ROCHELLE HUMES: Being Raised To Be Fearless, Life After The Saturdays & My First Date With Marvin

Summary

Great Company with Jamie Laing
Episode: ROCHELLE HUMES: Being Raised To Be Fearless, Life After The Saturdays & My First Date With Marvin
Release Date: April 14, 2026
Host: Jamie Laing
Guest: Rochelle Humes

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Episode Overview

In this candid and heartfelt episode, Jamie Laing welcomes singer, presenter, entrepreneur, and fellow podcaster Rochelle Humes. They dive deep into Rochelle’s upbringing, her music career from S Club Juniors to The Saturdays, personal reflections on family and resilience, the realities of fame, building her own business, and finding love with her husband Marvin Humes. Full of insight, humor, and vulnerability, the conversation traverses childhood adversity, showbiz highs and lows, self-improvement, and the art of balancing ambition with authenticity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rochelle’s Upbringing: Resilience & Fearlessness

• Life Raised by a Single Mum (03:29, 22:04)
  Rochelle grew up with her mother and sister, recalling, “What she did as a single parent… I never knew that we didn’t have a lot life-wise sort of financially. I never knew.” (00:59, 22:04)
  She emphasizes the impact of her mother’s tenacity:
  “My mum, and still now to this day, is the sort of mum that I could call her at 3am and she’ll be there in two minutes… She’s the reason I’m, like, weirdly fearless. I will just take a chance, I’ll take a risk, I’ll try something new… She raised me as, like, her thing was always: shy kids don’t get sweets, and if you don’t ask, you don’t get.” (22:04)

• Struggles with Absent Father & Family Dynamics (00:56, 26:39)
  Rochelle opens up about her father leaving when she was one and how her uncle Paul Ince (the England footballer) became a pivotal figure in her life:
  “He left when I was one…I remember waiting for him and then being like, oh, he’s not coming today.” (00:59, 26:43)
  “My uncle Paul would come…he played football for England. He really was that male role model that I looked up to.” (28:27 – 29:50)

• Building Confidence through Performance (08:05)
  Rochelle overcame a bad childhood stammer through speech therapy and dance:
  “I was a really shy child…I had a bad stammer. They advised [my mum] to send me to dancing. I felt like a completely different person when I was on stage and just loved it. It taught me resilience.” (08:05)

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Pop Stardom: S Club Juniors & The Saturdays

• Early Days, Auditions, and Childhood Fame (06:26)
  Rochelle reminisces about joining S Club Juniors at age 11, auditioning with her friend Frankie ("we went together. We queued together.") and being naive about what the audition was for:
  “I thought I was entering [S Club Search] to go and sing at Wembley… I was 11, turning 12… until about 15, 16.” (05:50–06:26)

• Differences and Realities of the Pop Industry (11:18, 12:29)
  Surprisingly, Rochelle reveals:
  “I made more money in S Club Juniors than I did in The Saturdays.” (11:18)
  On finances in The Saturdays:
  “The music industry—the money just went out of it. It wasn’t the same space to be in anymore.” (12:32)
  On the pressures women faced:
  “At the time you’re the chosen one, so you never want to rock the boat… photographers would be on the floor trying to get up our skirts. That was that horrible era, and we weren’t earning enough money.” (13:03, 14:14)

• Band Dynamics and Competition (18:26)
  “We didn’t come off the X-Factor… we did every gig, every uni gig, we built up that following as we went. No one could ever knock us as a band—we worked hard.” (18:51)

• Surreal Moments & Publicity Stunts (21:11)
  On filming reality TV:
  “They asked me to recreate [telling the girls I was pregnant]…we had to fake a scene in a ‘doctor’s’ suite at the Mayfair Hotel. We pretended a doctor was telling me I was pregnant.” (21:11–21:46)

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Navigating the Industry: Image, Money, and Mental Health

• The Harsh Side of Fame (14:14, 17:44)
  “Photographers would get on the ground and try and take photos up your skirt…that would just be part, like, it’d be awful… We weirdly were a bit accepting that’s—‘they’re out there again, the paps’. It was our problem.” (14:14–15:10)

• Financial Realities
  “You’re paid a salary. Everything was advanced. By the time you split it between tax, agent, and five of you, you’re expected to live a lifestyle you can’t always prop up.” (15:53–17:39)
  “Brand deals were really important to us… record labels changed their whole strategy and would do what they would call 360 deals.” (16:36)

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Love Story: Meeting and Marrying Marvin Humes

• How They Met (32:38, 34:27)
  On how Marvin cleverly got Rochelle’s number:
  “He took your phone, put his number in it, called himself.” (32:38)
  Rochelle laughs about it:
  “How weird is that? Now you’d be cancelled.” (32:47)
  Their first date was hilariously low-key:
  “We just went for a drive. We went to a drive-through McDonald’s… fillet of fish, no cheese, and an apple pie.” (38:21)

