Uh-oh – Tommy Fury slid into Lauren Goodger’s DMS
The reality queen talks love, lips and Lee Ryan with Oliver Grady
It’s the hottest day of the year when heat spends the afternoon with Lauren Goodger for our exclusive photo shoot and interview, and the poor girl is struggling. But it’s not the soaring temperatures that are getting to her – she’s nursing the hangover from hell.
Currently shooting the new series of Celebs Go Dating – which hits our screens this week to fill that gaping Love Island-shaped hole in our lives – she had a few too many sherbets while filming last night and feels so delicate, she immediately orders a tuna melt with chips and a full-fat Coke. “Can I have more foundation, babe?” she asks her make-up artist as she gets to work transforming her for our speed dating-inspired shoot.
“I’m so dehydrated, my skin is literally drinking it in, so really slap it on.” It’s heartening to see that, almost ten years after first being catapulted to reality TV fame on TOWIE, Lauren remains so relatable. At 32, she doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out – sometimes she drinks too much on a school night, kisses the wrong boys or moans about needing to get back to the gym while eating fries. Basically, she’s just like the rest of us, but with more eyes on her.
Rarely a day goes by without her hitting the headlines, from her weight and all the surgery she’s supposedly had, to her tumultuous love life. Even her relationship with her ex, Mark Wright, continues to generate drama, eight years after they split. Just two months ago, they reportedly had to be kept apart at ITV HQ when they both
appeared on different shows on the same morning.
Of course, heat wants to talk to her about all those things, and more, so we sit her down for a good old catch-up. Well, once her hangover has eased a little… So, why have you signed up for Celebs Go Dating? I have had a little break off TV – it’s been a year-and-a-half and I just feel that, with this show, you’re not playing a character. Dating is fun, and I just feel like it’s an opportunity to show people who Lauren is. Other shows have never shown the fun, silly side of me. Are you looking for The One? I’m not taking it too seriously. I have only had three boyfriends in my life, and this is the first time I’ve been properly single and just dating. I feel like I’m 21 again! What’s your type these days? I don’t even know. I thought I had a type, but I don’t think I do any more. I always went for the Essex boy – side parting, good-looking, bit of a player. I am still attracted to that strong character, but I want the nice guy as well. I want the balance. You have had a few wrong ’uns in your time… Not a few, babe! Only Joey [Morrisson, who spent eight years in jail for various drug-related offences], but he is not a wrong ’un. When you grow up in the East End and Essex, it is the norm. Guys have been to jail. They’re not gangsters, they are just little boys who want to be. I would never date another guy that’s been in prison, though. I look back now and think, “What was I thinking?” Have you gained more confidence doing this show? Yeah, definitely. I did a photo shoot the other day and the photographer said to me that when they first shot me, it was when I was with Mark and I wouldn’t talk or say anything. I wouldn’t wear anything sexy. It was because I had a boyfriend and it was a very full-on relationship. But now I am me and I do have a voice. Do you get nervous dating? Yeah. That’s why I drink a lot. [Laughs.] I was quite bad at the first mixer. I had to ask someone out on a date and I have never done that in my life, so I got drunk. But that’s real – that’s what I would do in real life. Do you kiss on a first date? No! Well, not on camera, anyway. If I like someone and I am going out with them, then I’m wild, but not at the beginning. So, you’ve never had a one-night stand? Never. I have slept with people that I am not in a relationship with, but I have already been out for dinner with them. It’s never just a sex thing. I find one-night stands really weird. But who knows? Maybe after doing Celebs Go Dating, I’ll do that! [Laughs.] Who do you get on best with out of the cast? Nathan [Henry], Jack [Fincham], Lee [Ryan], Megan [Bartonhanson]… I really wanted to meet Megan. I liked her and thought she was really pretty when she was on Love Island. She is quite vulnerable and sweet. Is it true that Megan and Demi Sims are dating? I feel like Megan is experimenting, which is good, and if she wants to do that, go for it. I think they are mates rather than a couple. I know Demi thinks Megan is hot, but she is young and single, too. There are rumours that something has been going on with you and Lee Ryan? Oh, leave off! He isn’t my type at all. I love Lee, but no, wrong one. Are you talking about Jack? Is he your type? Yeah, he is a nice boy. I fancy him. But he is new to fame and newly single, so I feel like he needs to go out there and just enjoy being single. You don’t need to settle down at that age. Has anything happened between the two of you? Not saying. Watch the show and you’ll see… I haven’t slept with him, or anything. Has it been like therapy doing Celebs Go Dating? It is a bit of a weird therapy, because normally in the past, I meet someone and then I fall in love and want to get married! It’s good for me to remember that I can see people without falling in love.
