The Real Housewives have finally touched down in London — and the premiere served camp, excess, and shade in a way only this franchise knows how.
Watch The Real Housewives of London Trailer
The Real Housewives of London Launches on Hayu
Last Wednesday, I had the chance to attend The Real Housewives of London premiere here in Toronto, thanks to a partnership with Hayu that gives me — and IN Magazine — access to screeners across the reality TV universe. This piece may feel a little out of the ordinary, but if the Housewives franchise has proven anything, it’s that the shows are undeniably queer-coded. Their fandom of gays and girls has always been the heartbeat of the culture, and that connection is impossible to ignore.
The Premiere Event at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York
My husband dropped me off at the Fairmont Royal York, where the hotel lobby buzzed with its usual midweek crowd. But stepping toward the Library Bar, the atmosphere shifted — the entrance was flanked by guards in full red tunics and bearskin hats, standing at attention. At their feet, a giant floor decal branded with The Real Housewives of London logo set the stage for the night, signaling that Hayu had officially taken over Toronto for the evening.
The party unfolded in the Imperial Room beside the Library Bar. Blue tablecloths, white china, and tiered trays of sweets and sandwiches set a proper London tea mood. Mini cupcakes carried Real Housewives of London flags, teapots sat at every place, and lush red rose centerpieces anchored the tables. Hayu sprinkled cheeky signage around the room (“Don’t just spill the tea, post it”). A photo corner featured a bright red London telephone box framed by velvet drapes and roses. There was an open bar, but it was a work night, so I stuck to two glasses of champagne, a full teapot, and water.
Meet the Real Housewives of London Cast in Episode 1
By now, I’ve probably set the scene, but let’s be honest — the real reason everyone’s here is to know what actually happened in that first episode. So let’s get down to it.
Amanda Cronin Sets the Stage
The premiere opens with Amanda Caroline Cronin setting the stage: she’s planning an International Women’s Day party, the kind of glittering, high-society event only she could host. Amanda is old-money rich, a cosmetics entrepreneur, and very much the kind of woman who doesn’t just walk into a room, she owns it. She’s already been dubbed “Britain’s most extravagant woman” in tabloids, and on The Real Housewives of London, that reputation doesn’t take long to surface. From her personal glam squad (seven assistants at her beck and call, according to castmates) to her sharp tongue — she’s the one caught in promos yelling, “Go back to Paddington!” at a co-star — Amanda positions herself as the grande dame. More than just an opener, she’s the centerpiece of the premiere, the figure that brings the rest of the Housewives orbiting into the same glittery, chaotic universe.
Juliet Mayhew vs. Panthea Parker: Tension Brews Early
Next comes Juliet Mayhew, a former pageant queen turned party planner, who slips into the mix with a polished, social ease. She’s poised and glamorous, clearly comfortable in London’s high society, but her introduction doesn’t come without a ripple. The premiere quietly signals that something isn’t quite right between Juliet and Panthea, her supposed friend, and while the reasons are still under wraps at this stage, it’s enough to suggest the season’s first feud may be closer than it looks.
Panthea Parker, for her part, wastes no time making herself known. Outspoken and sharp-edged, she enters the group with a confidence that borders on confrontational, and it’s Panthea who pushes the first real tension of the episode. She reminds me of a classy combination of Ampika from Real Housewives of Cheshire mixed with a bit of Kelly Dodd energy — but without any of the negative tendencies the latter exhibits. Her unease with Juliet simmers in these early scenes — not yet exploding, but bubbling in a way that promises payoff.
Nessie the Royal Baker and Karen the Comic Relief
Balancing out that energy is Nessie Welschinger, who brings in a softer storyline. A self-described traditional wife, she’s also a celebrated baker with a client list that includes royals and celebrities. In the premiere, she’s shown designing a towering cake for Amanda’s International Women’s Day party, a storyline that plays both sweet and symbolic. Nessie positions herself as the gentle counterpoint to the drama building elsewhere, but her status as a baker to the royals gives her introduction a star power of its own. She describes Amanda as her girl crush, and you can tell she will be a future soldier for the queen bee.
We also meet Karen Loderick-Peace, who instantly stands out as comic relief. She’s introduced at home with her daughter, overseeing renovations on her sprawling property, which already feels like a setup for chaos down the line. Karen has roots in the wider Housewives world, with connections to other franchises, and she slips into this one with an easy charm. By the time she steps into Amanda’s event, she has the crowd howling, her one-liners landing perfectly. She cuts through the tension with humor, the kind of presence that keeps the show buoyant even as the drama starts to brew.
The First Real Drama: “Teethgate” Explained
That storm arrives through the simmering conflict between Panthea and Juliet Mayhew. The backstory is simple: Panthea introduced Juliet to her dentist friend, and later brought her own son there expecting braces. Instead, he left the chair with seven fillings. Panthea was furious and went after the dentist both in person and online, but what cut deepest was Juliet’s reaction. Rather than defending her, Juliet refused to take her side — even suggesting Panthea was being cruel and trying to ruin the dentist’s reputation. For Panthea, that silence and criticism from someone she considered a friend felt like a betrayal.
The tension carries into Amanda’s International Women’s Day party, where Panthea arrives last, greeting the women as she makes her entrance. When she gets to Juliet, Juliet casually asks if they’re “good” — a simple remark that instantly lights the fuse. Panthea spirals, snapping back, “Are you serious?” From there the night unravels, with Panthea accusing Juliet of being a bad friend, not loyal, and even questioning her authenticity by saying she borrows dresses instead of owning them. Juliet pushes back, insisting it was nothing personal and that she simply supports the underdogs, but the argument only intensifies.
Eventually, the other Housewives step away from the feud, leaving Panthea and Juliet to go at it alone. The night ends with Panthea choosing to leave — not because of some dramatic walkout staged for effect, but simply because she wasn’t having a good time anymore. It’s Housewives 101: a glamorous event that collapses into accusations, fractured friendships, and one dramatic exit.
Juliet Angus Set to Make a Fiery Entrance
Juliet Angus doesn’t appear in the premiere, but her presence looms large in the trailer. Longtime reality fans will recognize her from Ladies of London, where she carved out a reputation as a sharp-witted fashion stylist with a flair for drama. In The Real Housewives of London, she’s positioned to return like a fireball — immediately clashing with Amanda and landing at the center of the conflict. The promos even tease Juliet on the receiving end of Amanda’s now-infamous “Go back to Paddington!” line, a preview that makes clear her arrival will inject the cast with high-octane energy. She’s not just another Housewife entering the mix — Juliet looks set to upend it.
The Real Housewives of London on Hayu: A Promising Start
The premiere makes one thing clear — Hayu is giving The Real Housewives of London the same DNA that makes the franchise thrive worldwide. Unlike other UK installments, like Cheshire or Jersey, which have leaned into a different style, this series feels firmly in line with what fans expect from a Housewives debut. With cameos from Dorinda Medley and Caroline Stanbury teased ahead, London is being positioned as a standout Hayu original. And if the mix of royal cakes, million-pound renovations, and “Teethgate” drama is anything to go by, it’s going to be a wild ride.
Watch The Real Housewives of London on Hayu
I’d like to thank Hayu for inviting both myself and IN Magazine to the premiere. You can catch the debut episode today, August 18th, streaming exclusively on Hayu. The premiere delivered everything you’d want from a Housewives kickoff — lavish settings, simmering friendships, and a blow-up that leaves you wanting more. If this first episode is any indication, London is ready to claim its crown in the world of reality TV. Watch the trailer below, and get ready: the drama is only just beginning.
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