Sophie Habboo Steers Clear of Tabloid Reviews as Jamie Reads Them
Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing have built a business from openness. They began on Made in Chelsea and moved into podcasting and television.
Television debut and format
Their three-part series, Raising Chelsea, launched this week on Disney+. The programme follows scans, birth and early parenting moments.
Filming for Disney+ differed from Made in Chelsea. That show used constructed sets and many cameras. The new production employed a small crew for a more intimate feel.
Podcast origins and evolution
The couple created NearlyWeds, which evolved into NearlyParents. After the birth of their son Ziggy last December, they plan to relaunch as NewlyParents.
Listeners have grown alongside them, often through marriage, house projects and pregnancy. The hosts aim to keep sharing that journey.
Pregnancy, honesty and authenticity
Habboo says pregnancy brought anxiety and unexpected vulnerability. She found being filmed during intense moments challenging.
The series shows unguarded scenes, including late-night feeds and emotional exchanges. Habboo admits some footage was hard to watch.
Parenting realities
Since Ziggy’s arrival, Habboo reports feeling calmer and less judgemental. She describes parenthood as fulfilling and also exhausting.
Sleep regression surprised her. Ziggy moved from waking once a night to waking much more often.
JamPot and podcast production
The couple run JamPot, their podcast production company. Five years ago Habboo knew little about podcasting.
They now host a top-rated show and produce several high-profile podcasts. These include Paloma Faith’s Mad, Sad and Bad and Katherine Ryan’s Write Me Dirty.
They also produce the new NearlyWeds with Love Island’s Molly Smith and Tom Clare. Habboo co-hosts Wednesdays with her friend Melissa Tattam.
Innovation and reach
JamPot was among the first to add visuals to podcasts. That approach is now common across the industry.
Public reaction and boundaries
Sophie Habboo Steers Clear of Tabloid Reviews as Jamie Reads Them. She avoids online comment sections and prefers not to absorb harsh reviews.
Habboo says she regrets some off-the-cuff remarks. She expected editing to remove more than it did.
Laing reads headlines and comments aloud, but Habboo tries not to engage. She is less thick-skinned than her husband.
Looking ahead
The couple hope NewlyParents will reflect their real lives while protecting their child. They want to stay true to themselves on screen.
Habboo attended the 79th BAFTAs in February. Raising Chelsea is available now on Disney+.