is it true you’ve said you’d have a baby on your own if you don’t meet the right guy? I don’t want a baby on my own. I saw in a magazine recently that I wanted to have a sperm donor. What is all this shit? If I wanted to have a baby, I wouldn’t need a sperm donor. I do want to settle down, but not this summer. Maybe after Christmas… it was recently reported that tommy Fury slid into your DMS before he went on Love island… It was December time and we were chatting, literally on and off until, like, a couple of weeks before he went on the show. I didn’t know that he had a girlfriend. The only thing that put me off was that he used to message me and ask if I wanted to jump on Instagram Live with him. He didn’t have many followers at the time, so I thought maybe he wanted to boost his profile. I didn’t realise his age, either. He is too young for me. He is beautiful, though. Do you think he and Mollymae are the real deal? I do. I know everyone doesn’t, but I really like them. I’d love to do Love Island – if they did a celebrity one, I would definitely do it. Are you going to be involved in the towie ten-year reunion special? I would love to do it again. I would like to go back and be me – but they would have to bring some hot guys on it! would it not be awkward if Mark came back? He would never do it in a million years. You said you bumped into Mark and his wife Michelle Keegan not long ago and he didn’t acknowledge you. Have you run into them since? I saw them both in the gym. They don’t talk. It’s really weird. I was like, “F**king hell, we weren’t like that.” It’s like they don’t know each other. I can’t go into that, though. I’m just so glad that ain’t me. is it true you had to be kept apart at itv studios recently… I don’t want to talk about Mark. So boring. It’s annoying, because people say I always talk about him, but I really don’t give a shit. I get why people ask about it, but everyone knows me from TOWIE and we were together at the beginning of it all, but it has no relevance to my life now whatsoever. You’ve spoken candidly about your body issues and weight. How are you feeling about yourself at the moment? I want to get back in the gym. I haven’t been to the gym for months, because I’m filming. And eating! When I stop filming Celebs Go Dating, I will go back to my personal trainer. I don’t want to be in the shape I was when I did the fitness DVD, because you don’t have a life. I would rather be happier, curvier and womanly. Men prefer that, anyway. You’ve toyed with the idea of having your breast implants taken out for a while. why? Because they are so big. They’re an F-cup and I think they make my body look bigger. I don’t hate them, though, and I am worried I will have them out and then miss my big boobs. I might get a smaller implant in, or lose the weight I want to lose first and then my boobs will go smaller anyway. Do you regret anything else you’ve had done? I haven’t really had anything else done. W hat have I had done? Your lips? Leave off! Getting your lips done is not surgery. I don’t think they’re big. People meet me and say they aren’t as big as they thought. they are big, Lauren… I think they are in proportion with my face. They are full, they’re not fake. I am basically back to my natural lips as I haven’t had them done for two years. I need my Botox done again, though. if you weren’t in the public eye, what do you think you would be doing? Probably married to a footballer, not working and living an amazing, luxury lifestyle. Nah, I’m joking. I’d probably be a producer – after all these years, I know what makes really good TV! n Celebs Go Dating is on weeknights at 9pm on E4