• What Made It Work (38:59, 39:17, 41:31)
  “He felt really normal and I think really honest… He was just so transparent about how he felt about me… it wasn’t an ick.” (38:59)
  Rochelle's advice: “Communication. We don’t let anything build. We’re good at letting each other shine… I want to be around him.” (40:52–41:31)

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Motherhood & Parenting

• Bringing Her Mum’s Wisdom Forward (22:04, 23:05)
  “I think she’s the reason that I’m, like, weirdly fearless… She really raised me as, like, her thing was always: shy kids don’t get sweets, and if you don’t ask, you don’t get.” (22:04)
  “If my phone went now and it was the school nurse, best believe this conversation’s done.” (22:32)

• Reflections on Her Father’s Absence and Single-Parenting
  “When I think of my children… I don’t want them to be left…He went on to have three other children… I found it really hard.” (27:04–28:24)

• Honesty about Childcare Support (47:17, 48:38)
  “I never want to sit here and act like I don’t have help. I have a woman that is with me Monday to Saturday morning. She helps hold the fort down.” (47:17)
  On telling her mum about hiring childcare:
  “I was really scared to tell my mum… She was like, I don’t know who you two think you are. Outraged, really…but she’s come round to it now.” (48:38–49:13)

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Reinvention & Entrepreneurship

• Launching ‘My Little Coco’ (42:16–43:56)
  “I wanted to be that girl that had something for myself and not be the face of everything for other brands… I remember seeing Jessica Alba and build Honest… that is such a huge pivot.” (42:22–43:56)
  On learning on the job: “The whole thing’s been a constant learning curve… I understand what I’m doing. I’m in the rhythm.” (44:15–45:19)

• Founder Loneliness & Female Networks (50:44)
  “It’s so lonely. That’s exactly why I launched [my podcast]… inviting people on, picking their brains… now I just sort of have this network of girls around me.” (50:44)

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Longevity in Showbiz

• Why She’s Still Relevant (45:56, 46:57)
  “I want to turn up and do my job. I’m not bothered, and I can’t be bothered with any of the bullshit that comes with our world…I pride myself on being easy to work with. I love what I do.” (45:56–46:20)

• Work Ethic Over Talent
  “I was never the best singer, the best dancer, the best host, but I will work my ass off to be. I will be the first one there and the last one to leave.” (46:31–46:57)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On industry exploitation:
  “Here’s the dream… you want to be this… and they rinse you dry like a sponge.” (12:40, Jamie, referencing the music industry)
• On stage as transformation:
  “I felt like a completely different person when I was on stage and just loved it.” (08:05, Rochelle)
• On honesty in relationships:
  “That was the thing that attracted me to Marv the most—he was very transparent with, like, how he felt about me.” (56:58, Rochelle)
• On parenting and presence:
  “Everything is temporary. Makes you really be present in the good and enjoy it, but also know that it will pass. It will pass.” (53:22, Rochelle)
• On compliments:
  “Anytime they compliment your kids and you’ve done such a good job… that for me, is the best compliment anyone could ever give me.” (54:55, Rochelle)
• On the possibility of a The Saturdays reunion:
  “I’m grown enough to say never say never… Get us to a restaurant first, get us for a cocktail then! That’s good!” (58:47, 59:18, Rochelle)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Rochelle on Childhood and Single Parenting: 00:56 – 01:25, 22:04 – 24:34
• S Club Juniors & Early Fame: 05:50 – 07:44
• Financial Realities of Pop Groups: 11:18 – 17:44
• Era of Paparazzi & Fame: 14:14 – 15:27
• Meeting Marvin & Early Dating Stories: 32:38 – 39:17
• Reflections on Absent Father & Uncle Paul Ince: 26:39 – 30:24
• Entrepreneurship and ‘My Little Coco’: 42:16 – 45:33
• Motherhood, Childcare, and Family Traditions: 47:17 – 50:17
• Longevity and Work Ethic in the Industry: 45:54 – 47:16
• Quick-Fire Round (Philosophies and Guilty Pleasures): 52:54 – 57:59
• The Saturdays Reunion Possibility: 58:09 – 59:18

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Closing Reflection

Warm, open, and relatable, Rochelle Humes shares how her upbringing shaped her tenacity and openness, reveals hard truths about the music industry, and inspires with her journey through reinvention, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. Fans and newcomers alike will find both inspiration and comfort in her honest storytelling and the evident friendship between Rochelle and Jamie.

