The Way They Were

This week on The Way They Were, we’re catching up on all the heartbreak, hair dye, and high drama of the celebrity world. Lily Allen’s West End Girl has landed, a sharp, funny, furious record that lays her split from David Harbour bare. We talk through the fallout, the shock, and the pussy palace. Elsewhere, Ariana Grande’s got 'new' hair but no ponytail. What does it mean? Finally we’re checking in on a few of our favourite couples: JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes (Gráinne’s not convinced they’ll make it) and Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman (Chantal suspects there’s a touch of the 'David Harbour' about him). For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room! To celebrate Lily Allen's new album we are giving away 20 month long memberships to out Patreon! Click here for more info - https://www.patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere/redeem/A3154 ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Way They Were, we’re diving into the breakup that everyone’s talking about: Pop Princess Lily Allen and Stranger Things star David Harbour. It was the lockdown love story that looked like a rom-com London girl meets Hollywood nice-guy, until it all went a little bit strange.  Now Lily has a new album out which is going to set the record straight about the hottest romance to come out of the global pandemic. Gráinne and Chantal are joined by the wonderful Rosemary Mac Cabe who shares her own insights on transatlantic love affairs, David's secret Raya account and we do a deep dive on their carpeted bathroom.  For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room. ⁠⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we step back in time to the 1940s to meet the literary it-couple: Truman Capote and Jack Dunphy. Truman was the sharp-tongued genius and Jack existed in his shadow. So how did the socialite and the introverted novelist make it work for so long? This week, Chantal and Gráinne are joined by the brilliant Jen Ives to unpack the devotion, destruction and divine madness of Capote and Dunphy’s decades together. Expect post-war passion, very posh best friends like Lee Radziwill and the Queen Mother, plus an emotional affair with a killer on death row. For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our ⁠Patreon⁠? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room. ⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes the gossip gods hand you something so big you have to drop everything and run straight to the mics. . . Several days after the event (sorry we had a busy week) Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. Over. Finished. Kaput. Was it the hair? The cowboy boots? The fact she's constantly working? This week, Gráinne and Chantal react to the breakup of Australia's greatest love. For our special Taylor Swift edition, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our exclusive gossip chat room, join us on⁠ Patreon: patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She was Hollywood’s “most agreeable” girl, he was cinema’s golden boy genius. Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles looked like the dream couple – but behind the glamour it was all drama, long distance, and the inability to separate work from pleasure. This love story from the golden age of Hollywood even features brilliant cameos from Hedda Hopper, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Judy Garland herself. Gráinne and Chantal take a trip to 1940s Hollywood with the fabulous ⁠Kevin Bennett⁠, host of ⁠The Big Smoke Variety Show⁠, in this very special episode of The Way They Were – as requested by our brilliant patron Lady K! Plus, we take a closer look at Charli XCX’s star-studded wedding and the Dawson’s Creek reunion. For early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our exclusive gossip chat room, join us on Patreon: patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A whirlwind romance that burned bright, fizzled fast, and left the tabloids confused as to what just happened. Ashton and Brittany gave us chaos, comedy, and a very short-lived love story. This week, Gráinne and Chantal are joined by Chris De Rosa, cohost of Fixing Famous People, to relive the highs, the lows, and the red-carpet PDA of one of the naughty's best celebrity pairings. We may even get some special insights from Chris's conversations with the afterlife… For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our Patreon? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room. patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She was the Vicar of Dibley and he the king of Comic Relief. Together, they were the King and Queen of British comedy. Dawn French and Lenny Henry were the nation’s funniest couple but behind the gags and the glitter, their marriage had ups, downs and an unforgettable night out with John Sessions. This week on The Way They Were, Chantal and Gráinne are joined by broadcaster, campaigner and author Natasha Devon to unravel the love story that made us laugh, broke our hearts, and proved that even legends can’t always make it work. Want our episodes ad free and early episodes? Fancy a shoutout on the pod? Howe about special bonus episodes every other week? Get all of this and more on our Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh baby baby, how was she supposed to know that something wasn’t right? Britney Spears thought Kevin Federline was her happily-ever-after but soon turned into a one of the biggest breakups of the 00s. This week on The Way They Were, Chantal and Gráinne are joined by guest of honour Claire Parker, co-host of Celebrity Memoir Book Club, to dig into the heady highs, the very public lows, and the sombre truths behind one of celebrity culture’s most chaotic love stories. NOTE - If you thought Chantal was a little quieter than usual on this week’s episode, you’re right! Two Britney superfans took centre stage, while she kept some of her thoughts back. Now she’s recorded her own right to reply, a short solo take on the Britney narrative, and it’s up on Patreon’s free feed. if you fancy hearing what Chantz was really thinking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the Frasier reboot, before the Tony Awards, before the dinner party from hell - there was just Kelsey and Camille. This week, comedian, agony aunt and Attitudes! host Bryan Safi joins us to revisit the unforgettable union of sitcom royalty and a dancer on club MTV who would go on to become "the most hated housewife in America". Was it true romance or simply a love bomb that blew up on national television? Bryan helps Chantal and Gráinne dig through the drama, the showbiz, and the pegging allegations in this very special episode of The Way They Were. Also if you're in Edinburgh this month you simply have to go watch Bryan's show: Are you mad at me? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To get the latest episode of the podcast early and ad free, visit our Patreon here: ⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere⁠ By popular demand, Gráinne and Chantal dive into the unlikely, unbelievable, and utterly adorable romance between Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson. With both stars carrying enough tragic backstory to write a series of novels, could this be the rare beam of romantic sunshine in an otherwise awful summer? Or is it all too good to be true? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices