TRANSCRIPT 🔗
speaker-0: Hello, I'm Harvey Morton and this is my Stage and Scream podcast. Today I'm thrilled to share my conversation with Amanda Cronin and Nessie Welshinger from the Real Housewives of London series 2. It's streaming exclusively on Hey You, and I started by asking Amanda and Nessie about how it feels to be bad for this exciting new season. Here's what they told me.
speaker-1: it's so exciting. Yeah. It's thrilling, exciting. Feel very blessed. So proud. Very proud.
speaker-2: proud of what we've achieved through season one and how it was so well received globally and we're just so excited to be back to be doing a second season is such an honor.
speaker-1: Yeah, we really ⁓ I think we've really killed it this season. If la if you know, if we enjoyed last season, ⁓ yeah. I say this this season is is even more iconic, it's even more fun, it's even more luxe, it's it's just ⁓ you know, more friendship, more drama. ⁓ the girls have really ⁓ they're just on fire.
speaker-2: We hit the ground running, literally.
speaker-1: Yeah. It's very fast paced. Yeah, I would say.
speaker-0: Brilliant. And I know LGBTQ Plus audiences love the Real Housewives franchise because it's so camp glamorous and for its realness as well. ⁓ what do you think, mates, the Real Housewives of London resonate so strongly with queer viewers?
speaker-2: I think London really is a place where you can be anyone you want to be, no judgement, everyone appreciates everyone. You can dress how you want, can act and people will love you and you can just show up and be your authentic self and be appreciated and welcomed and I think that's London for you. And I hope that we also represent it as well because we're such a diverse cast and I think that speaks to the audience really.
speaker-0: Yeah, that definitely comes across as well. That's good. I know a series one showed us such a mix of luxury and real tension ⁓ moments as well. ⁓ how have those off camera dynamics evolved heading into this second series?
speaker-1: I mean there's a lot. I mean it's done like it's a 360, I think, for me from series one to two. Like I've really showing different sides to my character, to my personality, becoming more vulnerable. Probably, you know, I thought I was being authentic and being myself in series one, but I'm even being more of myself. I'm I'm I'm giving more, I'm opening up more. I I I probably feel safer around the women than I did in the series, which I think is really interesting. And it's a lot about safety, isn't it? And I think that's how also resonates so much in the LGBT community. It's that feeling safe and ⁓ you know, not being judged all the time. And I think that's really important. So I I'm I'm I'm feeling more relaxed, I'm happier. That's comes across. Yeah, that's and therefore you're seeing a just a more relaxed me and a more fun me, which I'm really, really proud of. As you should
speaker-2: be.
speaker-0: Amanda, I know your stint airline and entrepreneurial spirit were such a big part of the first series. How do you think that career journey influenced your role in the show ⁓ and the season that we've seen going into this one as well?
speaker-1: Well, you know, work is a big part of my life. You know, this is a reality show. So, you know, you do see me you know, hosting an amazing event in series two. You know, I d I talk about work all of the time. Not because I'm trying to be pushy or push my brand or my work on on anyone, but you know, I I I'm either sort of you know, I I work very, very hard. So my I'm very passionate about my my brand and what I'm what I'm building. So, you know, this this is ⁓ the stage of life that I'm in. ⁓ I have ⁓ this opportunity to to be on the show and to you know for launched businesses. So it's definitely came through on season one. It's coming through again on season two. In fact I have a ⁓ a brand event on season two that goes a little bit pear-shaped. So you're gonna you're gonna see my reaction to someone trying to upset the apple cot of you know the Amanda Amanda Carrot.
speaker-0: Yeah.
speaker-1: skincare brunch, you know. So ⁓ it's always going to come through because it's a big part of what you do. So that's what it is.
speaker-0: And Nessie, how about you? Because you have this incredible background with your bacon and that stunning Cotswolds cottage. How do you sort of balance all your creative passions with that high society lifestyle that we all get invited into on the show? Well I
speaker-2: I I could showcase it more because it is so fascinating when you see how cakes are made behind the scenes and the clients they go to as well and all the stress behind it. feel like there's a whole dynamic that goes on behind the scenes.
speaker-1: On I don't know if I would love to go.
speaker-2: ⁓ But you do see me dabble in bit of my cake making and bringing it on the show this year. And I do think the two go hand in hand because they are luxury cakes for luxury events. And this is the sort of thing that we attend and we love to coordinate and be part of. So I think the two go really well hand in hand.
speaker-0: Definitely. And I'm intrigued whether you both ever feel any pressure just maintaining friendships in such a high profile dramatic environment. It must Yeah, and when you're on the show as well, I guess it must be difficult to balance all the emotions that you're all feeling at times.
speaker-1: Friendships outside of the show. I think it is it is difficult and it's really important to me and we was just discussing this over lunch. It's really important to me that you're you know, that that that I have close support and friendship on when we're filming and also when we're not filming, you know, it's it's it's you know, I'm I I want to have ⁓ rounded friendships that are really trusted and I can rely on i it during the show, when we're filming and outside of the show for for me that's what I want to achieve.
