Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Stevie Martin (Part Two)

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

In part two of Emily and Ray’s walk with the wonderful Stevie Martin, joined by her dog Piper, the conversation continues with more laughs, stories and brilliant comic observations.If you haven’t already, make sure to catch part one. And don’t miss Stevie live on tour with her critically acclaimed show Clap, which is touring the UK this year. Tickets and dates are available at https://steviemartin.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 two of Walking the Dog with the wonderful Stevie Martin and her dog Piper. If you want to see Stevie's critically acclaimed show Clout, it's touring the UK this year, so do make sure to book your tickets at steviemartin.com. Really hope you enjoy part two of our walk and do give us a like and a follow so you can catch us every week. Here's Stevie and Piper and Ray Ray. What's more about what you said when you got to university, you were sort of conscious of that? Well, suddenly I was at a university where... Because you went to Durham, which is quite posh in some ways.

It's really posh. I think there's some, it's like they've aped the kind of Oxbridge collegiate system. And it's a lot of people that didn't get in there, I think. And my college as well especially was very posh. I think I was one of two people who had been to stay educated in my year in my college. And it was like the first time. So I always thought, yeah, like we've not got loads of money, but we're kind of like fine. And my friend Hannah, you know, she's like really, really rich.

And it's because my friend Hannah had like a three-bed house or something. And like her mom would occasionally shop at M&S. And then when I got to... You think that's like Bill Gates or something? Genuinely, I was like, well, obviously, that's real money. And then when I got to uni, I had an northern accent. And so everyone would just presume that I was working class and I know what I was. And I really used to annoy me.

And then there would be lots of like... It was nice. I had a really nice time at uni. But there was a lot. of like jokey kind of like you know all sort of the earth like you know oh yeah northern scum a bit of rough like a lot of that and it would just and so i lost my accent and i would try to kind of yeah i tried to be less northern and i wonder also if they see you walking across those sort of ancient quads or whatever at durham you're very tall and blonde and you sort of no but you know what

mean i think people would look at you and think oh she looks quite she could be a character from saltburn, you know. Oh, that's exciting. Yeah, well, I've never thought that. I mean, I did have quite short, bright red dyed hair. Oh, you've ruined it now. I have, yeah, I looked very like I was trying, I was very emo and I didn't, yeah, whereas, yeah, now I've gone blonde now, but I'm trying to go back to my brown roots. But did, but yeah, I was tall and I didn't really, I suppose like, you know when you look back at yourself and you go, oh yeah, I actually probably looked way more confident and appeared way more confident. And I thought, but inside I felt really like,

oh, I don't fit in at all. And I'm embarrassed. And then that was probably where I would try and be really, like, I would be funny. Or I would, you know, take the piss out of myself. Or I would be the first one to be like, yeah, I'm northern. And I think that's where I kind of learned to do that. And realized, oh, okay, yes, I really didn't have the same upbringing as, as I, oh, the upbringing that, like, financially, I thought I did.

Like, I was like, oh, wow, yeah. These people have got massive head start, and they kind of, you know, are the son of a famous comedian, or they know, that their dad is, like, the producer at Channel 4. Or do you know what I mean? Like, oh, right, okay. Or, like, they've never had a job. I remember, like, so many, so much it was being, like, when I did my journalism, M.A., did it at City.

You weren't allowed to have a side job, and I couldn't afford to live in London. So my parents had to remortgage their house to help me. And so I did have a job. And then I had to drop shorthand because I had to go to my job. And the tutor screamed at me of like, you're never going to make it. You're never going to make it. Because you're not serious about jobs. I'm thinking, I can't eat Barbara.

