Jamie Laing: still proving himself years after Made In Chelsea fame

Jamie Laing says he still has to prove himself years after his breakthrough as a posh playboy on Made in Chelsea. The 36-year-old broadcaster spoke on the Sliding Doors podcast about how reality TV roots are still viewed with skepticism and how he landed his first entertainment opportunity without ever auditioning. Laing, who appeared on Made in Chelsea from 2011 to 2021, has since built a broader media profile that includes competing on Strictly Come Dancing, hosting a BBC Radio 1 show and launching a podcast with his wife, Sophie Habboo. He noted that his entry into the world of entertainment felt almost accidental—a ticket he says he was given because he was the right age, in the right place, at the right time, rather than through a hard-won audition or a traditional career path.

On the MIC run, Laing’s love life often took center stage, but his post‑reality-TV career has spanned mainstream TV, radio and digital media, gradually reshaping public perception of his work. He reflected that many people still see him primarily as a reality star who didn’t “work for it,” a label he acknowledged as partly accurate but incomplete when considering the breadth of his subsequent projects. The conversation underscored a broader tension in Britain’s entertainment ecosystem: that reality TV can open doors while also casting a lasting, sometimes reductive lens on performers who want to be judged by their craft rather than their origin.

Away from the camera, Laing’s life has its own milestones. He and Habboo are preparing to welcome their first child, a development that has been touched on publicly as part of their joint media presence. Sophie Habboo recently revealed on their NearlyParents podcast that her father had comments about her pregnancy that she described as upsetting, saying she looked enormous and that her bump was bigger than her sister’s at a similar stage. The remarks, shared in the context of a family dynamic, were enough to cast a pall over a day they were hoping to celebrate, illustrating how public and private moments intertwine for reality-TV figures whose families are part of the narrative. The couple also noted that Habboo’s sister Georgia had welcomed a baby girl named Bella with her husband Tom Berry in November, a detail that added to the family’s ongoing life story as they prepare for their own arrival.

Laing has been candid about the pressures that come with balancing a high-profile life and personal relationships. In addition to his public-facing work, he has shared anecdotes about family life on air, including Sophie’s pregnancy journey, sometimes juxtaposed with lighthearted banter about their routines and the joys—and anxieties—of impending parenthood. The evolving dynamic between Laing’s private life and his public persona continues to attract attention from fans and reviewers who have followed his transition from MIC regular to established media figure. He has leveraged his platform to discuss the realities of living in the spotlight, including the moments of vulnerability that accompany major life events like welcoming a child.

Recent appearances show Laing embracing new chapters while maintaining a connection to his reality-TV roots. He remains visible across screens and airwaves, with programming on BBC Radio 1 and appearances on television that highlight his adaptability and the breadth of his appeal. The couple’s ongoing preparation for parenthood, combined with Laing’s reflections on his career trajectory, offers a portrait of a performer who has sought to redefine what success looks like beyond the initial burst of fame. As they navigate pregnancy, media commitments, and the responsibilities of parenthood, Laing and Habboo illustrate how contemporary reality-TV personalities manage multiple streams of attention while pursuing personal and professional growth.