Our new reality show leaves nothing out
Our New Reality Show Leaves Nothing Out
Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo’s journey began on the reality series *Made in Chelsea*, where their relationship has been under constant public scrutiny. From the start, audiences have followed their every move—both the positive and the challenging. As their bond deepened, their story transitioned from the screen to the podcast, evolving into *NearlyWeds* after their engagement, and later rebranded as *NewlyWeds* following their marriage. Now, the couple is taking their narrative to a new level with a three-part documentary titled *Raising Chelsea*, which captures their experiences as they embrace parenthood.
The Intimate Journey
*Raising Chelsea* follows Laing and Habboo as they navigate the process of trying for a child, the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, and the adjustments of early parenthood. While many would hesitate to broadcast such private moments—including the birth of their son, Ziggy—this pair has embraced transparency. “People are used to following our journey, so documenting this felt natural and fun,” Habboo shares.
“We only had one camera so it was very vlog style, and there are lots of times I didn’t know we were even filming,” Habboo explains. “I quickly forgot the cameras were there, which meant arguments unfolded as they normally would, only for me to worry about it afterwards.”
Laing, who also runs the sweets brand Candy Kittens, emphasizes that the single-camera setup was deliberate. “If there were three cameras and a set-up, it feels forced,” he says. “We wanted to capture everything and ensure it was really real so you see everything.” He adds that even intense moments were included because “holding anything back defeats the point.”
Authenticity Over Production
For Laing, authenticity is non-negotiable. “There is nothing off limits—I don’t like the idea of a filtered version of ourselves, it’s not true, authentic or real,” he reflects. Habboo, however, admits there were moments of hesitation. “There are times where it’s a lot,” she says. “You can even hear me in the show saying ‘I’m not doing this’ at certain points.”
“If I had my way there would be things off limits, but I never get my way,” Habboo adds. “When we started the podcast in 2021, I wanted to put my best foot forward, so I was keen to edit out some things. I didn’t want people to hear the nitty-gritties of our relationship.”
Despite her initial reservations, Habboo grew accustomed to the raw honesty of the format. “Jamie made sure every episode kept everything in, which was horrifying,” she recalls. Yet the response from listeners proved rewarding. “They loved it and felt connected, like they weren’t alone,” she says. “So going into this, I thought we had to keep that authenticity.”
Cost of Openness
Laing acknowledges the downside of such exposure. “You have to have thick skin if you’re going to do this,” he says. While he has learned to handle the criticism over time, Habboo notes that “I’m still developing it.” Laing chuckles as he recounts a particularly harsh comment: “Sophie thought she’d read the *Daily Mail* one day and the first comment was: ‘Why does she look like an Afghan hound?’”
“There are so many comments like that,” Habboo says. “People asking what’s wrong with my eyebrows. They’re evil, they’re so mean. I don’t know what they’re going to say when they see me pregnant.”
The documentary’s appeal lies in its balance of joy and discomfort. Laing describes himself as “more anxious” during the process, while Habboo admits she is “worse on no sleep.” Their willingness to showcase both the highs and lows of parenthood reflects a commitment to unfiltered storytelling.
With *Raising Chelsea* airing less than four months after Ziggy’s birth, the couple’s approach has set a new standard for reality TV. They aim to create something genuine in a world often dominated by polished production.