Like, what do you want? So I think there's been a lot of that. And I sometimes have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. But as I've got older, I'm a bit more like, well, it's sort of made me. me work really hard. And it's made me kind of live a different sort of life. And I'm kind of quite, I'm quite happy that I've become a little bit more, um, like not successful, but like people are able, like, I get more people coming to

my shows and stuff now. I don't think I'd be able to deal with that if I was like 24. That I think I'd, I think I'd just freak me out. So I think you're right. And I think you're absolutely, I hear that in that we went to, my parents were kind of quite Bohemian artsy. Oh were they? And they, but they did send me to a girl's private school, but we weren't wealthy. Oh God. So it was kind of hideous because I was like, I got there and I was like, how can everyone's got electric gates and, you know, everyone's, their parents had the same car,

which was a BMW for the dad, a family Mercedes and then a golf convertible for the mum. So why have we got a yellow millimetrope from 20 years ago? My parents don't care about material things. They think that's tacky and they hate that. So it's kind of like, I was like, why do you spend your money on fucking books? Why don't you buy cars like these people? But what was interesting is it was weird, Stevie, you're right, that I always felt inadequate to be honest because we weren't rich. And I felt like, oh my God, they're so much better than me. And then when I got my results and I got straight A's, but not because I was that clever, but just because I knew I had to work.

Yeah. I knew what it was costing. Yeah. And they all, I don't know what they're doing now, but you know. Probably really well. They live in nice houses and their husbands are doing well. Lovely, yeah. But it's one of those things where you think it's that it's only further down the line that you can recognise actually sometimes those benefits

from being in an environment like that where you aren't as privileged as everyone else. And I'm still privileged going to a private school, but you know what I mean? Yeah. It gives me more like fun stuff to talk about. about as well because I'm starting to do more like um I don't really talk about myself on stage very much and so I'm starting to do more of that now and I've got so many fun stories from when I like worked in catering at uni and like what do you work for right for an escort um oh god accidentally yeah I wrote for an escort agency what did you did was that when you left university then yeah I thought

it was when I was doing my MA because they were like you can't have another job I was like I can't because I used to work on the box office at a theatre. And that was, you know, you'd work in the evenings. And I was like, well, I suppose I'm not allowed to do that anymore because I was starting to get too much coursework. So like, well, work. And then I got this, I saw this job on Craigslist that was like a blogger for an escort agency. And I was like, well, escorting, that's just when you go for dinner with people.

So, and they wanted to meet, they thought I was a man. So, because Stevie Martin, so they wanted me to write about the World Cup. I was like, I can do that. Because I sort of did watch football and stuff. but then I was like, right, I can do that. And then, and it was such bad pay. It was like 800 words, 50 pounds. And I didn't look at the website.

I just, the website was like escort agents, escorts.com or something. And then so I wrote a couple of blog posts. And then he was like, great, this is the perfect tone. Thanks, mate. He thought I was a man. Just little thing, no man will say thanks, mate, if they think you're all. Never. And then he was like, great, can you just,

now for the SEO, can you just pop in, keywords in the first like four lines because it was when you had to kind of yeah but in keywords for Google and they were all things like busty blonde and redheads and I was like sorry I don't understand and I was like well suppose it's because these people want to go for dinner with these and then I went on the website and was like oh no I've made a terrible mistake and I was working for them for maybe like a month and I'm going home and tell my parents at Christmas that's what the job I got what did they say crying laughing it was like could not stop laughing at me just like what do you

What do you mean you thought you took them for dinner? And then, yeah, going on, going on the website, I think it was the sort of comments underneath the blog. I was like, who's reading? Who's reading the current affairs posts on an escortation? I really appreciate the scope of what they were trying to do. But, yeah. I worked in McDonald's as well.

I worked in, like, DeRitch Smith's for ages. I worked in catering for the students. It's not nothing as bad as the escort agency. And the students in the college next door, So every sort of month you'd have like a really posh dinner. This is at Durham? Yeah, you'd wear like your gown or whatever. And you'd have a three-customer.

And I'd work as a dinner lady serving the people who I was like, so I didn't help myself. Was that how you serving your fellow students? Basically, yeah. I mean, 100% yet. This is so saltburn. I can't actually. It's crazy, isn't it?

