‘Dramatic… Traumatic!’ The Real Housewives of London Spill The Tea on Season One

London has finally got its Real Housewives moment – and from the sounds of it, the debut season is set to be as dramatic, luxurious and meme-worthy as fans could hope for.

STELLAR caught up with the six women – Juliet Angus, Panthea Parker, Nessie Welschinger, Karen Loderick-Peace, Amanda Cronin and Juliet Mayhew – on Zoom to talk filming, friendships, and why this series is unlike any other in the franchise.

One word to describe season one? 

Panthea: Rollercoaster!

Juliet Angus: Dramatic…traumatic! 

Amanda: Luxurious.

Karen: Earthquake!

Juliet, you were a cast member on Bravo’s Ladies of London back in 2014. How was stepping into the Housewives world for the first time?

Juliet Angus: You have to be honest and be truthful. If you’re not authentic, you get lost. Know who your friends are, have fun with it – but don’t take it too personally.

Panthea, you make quite the entrance in episode one. Were you hesitant to be the one to kick off the drama?

Panthea: Hesitant? No. You don’t know me! If you poke me, it’s gonna come out. I’m all or nothing, I’m Marmite. I’m realer than real. I’m too real for reality.

Nessie, you’ve baked for Queen Elizabeth II with your business Chelsea Cake Company. So which is harder – baking for royalty or facing the other Housewives?

Nessie: Baking for royalty was scary because you don’t want to get it wrong. Here, you can’t really get it wrong – it’s just life. Honestly, being with these girls has been easier, and we’ve built really strong bonds.

Panthea: She’s like the peacemaker. Everybody loves Nessie!

Karen, you were on Real Housewives of Jersey for its second season. How was London different?

Karen: It’s totally different. It’s new people, new personalities, new situations. You spend so much time together that you really do get to know each other – but the energy here is very different.

Amanda, in the trailer we see you sit down with your friend Dorinda Medley, who viewers will know from The Real Housewives of New York City. Did she give you any advice?

Amanda: Dorinda was in town for just a day or two, so we met for lunch at the Four Seasons. At the end, she said to me, “Make allies. You don’t have to take on the world or go through tough times on your own.” I already had allies on the show, and I leaned into that advice. It was very good advice – get support from the other women 

Who stirs the most drama this season?

Karen: You’ll have to watch and see!

Amanda: The drama is real. And we respond… like women do!

Is there any worry about showing such a glamorous lifestyle during a cost of living crisis?

Amanda: We’re very aware of what’s going on. We have social consciences and we do a lot of philanthropic work. But the show is about escapism – it’s uplifting, it’s positive.

Panthea: We know we’re in the one percent and we’re blessed. But it can be inspirational – you can work towards your dream. My biggest job has been being a mother and a housewife. Something’s got to give. You can’t have it all.

What makes this Housewives series stand out? 

Juliet Angus: London’s such a melting pot. In other cities, everyone’s from that city and has been there forever. We’ve got people from Chicago, Iran, Egypt, Singapore, Jamaica, Ireland, England, Australia. That’s London 

Nessie: I’ve got goose pimples right now.

It wouldn’t be Real Housewives without the husbands – will we be seeing much of them in the series?

Panthea: They’re all the yin to our yang. Calm, collected, lovely men. My husband didn’t want to be in it, but somehow he ended up in the trailer.

Juliet Angus: They’re all cut from the same cloth. And you will see them together at some point in the series.

Panthea: I thought I was so special that I had Ed and then I met all their husbands and like… they’re the same!

How are things between you all now that filming’s wrapped?

Amanda: We are a sisterhood. We care for each other.

Karen: You can’t be thin-skinned. I don’t live my life in the rear-view mirror. What’s said is said – you move forward.

Juliet Mayhew: We know who we are, who loves us, and that’s what matters.

Juliet Mayhew, in episode one Panthea really comes for you – was that a shock?

Juliet Mayhew: Completely. I was bamboozled. Shocked. Deer in headlights. 

Finally, what can viewers expect when the first episode drops? 

Amanda: One-liners, memes, lots of laughs. 

Juliet Angus: The most special Housewives yet!

The Real Housewives Of London starts on Monday 18th August exclusively on Hayu