The reality stars swapping partying for marriage and parenthood
Veterans of Made In Chelsea, Ollie Locke and Binky Felstead, are returning to the E4 series, they tell Gemma Dunn
Pass the bubbles dahling, for Ollie Locke and Binky Felstead have re-joined Made In Chelsea.
The BFFS – both of whom were included in the E4 hit’s original 2011 line-up returned to the “family” for the reality show’s 19th season. And it seems both are pretty pleased to be back on the King’s Road.
“When I wasn’t on Chelsea, I always found it difficult when I’d turn the television on and I’d hear [about] the brandnew series,” admits Locke, 32, whose last appearance came in 2018.
“I’ve got such pride for the show; it’s part of my life and without it, I wouldn’t be where I am right now,” he says. “I wanted to be back, I wanted to sit there and be like, ‘How’s it all going?’ again.”
But far from resting on his laurels until now, the Southampton-born star has made the most of his hiatus, from writing a best-selling book to founding a dating app and even trying his luck on reality series, Celebs Go Dating.
Most recently he landed a part in his first Hollywood film, Greed, alongside Steve Coogan and Isla Fisher.
“Before reality TV, I was an actor,” he explains. “I wanted to get back into acting, so I gave up Chelsea for a year to do auditions and do my bits and pieces – I wanted to break that mould that stars can’t go back into acting.
“But I’ve got to keep my mortgage payments up, as well, if I’m completely honest,” Locke says candidly.
But he needs to save for more than just his mortgage, for this chapter of Made In Chelsea asks fans to save the date for plenty of gossip, drama and wedding planning, as we follow preparations for Locke’s big day [he’s set to tie the knot with fiance, Gareth Locke].
It’s what sealed the deal for Felstead, she recalls.
“It was Ollie coming over with a few bottles of red wine, with Gareth and my mum [Janey Felstead, who will also make her comeback this series] and saying how he’s getting married this year and how [her daughter] India is in nursery, so why not?” remembers the mum-of-one, who shares her two-year-old child with ex-boyfriend and Made In Chelsea alumnus, Josh ‘JP’ Patterson.
“Obviously we’d been seeing each other off-camera, because we’re friends,” the 29-year-old Londoner is quick to add.
“But he said how nice it would be to bring a bit of lightness back, and do what we did before, but show a more grown up aspect of our lives – the next stage.”
Also, back for more romance, soirees and unearthed secrets will be Jamie Laing, Olivia Bentley, Sam Thompson, Zara
“I’ve got to keep my mortgage payments up, as well, if I’m completely honest”
Mcdermott, Alex Mytton, Sophie ‘Habbs’ Habboo, Miles Nazaire, Mark Francis Vandelli, Sophie Hermann, Harry Barron, Melissa Tattam and Fredrick Ferrier.
Favourites Louise Thompson and fiance Ryan Libbey will also feature.
As for getting used to new faces – such as returning newbies Verity Bowditch, Amelia Mist and Tristan Phipps, among others – there’s a distinct gap, Locke confesses.
“There’s two different groups. You’ve got the young lot doing the stuff that we did when we first started, and you’ve got the older lot talking about marriage, having kids and the stuff you’re talking about in your mid-thirties.
“It’s a big divide, so I haven’t done one scene with any of those people,” he reveals.
Locke had known fiance Gareth for over a decade, before progressing from friends to a relationship.
“I know lots of my friends are struggling to find someone; I was very lucky to find someone organically, someone that I’d known for 11 years before,” says Locke.
This season will mark Gareth’s reality TV debut
– a move that didn’t come without reservation.
“He’s a genius; he turns around financials for fashion companies all around the world, [so] I didn’t want someone to look at him and be like ‘Hmm, you’re the guy on reality TV’. That’s the worry I had,” Locke shares.
“But he assured me it was fine. He felt that it was a really wonderful thing for the gay community – that he’d be part of a unit that could have influence over so many people, and show what we’re doing in our lives, when other people couldn’t.”
And what with it being the same crew as it was nine years earlier, well, that was the cherry on the cake.
“Literally, I’ve been naked in front of them, I’ve had breakups in front of them, I’ve screamed,” lists Locke.
“But I’ve also had drinks with them and got to know their families and met their wives and dogs, so it’s a real family.”
● Made In Chelsea continues on Monday nights on E4.