And then no wonder. And then like they'd treat you like crap because they'd think you were a local. Yeah. And some of that, not everybody, but there was always like a. group of real posh, like, you know, cigar smoking 18-year-old boys that now when I go back to Durham's like, oh, you look so lame. But at the time, they're like, oh, right, on the top hat, you're like, oh, my God, they're wearing a top hat. And I'd say them, and then they'd hear my voice. And because I'd lost my Northern accent, it got around

and I was a student. And, like, that was actually worse. Like, it's just been like, sorry. And then I joined the sketch group, the uni sketch group. And there was one time when I just heard someone going, like, I think she's in the uni sketch group. She's in the Durham Review. And I was like, I can't do it anymore. So then I worked at the local school, but I had an even more embarrassing experience, which is I'd do Trey Bakes,

and I served these guys, and they were sort of like joke flirting with me, and I was like, because it's a sixth form, like a school and a six form, and I was like, these guys, they're like 18. I was like 20. I was like, oh, this is like, you know, these guys, there's one guy who's quite fit, actually.

Yeah, he's quite fit. turned out the eight levels had finished so the six-form weren't there the AS levels weren't finished and the GCSEs had been done the guy was in year nine was 13 but he had a beard and I was like I think I quite set me up with him my friend was like no he's a child but I don't leave that no I didn't but I also stole quite a lot of food as well because we couldn't to eat so I stole like big tubs of baked beans like industrial size so tubs of baked beans and then we just eat baked beans for like a month and when you were at Durham that's when you encountered Ed Gamble and Nish Kumar didn't you because were they already part of the Durham review when you

auditioned yeah they were in like their final year when I was in my first year and encountered is a funny way I did you know they they were so lovely they were friends with so the one of the guys that was in the review with Nish and Ed was going out with a girl who was a very cool American's, like, final year person opposite me in my corridor and she, I thought she was like amazing. She was just so, she was just so cool. She sounds like something out of a Netflix movie. Yeah, and she also lived like she was as well. Like, really rich American, like, came over from, like, it's just the way she'd talk about America.

She was all, like, furs and, like, it was just very, very rich American, like, it was just very rich American. She was very good. We would have like amaretto parties. Everyone was like, you know Zoe. And I was like, yeah, my friend Zoe, who's like two years old. But very exciting. And she was like, you should audition for the review. And he was like, yeah, you should. And then she got me drunk on champagne and then I did it. And I can't really remember any of it. And the first year I was in the review, I basically said nothing, did nothing. Was absolutely frozen with fear. It was a disaster. Oh, is he cold? No, he's fine. I'm just putting his hood on. Oh, good. But then, yeah, and then as it's gone on, and then I started to really, really enjoy it. And then that led to, like, me doing, like, I'd do plays and I, you know, wrote some stuff. And then was like, but that's not a career. I can't do that as a job, of course.

So then immediately gave it all up and trained us to be a journalist. I missed it so much that then we started a sketch group. Basically, the first year I got a proper job in Journalism, I immediately started a sketch group on the side. and then we got signed and then I stopped being a full-time journalist to do that because it was just like I would freelance but I it's interesting that thing and you know I relate to that as I was saying to you earlier I went into journalism because I think it felt safe I knew I wanted secretly if I'm really honest I wanted to be doing this kind of stuff yeah but it

felt too scary to admit that and so I thought at least if I'm in that world it you you know, I'm getting a taste of it. Well, it's glam, it's fun. Like, you can write. We'll go under the bridge. It's raining. We'll go and stand under the bridge. But it felt, do you know what I mean?

I think there was an element of compromise for me in that it was probably because I, I was frightened of what people would think if I said. But did you have lots of, did you know lots of women who had gone into this sort of, because I didn't know any, all of the guys in the Durham Review all went on to be comedians or writers. Yeah. And the women didn't. And it wasn't like. we all sat down and went, well, the women won't. It just didn't happen.

Yeah. So I just didn't even think about it. I was like, well, obviously not. I didn't go, because I'm a woman. But I just didn't, I couldn't envision what I'd do. It sounds so mad to say that now, because so many, it's now, you know, so great that if you are, this, you know, the current Durham review is like half women, half, half, half girls, half boys. And the one that I just sort of went to see last year, the show, I went to last year,

the couple of the girls in it are definitely going to go into comedy like they're definitely it's really nice to see that but it's odd it was only like 15 20 years ago but it still was so different there was like Joe Brand and I was it and I didn't know how you'd get there like I didn't know how you'd ever yes you're absolutely right because I used to be friends with quite a lot of comics just because it was good but it was all mainly men yeah the smack the pony was incredible but they just felt like um out I felt like outliers to me it was like yeah and then of course they they I don't know how they did that but ever like it just felt very not even an option and so that's maybe why both

of us were like oh okay well we'll do and we picked a sort of very female dominated industry to go it's like it's like publishing or fashion and maybe then you'll meet a nice man and that's an acceptable I mean this wasn't in my head but I often think that was by behind a lot of it was that's a nice sort of finishing school before you meet someone. Certainly in my generation which is obviously a lot further back than yours. That was never said but I felt there was an element of that that well you'll meet nice men doing these jobs. Eligible. Do you know what I mean?

It's awful. Eligible bachelor's in the fashion industry. But you do a whole job. People on drugs. Yeah. I mean you basically an entire career based around potentially meeting so it's so it's so weird, isn't it? That is interesting. Yeah, I think I didn't think about it in terms of meeting somebody. I just felt like I wanted to be creative and that that was the only way I could

make money being creative. I think I know what you mean. I thought I don't want to work for Santander or whatever. Yeah, so it has to be fashion. We'll have to work for fashion magazines. What a shame. That's our only option. Yeah. And it was glad. When you're like, it was glamorous and exciting and like the idea of being a journalist was so like romanticised. So, So we've got you in journalism and now you're going to get you to leave journalism. I've left. Have you left? Oh good already.

And things did start to, I feel like online was really helpful to you, you know, just the fact that that all took off. Because you were sort of a sketch comedian that was really your thing originally. And sketch comedy, it was funny, I associated a lot with when I was younger in the 80s and things like, like the pony in the 90s, it was a far show, it was huge. They kind of tailed off a bit. Oh, massively. Really, yeah.

The moment I became, the moment we were in a sketch group and we all got signed by United, it was just a great agency, we were all so excited, was the moment that, like, Channel 4, I think, did like a full announcement being like, we will not be making any sketch. No one was sort of making it. It started to be online, like, funny or die,

like things like that. That the Will Ferrell thing, wasn't it? Yeah. And it was on, like, the Facebook algorithm really sort of helped with, oh, we got, Sorry, I think it's dropped. Piper's lead just fell off. But you know what?

She was so obedient. She just stayed there. She just stayed there. And he said like, yeah, the Facebook algorithm then changed. So then funny a die just folded because of the Facebook algorithm change. And it felt really like, what's the point of doing sketches anymore? There was vine. I remember that thing.

And I remember being, so then we tried to get a sketch show away for a while. Didn't work. Then we all did our own stuff. We're still friends. We all did our own stuff. And I felt, I really felt like, this is sort of a make a break. and I have to do my own show. Like, I didn't like a live show.

I have to become me now. And I did know how to do it, and it took, so it was in 2018, I did my first solo show. And I had a horrible time. I really, really struggled to, like, know what, I didn't know what to do. Like, I didn't know what. So I did this mad show that you wouldn't have even known

what my actual accent was. You wouldn't know anything. It was crazy. And it was, I think it was really funny, but it was mad. And I think there was a bit of an element of like, and that's what you've chosen to do, is it? So there wasn't a huge amount of love for it industry-wise.

And then I did another show and not, I mean, like the audiences would come and have a nice time, but the industry didn't really, just weren't really interested. Couldn't really get anything. Things was really starting to tail off. And I was 31. And I remember just feeling really just confused and stressed.

