The Real Housewives franchise has expanded globally, captivating audiences with the lavish lifestyles and interpersonal dramas of affluent socialites from Orange County to Sydney and Nairobi. However, a London-based series was notably absent – until now.
“Go back to Paddington.”
While seemingly innocuous, this directive carries significant weight within Belgravia’s exclusive social circles. Suggesting a return from these privileged streets to a perceived less desirable area of London strikes a nerve.
Amanda Cronin, a former model and skincare entrepreneur, delivers this pointed remark in a teaser for The Real Housewives of London.
For Cronin and her five co-stars – Juliet Angus, Karen Loderick-Peace, Juliet Mayhew, Panthea Parker, and Nessie Welschinger – this is merely one instance of the high-stakes drama that unfolds as the internationally renowned franchise arrives in the UK capital.
Speaking from a West End hotel, Cronin addresses the viral nature of the insult with amusement, firmly asserting her belief that Angus, an American socialite previously featured in Ladies of London, should indeed be “banished” from the SW3 postcode.
Cronin states she “didn’t hesitate” when offered a role on the show, emphasizing, “It’s just a massive opportunity and such a blessing – to be a housewife is huge so I grabbed it and ran with it.”
Parker, a socialite of Iranian descent from North London, admits initial reservations but ultimately decided against foregoing such a prominent franchise opportunity.
Indeed, the brand’s global reach is undeniable, boasting 11 US editions and over 30 international counterparts.
The London cast contends that their escapades surpass previous iterations, with producers occasionally intervening to moderate the intensity of the on-screen conflicts.
Angus notes that producers on other reality shows often express concern over insufficient drama, a sentiment never echoed during the filming of this series.
Cronin recounts an instance where producers entered her room, stating, “‘You’re too strong, your blows are too low and there was too much drama’.”
Parker adds that producers informed her they were doing her a favor by omitting portions of an argument from the first episode.
“I don’t think anyone has seen anything like this before,” asserts Welschinger, an award-winning cake designer whose creations have graced Buckingham Palace.
Perhaps the heightened tension stems from the fact that the six women were not previously close friends.
While of each other, their connections were tenuous – some shared a dentist, others frequented similar social gatherings, and a few attended exclusive events in the city.
Emotions undeniably ran high during filming, with many of the women admitting to regrets over certain remarks or expressing embarrassment regarding their on-camera behavior.
However, Loderick-Peace, a veteran of the Housewives franchise from Jersey UK and Cheshire, maintains that dwelling on past mistakes is unproductive.
“You cannot live your life looking in the rear view mirror, you’re going to stress yourself out. You just have to own it and life is about making mistakes, rising up, brushing yourself off and starting all over again.”
She adds that the group grew closer “because we spend so much time together filming”.
“Filming feels like a year, so you get to know each other on another level. We even got to know each other better than how we know some of our closest friends.”
Prior to filming, the London housewives sought counsel from women with prior experience in the franchise.
Mayhew, an Australian-born former Miss Galaxy Universe, jokes that Taleen Marie from the Dubai show advised her to take lots of Valium. Welschinger shares that Lisa Barlow from Salt Lake City urged her to “enjoy every second because a lot of women want this but not everyone can get it”.
Loderick-Peace adds that several existing housewives emphasized the importance of “just be yourself” – a sentiment echoed by the entire London cast, who insist they presented their authentic selves on screen.
“You can’t curate a persona because audiences realise that,” she explains.
Having prior experience with reality television, most of the housewives report becoming accustomed to the cameras’ presence over time.
However, this is not always the case for their families. Spouses and children make appearances, with varying degrees of enthusiasm regarding their tangential involvement in the Real Housewives universe.
“I sat down and discussed the pros and cons with my family, and after three weeks everyone said yes,” Parker recounts. Except for one.
“My eldest son didn’t want to be in it at all and I begged him to be on a FaceTime so he did. Then he was regretting it, but I said he was giving himself too much importance and it was probably only going to be two seconds.”
While Cronin and Loderick-Peace’s children opted not to participate, Welschinger states that her entire family, particularly her husband, enjoyed the experience.
“I think it was because the production team made you feel safe and they know what they’re doing so you can trust the process.”
The husbands, often seen in suits as they depart for work or attend business calls, make brief appearances in the initial episode.
For some of the housewives, their lavish lifestyles are entirely dependent on their spouses’ income.
Loderick-Peace, whose husband is the former chairman and owner of West Bromwich Albion football club, argues that this is not the complete picture. “Behind every successful man there’s a strong woman and men can’t do it on their own,” she says.
Parker shares that her mother-in-law initially wanted her son to marry a working woman. “My husband said, ‘Why would I do that if I have a woman that’s going to be making my home amazing, treating me like a king and making sure there’s no stress when I come back from work?'” she says.
Some critics argue that the Real Housewives franchise is inherently anti-feminist, a spectacle that pits women against each other for entertainment.
However, the cast refutes this assertion. In addition to the heightened drama depicted on screen, they maintain that genuine friendships, mentorship, and mutual support have emerged and persisted beyond the filming period.
The Real Housewives of London is available to stream on Hayu beginning August 18th.
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