speaker-2: Yeah, absolutely. And I think it's really
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important that you stick by each other in the show as well, because we're really the only people that know what we're going through. No one on the outside can really relate to what's happening. It's fast paced and the dynamic shifts are constant. And you know, have to lean on each other and you have to be there for each other. And I think that's really important.
speaker-1: Really. A girl band, you know, we we we do deeply care about each other, even when we're not getting along. We have bonded and we we're very, very bonded. Some of them are traumatic bonds. And ⁓ but you know, at the end of the day, if we if we s if we see someone upset or struggling on the show or outside of the show, one or more of the girls is going to pick up the phone and and see, you know, see how they are and and and try and help ⁓ and resolve that. You know, we're not gonna sit and let someone feel bad no for any length of time. ⁓ without stepping in. You know, we deeply care about each other and their our families, you know, so for sure.
speaker-0: I know that's lovely to hear. And I know Nessie, your journey from bake-off professional to real housewives spotlight was is really fascinating. How do you think that platform changed your perspective on your own identity and ambitions when you think about your experience with the two
speaker-1: I mean expect to be a real house. I did not expect to be a real household academia and then the baking and everything else, and now you're a household. You're like, wow. Stop being
speaker-2: ⁓ No, but I love being a housewife in general. love baking for my family and cooking for my family. And I didn't realize it would be a real housewife of London one day. But the two are so different, but so fascinating the experiences. I do give myself up to it. You relinquish your control into these situations and you trust the process and you enjoy the ride. And that's all we can hope for. Just have fun doing whatever you do.
speaker-1: wife on the show. But I think we've only got one person who actually does cook then it's definitely you. The rest of us are we eating out or
speaker-2: i love your recipes though! well you've got some good For me, you make the drinks.
speaker-0: Brilliant. And Amanda, there was a lot of mystery and a bit of intrigue around your ⁓ story in series one. Do you feel like that was understood by viewers and can you share what we can expect from this next series with some of those personal moments with you?
speaker-1: Yeah, I d I definitely feel one ⁓ my major storyline or one of the major storylines I think for me is again this just me opening up and being vulnerable and and not being afraid to to talk about how hurt I've been in in my life and you know I you haven't always been treated in the way that I probably should have been treated and I probably haven't responded in the way sometimes in the right way that I should have responded. So I think there's a lot with me coming from places where I've I've just been very, very hurt for over a very, very long time and been disappointed and and hurt and disappointed and you know, just just me and me battling on and be constantly picking myself up and dusting myself up off and and and moving forward. And, you know, that's how my life has been, you know, and and now I can sort of top stop and and look at that more. It definitely in season two. So hopefully the girls and and and the viewers will get to know why I am the way that I am, which can just be, you know, obviously we we see in series one being probably too defensive and too guarded and And because I'm feeling more comfortable in myself, you're seeing a side of me that's letting go a bit more. So that's definitely coming through in series two. And I'm talking about some really hard issues really of of, you know, get you know, just hurt and disappointment and embarrassment and you know you know, sometimes set sense of shame and failure around things that haven't gone gone well. ⁓ I'm very happy to talk about that. I don't know.
speaker-2: in.
speaker-1: You love everything. I don't think there's anything that's really off the table for me now. And ⁓ I think the more that I open up, the more the girls respond and ⁓ and I love that. Really
speaker-2: Well done, because that's really hard to do as well.
speaker-0: No, thank you for sharing that because like you said, you it was a new experience for you last time as well and doing anything on camera is daunting anyway, and to talk about some of the experiences you've had is such a difficult thing to do anyway.
speaker-1: It is difficult, but it's definitely ⁓ that's how we we move forward. That's how we feel. That's how we, you know, we we're forgiven. We ask for forgiveness, we forgive. You know, that's a big part of it. There's just so much that that we can do to feel better. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.
speaker-0: And just to round off, is there a moment that you're most excited for fans to see in this second series?
speaker-2: I just want them to see more of the laughter and relationships. The trip. And I think it's really funny. And there are some amazing events. You host incredible events and they're so much fun. And I just, I'm so excited to watch it myself.
speaker-1: Crippies. Yeah, it's all just phenomenal. You know, an incredible trip. great as you say, great events, lunches and dinners and fashion and what's going on in London. I mean it's just packed pack packed. It couldn't be more packed, ⁓ full of just incredible you know, experiences and ⁓ fun ⁓ fun events.
speaker-2: Absolutely.
speaker-0: Thank you so much to you both for your time as well. It's been a pleasure to chat to you both and good luck with the launch of the new series next week.
speaker-2: Thank you.
speaker-1: I know. It's upon us now. I know, it's been a long time coming back. We actually wrapped at the end of April. Yeah. So it's been a Yeah, so we're ready.
speaker-0: Thanks so much for listening to this episode of Stage and Screen. Don't forget the Real Housewives of London Series 2 is available to stream exclusively on Hey You Now. Stay tuned for more great conversations coming up right here on Stage and Scream with Harvey Morton. Make sure you're following the show so you don't miss the next one. I'll see you soon.