And then the lockdown happened. And started doing things online. and then everything kind of just exploded and I immediately, when we came out of the pandemic, it was like I was a different person. Like people had heard of me a bit and I could get meetings with people. But I still didn't know what to do. Like I didn't know like what the next step was and what the,

and then and then and then testosterone happened, which is mad. But you were writing a lot as well because you've also built up your kind of credits in that way, I suppose. And I wonder, you've written for a lot of really high profile comics, you've been in writers' rooms. Yes. But I wonder, the more successful you get and the more of a platform and profile you have, I guess that gets tougher, doesn't it?

Because is there a probably thinking, well, actually I want to say this? Yes. I would feel that. I do, yeah. I don't write for comedians so much anymore. No. I was meant to do a job that would have, about three years ago, I would have chewed my own head off to do, which would be, but it wouldn't have been on screen, it would have been writing for a cast on screen.

It's like a sketch show. And I said no because even though I really, I love writing for people, I've got to have a go with myself. Do I mean? Like I've got to, so I think it'll be difficult for me to get a sketch show. Well, then it becomes, even though it's high profile, we're slipping back into our, we're going to write on a fashion magazine. In a weird way, it comes from the same place, which is I won't put my head massively above the parapet. Yes, it's safe. Yeah, 100%.

And the scoutsers wouldn't approve of that. They're bold people. You've got to challenge yourself. And sometimes challenging yourself is saying no to something that sounds really good. Because you're like, no, I think I should. So for example, like I think I'm at the moment, is a snort? Is it okay? It was just one single snort.

Did you do this snort? Was it all right? No, it's okay. Just one snort. You don't have to keep holding him. I feel bad. He's so light. Are you sure?

Yeah, it's like, he feels like a scarf. It's crazy. I think I'm going to try, like there is a possibility that I'll be able to do my own sketch show this year, but it will be online with the help of a production company. I don't know if that will work. It's obviously not, you know, you want the dreamers to be on, for it to be on TV, but it's too expensive to make for channels. I'm not sort of famous enough for that to happen.

But I'm more, it says quite a lot that I'm more excited about having full creative control about something that I can put out and go, that's mine. That's what I'm in it as well. and then to write on a genuinely high profile TV thing, but it's for other people. And I think it would be more of a challenge me doing this sort of online thing. I think it's quite fun to make those decisions.

Like, where you go, I actually think I want to do this one more. I'm more scared about this one, whereas I think if I wrote for other people, it would, I could probably just, it would be too easy. Like, I would find it very easy and safe and comfortable. I can write sketches till the cows come home. And I've done it so many times. And it's your, I was saying this to someone actually the other day on this podcast, that it's that David Bowie thing.

He used to say, when you're in your comfort zone, that's a sign. That's a bad sign. If it's easy, you know, it means you're not doing what you should be doing. Yeah, there needs to be a bit of fun, like stress, fun stress, like adrenaline. It needs to be some adrenaline. Otherwise, I don't feel like I'll make my best stuff. I think, yeah, even if, oh, is you crying a little bit? You're a bit cold, my love.

It's a bit cold. We're going to go in. Should we walk back up towards? Which way should we walk? Let's get you back to the warm. Oh, you are cold. Well, let's walk you up and then you'll get a bit warm. Yeah, we'll walk you up here.

So, you were talking about adrenaline and getting that adrenaline out of things. And this might be a good time to bring up that you, you're touring with clout, aren't you? I have. So is this kind of, because you've done this show before? I have, yeah. And it means I didn't see it the first time. And now people like me get to see it, which is so exciting. Here we go, yeah.

So when does it start? So the second leg, it starts on March, March 3rd or March 6th. It's in early March. Yeah. And it runs through to late April. And then I'm going to do seven more final shows in quite big rooms, like I'm doing Bristol Old Vic and mad big rooms at that in autumn. And then I'll put the show to bed because I've already sort of half written a new one.

But I'm doing this show for a while. It's nice because I used to be really, like I said before, it was quite like, what's the word like, removed from myself on stage. It was a performance. I was an actor. I was sort of pretending to be a comedian on stage. Whereas now, I'm so, I love it.

