. That was awful for years, but just we wasn't going to give up. How did you learn to get your voice? I've been going 15 years and I'm still every year

just finding it and finding it and finding it it takes some people a lot quicker I remember there's a comic called Nazos Manilu who Yes I know Nas Yeah really And when I first thought I was probably like four or five years in

And this guy just turns up And he was in Witt Tank With Kieran and Mark Which is like a great sketch group But then Nas was doing this solo stuff And he was just coming on And hi I'm Nas and I was like

how has he found his voice so early what he's got what and I just yeah Rob Beckett was someone that found his voice really early on Romesh I mean how would you describe it's a hard thing to articulate isn't it but you know it when you see it when

someone well Jack Whitehall you've been working with and you were supporting him on tour I would say he was someone who he's so confident of his brand yeah but it wasn't always the case no you know he You think he...

Oh, yeah. He talked about it on a podcast ages ago. Like, he was quite dark. He was really dark. He was, like, he loved Stuart Lee. So he'd do quite like dark stuff. And I think someone approached him was like, do you? So he did him.

And as you say, like that's his brand and people know him. And actually, that's a clever move because to be honest, you realize I know. It's interesting when you're talking about... Just know, Raymond's contributing to the urine on the lamppost now. Well done, mate. Well done, mate. Giving back. I know, for example, when I do that show, the show with Frank Skinner, he'll say something and I'll say, oh no, I can't say that in my voice.

Yeah. And he'll say, what do you mean? And I'll say, no, you can say that. Yeah. But I sound monstrous. Yeah. I think it's, you know, I used to write for Rob Beckett on Mock the Week. Like it's not a, you know, a secret that people would have rights on Mock the Week because there's so much to do in like two or three days, like two days.

really. So I would help write with Rob on that, with, you know, if, you know, and it, knowing what I was writing for, like knowing Rob's voice and knowing what he would say, what his viewpoint in life actually helps me go, oh, right, then I need to write for me as opposed to just writing. I think whenever someone says they're constantly evolving in their chosen profession, I tend to think that's a very good sign. Oh, 100%. Also, it's more like, I think it, you know, it's the same with acting as well. You know, you don't just start amazing.

And if you do start amazing, then great, you know, but I think there's probably a little bit more pressure from the off. I'm very happy just evolving both as a comedian and also recently, like, as an actor. And, you know, I've been watching rivals recently, and I've loved it. And I saw Alex Haviswold. Hassel who plays Ruper. And I just thought, oh, where'd he come from? And you think, oh, he's just come out of nowhere. But no, he's been going for...

What is that? I don't know what that noise is. Well, that's how do you think what's going on? I think it's like a... There's a man shouting something in a bush. And we are all looking at. It sounds like a... Where's very...

He's there. He's there. He's very good at camouflage, don't he? He's like he's wearing, you know, those like... suites that like snipers wear. He's like he's constantly wearing like a gully suit. Like he's very autonomy on my dog, isn't he? Yeah, we're not great in the snow. Against that tree now. You'd really struggle very much like, not where's Wally, but where's Ray? But yeah, I thought well, where's his Alex Hassel chap been? Like he must have

just come just an overnight success. But like he'd been going for 15, 15, 20 years, or not 20 years, but he was in the bill. You know, he's just, you know, he's just an overnight's success. But he was in the bill. just playing like someone who got arrested the bill. It's like, the bill. He's been going that long. But again, it's amazing. And you see someone that has just got to where they are today because they've done so many jobs.

And they've evolved. And they're so good because they've evolved. And I think, you know, there were so many good comedians that I saw start out that had just the most incredible five, ten minutes set. And you're like, oh my God, these are amazing because they've found their voice. They knew what they're doing.

And it took them... A lot of the cases, you know, they've not gone on any further. And some of them they have gone further. But I think Rob Beckett was one of the few that basically had his voice very early on, was winning all these competitions and then has gone on to be a household name. It was quite rare that someone from the off, bang, this is how I am, arrived, this is my voice. And has evolved as a voice, but his voice is still very much the same as when he started.

But I'm very happy to be on this journey. And it takes a little while for you to be content with that. You know, I think a lot of people go, oh God, I want to be so. successful, I want to be successful now, and I do this, I want to do this now. It's like, I think I've, you know, even growing up, always want to be a performer, always wants to do stuff. I've just gone, well, it will happen. It's just when it will happen.

And I'll do this, but it's just when, you know, like, oh yeah, I'll be in a Hollywood film, but it's not, it might not be now and it'll be later on, but let's just enjoy what I'm doing now because that's going to help, you know, when Alex Hassel was in the bill, did he think he was ever going to be in a Jilly Cooper, like a star of a Jilly Cooper and, like, the heart to the top of the nation. he's got the most incredible arms there's no spoiler

but he takes his top off in rivals I said it was very interesting seeing him interviewed when he said about his left about being good looking you're going to have to stop mentioning his body parts you get a bit obsessed with him

aren't you? No but even Hugh mentioned it the other week didn't he? On Zoe's show he mentioned he's like did you have to have to audition your willie? But do you know what? I found interesting. These people are having a lovely animated conversation, but I might just give them some space.

Let's go to the prom, right? Did you like the very middle class where I dealt with that? I might give them some... Why don't we give you some space? That was very... Miser up. Modern parents. But you know what?

When I saw the guy you're talking about who plays Rupert Campbell Black in their rivals, Alex Hassel, isn't it? Alex Hassel, yeah. Again, I didn't know much about him either, but I saw him interviewed and it was so interesting that he said, well, I knew I had to be the best, looking man. He said, and obviously no one really thinks that about them about themselves, unless you're a complete narcissist. He said, but even once you've had the spray tan, the hair,

the makeup, you know, he said, I realized the important thing was that all the cast had to be told, you have to act like this is the best looking man you've ever seen. He said, so when they were reacting to me like that, I felt so good looking. I thought, isn't that interesting? And actually, I was sold on it because he's not really my type, to be honest. I don't really like men like that. I've got a quite strange pin-up collection, haven't I? Who do I like?

Henry the 8th. And Vince Cable. Henry Leigh, both very strong leaders. Yeah, but do you know what I mean? I don't like, so he's not my, I'm not the demographic. Vince Cable? Yeah, Vince Cable and Henry the 8th. That is so funny.

And a very obscure one. Do you remember the other one? Yeah, what? Oh, it's, um... The son of John Duff. Darwin canoe man. Do you remember the man who faked his own death in the insurance? Well, I only ever saw one picture of him when there was a newspaper profile of him coming out of like

some of magistrate's got some going like that. But I quite liked him, so I cut it out. And the sun was quite good looking. Son of John Darwin canoe man. Anyway, go on. That is such a niche. Oh, I don't like these birds, Lloyd. They're frightening me.

Oh, yes. There's a man that's feeding the crows. You look after us, Lloyd. Yes, fine. I can do my own cry impression. You seem like you can take care of yourself. Just for the listener, there is a man walking through Backey Park. Sorry.

There's a man walking through Batsy Park dressed in black. And he's almost like the Pied Piper of Hamlin. It's all right, Ray. It's all right. It's like just a lot of crows. Maybe 50, 60 crows or just following this man. I mean, what is this, Edgar Allan Poe Fest? He looks like the, he's like the, he's like the, he's like the,

modern adaptation of the Home Alone lady in Central Park. I know, but what is this? He looks like he could be an architect going to work in North London, but he's just got, I'd say maybe, at the moment, 50 crows. Is he some got goth, Mary Poppins? I'm half expecting a film crew to follow in a minute. 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. Thank you.