From Public Romance to Parenthood
Since Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo first met on Made in Chelsea, their relationship has unfolded publicly, with audiences witnessing every aspect—the positive, the challenging, and the difficult.
Their evolving on-screen dynamic, initially a will-they-won't-they storyline, transitioned into the NearlyWeds podcast following their engagement, which was later renamed NewlyWeds after their marriage.
Now, they are opening up about their next life stage—pregnancy and parenthood—in a new three-part documentary series.
Raising Chelsea chronicles the couple’s journey as they attempt to conceive, experience the emotional and physical fluctuations of pregnancy, and adapt to the early days of raising their child.
For many, filming and sharing such private moments, including the birth of their child, would be unimaginable. However, for Laing and Habboo, it felt like a natural extension of the connection they have established with their audience.
"People are used to following our journey, so documenting this and having an audience come with us felt really natural and fun," Habboo says.
Authenticity in Filming
Their dedication to genuine reality television influenced the filming style of Raising Chelsea. Instead of a conventional multi-camera setup, the series was shot with a single camera in a vlog style. Habboo explains,
"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."
She adds that she quickly "forgot the cameras were there," which allowed arguments and interactions to occur naturally, though she would later reflect on them.
Laing, who also founded the sweets brand Candy Kittens, emphasizes that this approach was deliberate to avoid a forced atmosphere.
"If there were three cameras and a set-up, it feels forced. We wanted to capture everything and I wanted to make sure it was really real so you see everything," he states.
"Even when things happened that were intense we kept it in because we made a deal."
He told the BBC that withholding any part of their experience would undermine the purpose of the documentary.
"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.
"Everyone has arguments, bad moments, good moments, feels up or down and capturing that is real life."
The documentary premiered less than four months after the birth of their son, Ziggy.
'I Never Get My Way'
Despite their openness, the couple occasionally debated boundaries regarding what should be shared publicly. Habboo tends to be more protective of their privacy, while Laing is more comfortable revealing personal moments on screen.
"There are moments where it's a lot," Habboo admits. "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."
When they launched their podcast in 2021, Habboo wanted to "put my best foot forward" and preferred some content to be edited out.
"I didn't want people to hear the nitty-gritties of our relationship."
However, she was rarely excluded from the final edits, as Laing ensured the episodes remained comprehensive, which she found initially daunting.
"Jamie made sure every episode kept everything in, which was horrifying."
Habboo adapted quickly, and listener feedback was positive, with many appreciating the authenticity and feeling connected.
"The reaction from listeners was that they loved it and felt connected, like they weren't alone."
She explains that this experience influenced their decision to maintain authenticity in the documentary.
"I'm happy we did it that way because I love reality TV, I'm the biggest fan, but I feel like today everything is so produced and constructed which is a shame for the viewer.
"There's not much authentic TV out there, so we wanted to create something real."
'People Are So Mean'
The extensive exposure comes with challenges, including public scrutiny and criticism. Laing acknowledges the need for resilience.
"You have to have thick skin if you're going to do this," he says, noting that he has developed this over time, while Habboo is still building her tolerance.
He recalls a particularly harsh comment that stuck with them.
"Sophie thought she'd read the Daily Mail one day and the first comment was: 'Why does she look like an Afghan hound?'"
Habboo confirms the prevalence of such remarks.
"There are so many comments like that," she 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 candid portrayal includes both joyful and difficult moments. Laing describes himself as "more anxious," while Habboo admits she is "worse on no sleep."
The couple engages in playful debates about parenting duties, such as who changes more nappies.
"I do," Laing insists, met with visible disbelief from Habboo.
They also differ in their parenting styles, with Laing calling Habboo the stricter parent, a claim that surprises her.
"She has routine," he says. "I'd let him eat chocolate."
Despite the teasing, they emphasize their strong partnership and growth together.
"I thought we were strong," Laing says. "But we've become even stronger."
"So there's no divorce yet, we're saving that for season two."
Raising Chelsea is currently available to stream on Disney+.