I used to get really bad stage fright as well. And such fear, there was just so much fear. Up until last year, really. Even when I did this show, Clout, I did it in Edinburgh. And I did it for a month. went really well. It's the first time I've ever really experienced a live show going well in Edinburgh, you know, good reviews. It was sold out. 100-seater, which is a little room, but I was so chuffed, but I still really would get really terrified before I went on stage.

And this tour that I did in autumn, autumn and winter last year, completely dissolved, all remaining stage fright. I had the most lovely time. And it's really, it's really, really, yeah, so I really feel like the show is just sort of, I'm really proud of it and I'm really, it's like my favourite thing I've ever done. It's the most proud I've ever been of anything, really, I think. Oh, that's so lovely, isn't it? Yeah, it's really nice to kind of give it, I think a lot of people get into this habit of doing a new show every year and I think that's fine, but it's also nice to actually give, you know, the amount of work that went into this show is quite massive and it's quite intricate and like...

Also, I find sometimes, I think what happens is that when you get to know someone and in their profile raises, like in your case two things happen, Mitchell and Webb and obviously Taskmaster. Yeah. Sometimes I'll read a review of a show. This has happened time and time again to me that by the time someone comes on my radar and then they're partly on my radar because they did this incredible show. I'm like, I will never get to see that.

That makes me really sad. Yeah. I think more people should do that though, because that's the thing that helped get you those big gigs. Yeah. But we can't ever see it. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it is nice.

The difference between doing it before people knew who I was. That was what was nice about in Edinburgh because the show did well because people told each, I wasn't very successful, people didn't really know who I was. But the show like really kicked off and I would have cues and people not being able to get in and stuff. Because people liked the show. So the show is really good. And then what happened is, yeah, then Tasmanor happened, and I had this show ready to go that I was really proud of and was really fun.

And so then the difference performing it to people that already know you is just wild. Like the first or 20 minutes was always a bit of a, they're kind of working you out. And now they're already really happy to see you. It's really like a very joyful experience. And clout, presumably, is it in terms of like social media clout in that sense, is it? Yeah. It's basically just about how like I was, I was online for a long time, and then I tried to do a live show,

and the difference was so massive. And also just how kind of creatively, because for people that don't know, like doing content online, everyone talks about it, but if you don't do it, it's a mad world. It's really like odd, and you're sort of at the kind of intersection of AI and the algorithm and what's, like, the kind of what you're making can be really,

What's the word compromised, I think? It's not as free as a live show. Well, I'm definitely, I'm very excited, and I might have to come and see you, to be honest. Oh, yeah, but do, but also we'll tell me. Can I sneak Raymond in my pocket? 100%? Don't tell anyone.

Absolutely, please do. Piper came on tour with me. We could just sit here for two seconds, shall we? Because it might be a bit less cold for them. So, I also saw you, Stevie on. The return of Mitchell and Worth. Yes.

And you're so good on that. Oh, that's nice. Thank you. You're so brilliant on it. That must have been amazing working with them. Yeah, it's great. I love them. They're so... They're such nice men, aren't they?

They're both. So lovely. They're both sort of exactly as you'd hope they would be. They sort of monetised almost their... Well, David Mitchell certainly monetises personality, isn't it? They're so lovely. They were really like... It was really nice working with, because I've been in a sketch group before,

really nice working with people who came up through the exact thing, Edinburgh, and the way that they talk about, they had like a shorthand with each other about writing and how they approach sketches and stuff. And it was really nice being like, oh, it's kind of the same. It's always the same. It's just different people doing the same sort of stuff. And they really get on with each other and they really make each other. in that way that I know that when you're in a sketch group you have this way you have this like telepathic kind of thing that you just can't stop giggling and yeah I

And it's interesting as well. I love the idea because you were writing on that as well and it must have been quite interesting You know what I love is that someone like David and I kind of respect him for this is that he's so resolutely not chronically online He's just not interested in that. Oh my God. I didn't know what that was really. I love that Yeah, were you having to explain what so you know like you're having to say what? You know like you're having to say what? cat lawyer is or something. He's seen on Twitter. And I'd like, why are you someone to be like, it's just the best way to, you know, it's the written medium.

