As one of Made In Chelsea‘s original stars, Binky Felstead grew up in the spotlight.
Just 20-years-old when she joined the hit E4 show, viewers watched on as she navigated rocky romances and friendship fallouts before she left the programme to focus on motherhood.
Now 34 years of age and a joyfully married mother-of-three, Binky is ‘happier than ever’ as she prepares to launch her new show, Beyond Chelsea – which will see her reunite with former MIC co-stars Rosie Fortescue and Lucy Watson.
It’s clear how happy she is when she invites me into her home, a cosy family abode in South West London where she lives with husband Max Darnton, daughter India, seven, and their sons, three-year-old Wolfie and Wilder, 18 months.
‘I feel like it’s a completely different lifetime ago’, she says of her time on Made In Chelsea. ‘I mean, I had India at 26 and left the show when I was pregnant. I had to grow up really quickly.’
As Binky Felstead prepares to open up like never before on Beyond Chelsea, she has spoken out about her Made In Chelsea past and what fans can expect from her new show
Binky invited MailOnline into her South West London home where she lives with husband Max Darnton, daughter India , seven, and their sons, three-year-old Wolfie and Wilder, 18 months
Binky was one of the original Made In Chelsea cast in 2011 (L-R) Amber Atherton, Millie Mackintosh, Binky, Rosie Fortescue, Caggie Dunlop, Gabriella Ellis and Cheska Hull
Explaining her decision to return to TV, she says: ‘Since I left Made in Chelsea, I’ve been asked most days, “when are we going to see the OGs back together?” So I pitched the idea to Channel 4 last October.
‘It’s basically the next stage of our lives after having been in our early 20s on reality TV. Some of us have got married, had kids, we’ve all got our own businesses and we’re all in quite different stages of our life.
‘I think for those diehard Made in Chelsea fans, it’ll be quite interesting to see how life is after being on reality TV or in the public eye – how we shoot campaigns, business meetings, work with brands.
‘It’s very raw and more organically filmed. We’ve got people following us around in our houses whereas it wasn’t filmed like that before.
‘I wouldn’t be able to film how Made In Chelsea is filmed anymore because I’ve got three kids – I couldn’t go on location for hours.’
‘Beyond Chelsea is supposed to be something quite fresh and new. I feel like this could be something way bigger than just a Made in Chelsea spin off.’
Reflecting on her original reality TV stint, she admits she sometimes cringes thinking back about her outfits and antics.
‘It’s quite mad’, she laughs. ‘No one can really say they’ve had their 20s in the public eye, filmed. The mistakes the arguments or whatever is all out there for people to see.’
Despite this, she insists she has no regrets. But she does admit: ‘I definitely made some questionable choices in my early 20s, but who didn’t? Sadly, mine were just captured on camera.’
Explaining her decision to return to TV, she said: ‘Since I left Made in Chelsea, I’ve been asked, “when are we going to see the OGs back together?” So I pitched the idea to Channel 4’
She continued: ‘I think for those diehard Made in Chelsea fans, it’ll be quite interesting to see how life is after being on reality TV or in the public eye’
‘Beyond Chelsea is supposed to be something quite fresh and new,’ she shared. ‘I feel like this could be something way bigger than just a Made in Chelsea spin off’
While there’s a whole new crop of stars appearing on Made In Chelsea – none of the original cast remain – Binky admits she hasn’t been tempted to watch it.
‘I don’t have anything against it,’ she explains. ‘I just can’t really relate to them anymore because I’m now married with kids.
‘The viewers who grew up with us will be the ones who can relate to us more now if you know what I mean.’
Motherhood is obviously a vital part of Binky’s life now and along with husband Max she appears to have the perfect fairytale family.
Yet her romantic journey – well documented on MIC – was far from smooth and she admits she experienced a few ‘questionable’ relationships.
One of her central storylines was her on-again-off-again relationship with fellow cast member Alex Mytton, who was unfaithful to her numerous times.
After splitting with Alex for good she began dating Josh ‘JP’ Patterson and the couple quit the show during season 13 after revealing they were expecting a baby girl together.
Their relationship was not meant to be, however, and they split 15 months after India was born.
Yet Binky insists there’s no bad blood with her former flames, musing: ‘I’m on good terms with everyone I like to think. There’s no bad beef. No beef with me or anyone.’
Last year, JP accused producers of ‘battering and villainising’ him with his portrayal on the show, claiming that’s what led to their ‘toxic’ relationship.
He’s one of many MIC stars who have come to hit out at the show for its editing.
Yet Binky has made peace with her time on the programme.
She shares: ‘Without going into it too much, it’s kind of the name of the game [to create drama]. You’ve signed a contract and we were all young then.
‘I try not to regret things in life. I try and learn from mistakes rather than regret them.’
It’s true that without Binky’s romantic history she wouldn’t be the woman she is today.
‘Before I had India, I had no idea what I was doing and had no responsibility,’ she confesses. ‘I always say India saved me. She was like my angel.’
And while she may have been left heartbroken when she split from JP it led her to meeting her ‘amazing’ husband Max – who she wed in 2021.
‘He’s really special,’ Binky gushes. ‘I’m so grateful and lucky to have met someone like him.
‘Especially being a single mummy at the time. He embraced India like his own, and still does, and I just feel so fortunate to have met someone like him.
‘And my kids are just, obviously, they’re just my life, they’re my everything. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.’
Motherhood is obviously a vital part of Binky’s life now and along with husband Max she appears to have the perfect fairytale family
Yet her romantic journey – well documented on MIC – was far from smooth (pictured with ex Josh ‘JP’ Patterson, with whom she shares daughter India, on the show)
In an age where hundreds of people find fame overnight with stints on shows like Love Island and Big Brother, Binky’s advice for the next generation of reality stars is to ‘be yourself’
Beyond Chelsea sees Binky reunite with ex co-stars Rosie Fortescue and Lucy Watson to follow their lives now with children and new adventures. It will air on Tuesday at 10pm on E4
Binky’s tale is a rare positive in the world of reality TV – where so many have spoken out about the pitfalls and trapping of fame.
In an age where hundreds of people find fame overnight with stints on shows like Love Island and Big Brother, what’s Binky’s advice for the next generation of reality stars?
‘Be yourself,’ she assures. ‘Do good with it and be true to yourself. And if you have a social media platform with a lot of followers, I think you’ve got a responsibility to put some goodness out there.’
It’s an approach that’s certainly benefited Binky and her Beyond Chelsea co-stars.
Beyond Chelsea airs on Tuesday, October 29 at 10pm on E4.