'What life is really like on the Real Housewives of Cheshire'

Between the fights, friendships and fame, the life of a Real Housewife has proved to be gripping entertainment for many loyal viewers since the franchise first hit TV screens 20 years ago with the Real Housewives of Orange County.

Nine years later, The Real Housewives of Cheshire premiered on ITVBe - it was the first British version of the hit US Real Housewives format.

The show, which is now in its nineteenth series, follows the lives of the glamorous cast who live in this affluent part of the world.

But what is it really like to invite a camera crew into your home as a real housewife?

"I don't think you can ever know what to expect in reality TV," said mum-of-one Paige Chohan, who joined the series in 2024.

"It definitely keeps you on your toes.

"I was a very private person before this.

"If you knew me prior to the housewives, I had about 400 followers, just my friends from college, uni and family members on my Instagram.

"So this is definitely a new world to me and I've had to learn along the way.

"However, I love it and I'm a very open book."

When Paige joined the popular franchise as a full-time cast member, she was seven months pregnant with her first child with her husband Amir.

Her little girl Nora is now two years old.

This season she said viewers will see a much softer side to her as she juggles everything she has going on in her life.

"You definitely see a more emotional side to who I am," said the 33-year-old.

"I open up more about my relationship struggles. I've got a lot going on all at once.

"Nora, my daughter is now two so I'm currently in the terrible two stage and I've been renovating my house."

This is all happening alongside running her two businesses - a nail salon in Chester and a nail product company called Bexy Glow.

"I'm a very open book so when I when I signed up to do the housewives, I knew what I was getting myself into - reality is reality," she said

"You are opening the doors and the cameras to who you are, your lifestyle, everything you go through from A to Z."

Series 19 will see the return of original housewife Ampika Pickston as re-joins the cast, alongside Paige, Lauren Simon, Rachel Lugo, Sheena Lynch and Seema Malhotra.

"We have gone crazier, bigger," said Paige. "The group is fantastic. The girls are amazing."

"This season is definitely an exciting season to watch.

"It's emotional. It's raw, but it's also spicy – reality TV wouldn't be reality TV without a bit of drama."

The new series begins on Tuesday at 21:00 BST on ITV2 and ITVX.

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