I'm not a photographic company. Like, yeah, I guess so. But what about like the fact that when you post anything, it's just loads of, he's like, but he's so well, and he'd go on his little rants and like his little, which makes it sound so patronising because his rants are like the funniest thing.

So funny. But like Rob would do it as well. And like, they're just both, but Rob was way more switched on about, like, I don't know, like he wasn't like of another era. Yeah. Whereas too rich.

It's like, it's like, I think Rob did say that it's like he was born like a 52 year old man. So now he's finally hit his strides as to what he's always been anyway. Because I think Rob was a bit more of a wild guy when he was younger and he's lived a bit more. He's, he's, he's, he's, what's so nice is that he was, they were both so like generous with them. It sounds small, but like, they're laughter. Like they'd really laugh with you and like they'd really like find stuff funny. me like they you didn't feel like you were trying to get them to like you or trying to maybe they like you just didn't feel stressed at all like they were just so and that gets the best work out of

people yeah because when you have people coming in thinking just that just that you know it's it's that culture always produces the best work I think just that sense of um you know collaborative well it's collaborative yes yes whereas they think that by default fault, it was intimidating because it's just if you were working with someone that you've seen on TV for ages, you've loved all their, all their stuff, and then you're in a room with them and they're kind of like, you're going, do you think this is funny? Would you say those words? It's so intimidating, but yes, it says a lot about them that that was only for like 10 seconds and then suddenly like, okay, no, it's all right. Like I'm not sweating anymore.

But yeah, it was really lovely. And so it feels like. things are really happening for you. I just feel like there's this kind of buzz about you at the moment. When I said to people you were coming on, oh my God, Stevie Martin. It's like, oh, okay. But that must be nice. How do you feel about, are you being recognised more?

Like, Taskmaster must have been a shift. Yeah, Tasmaster was a big shift. Yeah. How do you find that being recognised? I think it's not. People are nice about it. I think it's, I think if you're known, like Jason Manzukas was saying that a lot of his, a lot of the people that he, so he was on Tasmasters.

with me and he's very well known for doing like quite offbeat small but like very impactful parts in massive shows it's like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the Good Place and like and he plays wild men all the time and he said that his fans will come up and scream moth like his slogans and stuff and be like like ultimaturic age of pimento or whatever hey long like hey long man like constantly at him and he's quite a you know he's quite a gentle man and he was like I hate it I can't I hate it but the Tasmasters fans are so lovely because they'll just come over and be like hey we really love you on this like they're so gentle and like that there's so and it's true like

so I don't really have any problems because I've not been in anything that people are kind of mean about or like you know Tasmasters got the nicest fan base I think of any show I think so yeah and also it doesn't happen very often like I'm still not because Also, I've got rid of my blonde hair and that helps, so people don't really recognize me very much. When it was on, it was all the time, and then now it's settled down a little bit, so I don't really think about it too much.

But it's nice to have had a year, like last year, where everything that I was filming for, some of those things that came out last year, I filmed in like 2023 and stuff. Everything came out once, so it looked like I was everywhere, but I wasn't really doing anything. I was just living in my house, like, okay.

It looked like you were doing a romish, actually. Actually, I was just watching all these things coming out, being like, yes, I am very busy, actually. And I think now what's nice is I think this year I'm focusing on writing. Because now it's like, oh, so what would you like to do? You're like, okay, right, okay, I'm going to write some scripts.

That's really sensual, because also I think you're right. You can, what can happen is that you get something like that. What are you doing? I'm trying to get some food out of your beard. You're being ever so silly, Raymond. Oh, he's being ever so silly. We have such a funny relationship, Stevie. stop doing that to me.

