Alex Mytton ‘I’ve been guilty of misbehaving in the past...’
Uber-glamorous reality TV show Made In Chelsea follows the lives, loves and many parties of the wealthy heirs and heiresses of the Chelsea set. Back for its 17th series, we have seven brand-new cast members ruffling some feathers! But there are plenty of ‘originals’ returning, including fan favourite Alex Mytton, who initially got pegged as a ladies’ man before turning his reputation as a ‘player’ around. Here, Alex, 27, tells best why he’s happy dating model Georgina Howard, how
MIC helped him grow up, and how – shock, horror – he’s thinking about settling down… Do you find it easier filming
Made In Chelsea after being in it for so long? I do. Believe it or not, this will be my 14th season with the show! In a way, it does get easier – but it depends what you have going on in your life at the time. For me, there was a peak a few years ago when it all felt really difficult to do, because I had issues with relationships which were being played out on screen.
You have a great bromance going on with your mate, Jamie [Laing]!
Ha ha, don’t we?! We knew each other vaguely before we met on the show, and then became close when we all went to Barcelona. We’ve sort of teamed up now and become the power couple. I’ve become pretty good at calling Jamie out when I don’t think he’s quite telling the truth.
Were you surprised by the news that Sam Thompson had left the show?
Not really. It’s always sad when someone you get on with leaves, but Sam had a lot going on in his life. I think it all got a bit stressful for him, and he needed some time away from the show – MIC can be a bit full-on. But I have a feeling he’ll be back soon.
Sam has said that being on Made In Chelsea can ‘take your soul away’ – do you ever feel the same?
If you let it take your soul, it will. But it’s all about what you are prepared to let happen to you on the show – what you’re willing to do. A lot of the time, there is a tendency to blame the show for bad things you have done yourself. I have been guilty of misbehaving in the past. I’m not going to lie, it can be quite intense, and some people can’t cope with having a magnifying glass on their personal life – but, in the end, it’s a TV show.
Are you friends with any of the new MIC cast members?
They all seem really sweet, actually, and I’ve got to know them a bit as we started filming together. They all come in with this really punchy attitude, all guns blazing – so it’s shaping up to be a quite a fun series. But fortunately, so far, I haven’t managed to get too involved with anyone myself!
Made In Chelsea’s been going since 2011. What’s the secret of its success?
There is a really good mix in there. It reveals the upsides and the lows of being in a relationship. You have to show both sides, the happiness and the sadness, and I also think viewers like to see the emotional side. It keeps it real.
Alex, you’ve had a few relationships on MIC – how hard is that to maintain when it’s being played out in front of the cameras?
It definitely puts a relationship under real scrutiny and, as I found out, you can’t really hide anything, which I once, naively, thought was possible! In a way, it has made me a better person. I’ve learned that you have to be nice to people. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me growing up. But MIC definitely helped!
Do you have regrets over how you’ve handled past
relationships on-screen?
I don’t do regrets, I don’t think it’s healthy – but I do feel bad for certain things I’ve done in the past. I think you just have to learn from the mistakes and not repeat them. It’s been a baptism of fire, I’ve grown up on the show and I’ve learned there are no secrets – you have to be honest with everyone.
How hard is it to do intimate love scenes in front of the cameras?
The hardest [moment] was when I had to kiss Lucy Watson for the first time. Because we didn’t know each other that well, I really struggled. I was very wooden, so I’d have to have a few drinks before we started filming.
How do you handle the celebrity bit – do people come up and talk to you?
Yes, they do. Believe it or not, I was a bit of an introvert before I did MIC. I was so shy, so I found it difficult when people stopped me in the street and gave their opinion of me. I’m much more at ease with it now.
Are you still dating model Georgina [Howard]?
I am, yes – it’s going really well and I’m happy. I think we’re a really good fit together.
Do you see yourself getting married and settling down?
I think I do. I’m not sure when but, depending on the state of the world, I’d love to have kids!
l Made In Chelsea continues on Mondays, 9pm on E4.
‘I’ve grown up on the show and I’ve learned there are no secrets – you have to be honest with everyone’