You're very stubborn boy. Oh God, your breath stinks as well. God, honestly. Hideous. Do you find, with Piper, do you have, what's your, I mean, you seem to have a really lovely relationship. Yeah, but if I tried to like do that, you do the same thing, she'd be like, get off.

I've got it out now. It's fine. It feels like a bit of rice or something. I love that you've got a dog. Yeah, it is, it's great. And also, um, when, when I go and right stuff which I'm doing at the moment like for this year she comes and sits so she yeah for the first like day she'll sit on my laptop like no and then she

kind of chills out and so your family they had you were saying you had schnauzers yeah we know shnauzer yeah what was your schnauzer called again Charlie oh Charlie so do you I don't think I asked you what is she a variety she's half schnauzer half poodle she noodle yeah we wanted a schnauzer I'm so sorry but we got the And the poodle element is mad. Really? Yeah, they're mad. Yeah, there's something going on there.

I think poodles are insane. All my friends who've got poodles are always like, what is going on? Like, they're just so kind of odd. They have got that sort of, it's all going to blow. Yeah, at any point they could do anything. That's why she's really calm. She's very calm. She's very calm.

Yeah, in company, but, you know, put her somewhere she doesn't want to be, and she's difficult. You know, she's kind of, she didn't like being groomed. So she was bite her. a groomer. Was she? Imagine. She's so calm. Ray doesn't like being groomed, do you?

Yeah, he runs away from the groomers. It's so embarrassing. I take him in and he's all sweet. And then as soon as he sees you in the groom, he looks at me and then he dashes out the door. Yeah, you like fair enough. Yeah, he doesn't want to do it. It's not nice being sort of, you know, sprayed with water and, you know,

poked and prodded in that manner. I don't like it. Stevie, I'll have to say, I need to let you go because it's a miserable day. It is a miserable day. But you've brought a lot of sunshine into my day. Oh, thank you. And Piper. I just had a very good energy about you as soon as you arrived and laden down.

I'm going to say this. You were laden down with dog treats and gifts for me. You brought Ray, two jumpers, which I'm going to put up online, so people can see the extent of your generosity. And some really cheap as shit dog treats. Some cheap as shit dog treats. That paper can't eat because she didn't and just immediately threw up. So good look.

Because she's posh. You're suggesting my dog's common. His stomach can handle them. He looks like a guy who's got a son. strong stomach. He's got an Astda stomach. Yours is a little more waitress? Is that what you're saying? It's embarrassing. She's going to have milk otherwise she thought like it's embarrassing.

She's so stoked new inside. I know she really is. However, we do live in Kent. Right. It doesn't make any sense. But honestly, it's been a total joy and I really urge people because I mean, you know, you're for everyone who listens to this, will be familiar with this brilliant woman's work. Go and see Clout. Can people get tickets on your website? Oh yeah, steviemartin.com. Okay. There's, like, the next leg is nearly sold out, but if...

Excuse me. But the set, but the, the one, the big shows, oh, we're doing an experiment there. So, if that's half full, I'll be absolutely thrilled. So please come and watch me sort of see the extent to how Taskmaster will sell. Yes. And then I can be like, and then the next bit, that's Last One Laughing, if that could happen. The next one. Do you want to do Last One Laughing?

No, but like... I think we know. I think everyone would love it. It's one of those shows. You go, and that's Tasaster. And then you've got to do something else. We'll just see how much Tasmaster can really push ticket sales. And this podcast.

Well, I was going to say, you'll certainly get the dog lovers. That's what I want. And Ray and I are officially stevie Martin lovers now. I think, yeah, very definitely. He's sort of staring into the middle distance. It's like he's sort of come back from the war. He just does that to look complicated. And I'm like the southern bell waiting for him.

Any news yet? There's nothing there, Ray. Is he looking at? Will you give Stevie a big kiss? Goodbye, Steve. Goodbye, Ray. Say goodbye to Piper. Bye, Piper.

Oh my God, she gave me such a reaction. She really responds to her name. She does. We love you, Piper. So what? What? Oh, don't reject me. I can't bear it.

She's all shivering as well. 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.