Transcript

[Rochelle Humes]

I made more money in escort than I did in the Saturdays. What? So at the time you're the chosen one. So you never want to rock the boat because you're like, do you know how many girls would be whipping these extensions out, ready to put them in their head? We'd leave a club and photographers would be on the floor trying to get up our skirts. And it was, it was that horrible era and we weren't earning enough money. It wasn't like, okay, I don't like this anymore. Let's stop. It was not necessarily the life that I suppose people thought that it was. Sorry. Oh, you didn't know this? No. Hi, I'm Rochelle Humes and I'm in great company. Rochelle Humes is Friday.

[Jamie]

Marvin apparently took your phone, put his number in it, called himself.

[Rochelle Humes]

He called my phone and then there's a number calling me that I don't know. And I answer it. It's like, hi, it's Marvin. Do you know what I mean? Our first date, we just went for a drive. We went to a drive through McDonald's.

[Jamie]

Did you fancy him?

[Rochelle Humes]

How awful. And I married him.

[Jamie]

Your dad wasn't around?

[Rochelle Humes]

No.

[Jamie]

And he left when you were one.

[Rochelle Humes]

I remember waiting for him that then being like, oh, he's not coming today. There was so many years. I was like, I'd be really upset about it or really angry. My mum, she raised me and my sister solo. She had me in a hostel. What she did as a single parent, I never knew that we didn't have a lot of life wise, sort of financial. I never know.

[Jamie]

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[Rochelle Humes]

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[Jamie]

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[Rochelle Humes]

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[Jamie]

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[Rochelle Humes]

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[Jamie]

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[Rochelle Humes]

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[Jamie]

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[Rochelle Humes]

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[Jamie]

Guys, welcome back to another episode of Great Company. Really excited because we have Richelle Humes on the podcast today. Okay, Richelle's one of my friends within the industry and I've been trying to get her on the show for ages. She finally said yes. Let's go. Today we talk about so many things. She was born in a hostel and her mom, who's an incredible person, had to work so many jobs to keep everything afloat. Incredible story. Her uncle played a lot in growing her up as well. And her uncle was Paul Ince. Is Paul Ince the England footballer? Incredible. I had no idea about that, which is amazing. We talk about joining S Club Juniors when she was 11 years old and then joining the Saturdays as well, if you're a Saturdays fan. And the fact that she earned more money doing S Club Juniors than she did in the Saturdays. That is wild. We talk about Marvin Hume's, her husband, where they met when they first dated, and everything around that. So much in the show for you. Okay, now before we start, I'm going to ask you just two things. If you haven't watched mine and Sophie's Disney show called Raising Chelsea, it's out there right now. You can go and check it out. It's on Disney and we really hope you like it. And if, if you haven't subscribed to this show, if you can just click that one button, just click the follow button. It does so many wonders for us, keeps allowing us to make the show that you like, keeps us getting the better guests that you like and keeps upping our game making those 1% better each time. If you do that one thing, I thank you so much. Okay, enough from me here you go. Enjoy this episode of Great Company with Richelle Humes. The thing I've worked out is recently is that I actually. This is nowhere I can actually sing, so I'm gonna.

[Rochelle Humes]

Wow.

[Jamie]

And this is what I showed to my team this morning. So I sing the Lion King. It's the only thing that gets my baby to relax.

[Rochelle Humes]

Which song?

[Jamie]

I'm gonna sing it for you, and you have to judge if I can sing. You ready for this?

[Rochelle Humes]

I think so.

[Jamie]

Can you feel the love tonight?

[Rochelle Humes]

I was like, okay. I'm actually surprised. That was good, guys.

[Jamie]

I know, I know. And I can go.

[Rochelle Humes]

You're really true.

[Jamie]

And I can go higher.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah.

[Jamie]

Ready? And I'm gonna go higher for you. One more time.

[Rochelle Humes]

Okay. Up the octave. Can you feel?

[Jamie]

No, I'm not gonna do it. Oh, God, I can't.

[Rochelle Humes]

That was. I'm not mad at it. Wait, so he loves this?

[Jamie]

Loves it more than anything. Loves it more than anything.

[Rochelle Humes]

I mean, you found your fan.

[Jamie]

Do you still remember S Club Juniors?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. Well, do you know what? They're real sort of like, gaps in my memory because It's. I was 11, turning 12 when I joined it, until about 16, 15, 16. So, you know, you can't remember everything of when you were 30. Like.

[Jamie]

No, but. But when we were younger. When I was younger.

[Rochelle Humes]

Right.

[Jamie]

Being a pop star, being famous, being like, that was just, like, off the charts. I know, but you did it.

[Rochelle Humes]

I know. And do you know what? I just. It's. So basically, we used to watch CBBC at home when we were little.

[Jamie]

Did you? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

And it was an audition, and it was called S Club Search. And the actual audition was to Support s Club 7 at Wembley. And it wasn't for a group. It was just to go and sing at Wembley. And that's what I thought I was entering. These were, like, the days when it was Pop Idol kind of era. Thousands of kids queuing round the block at Wembley Arena. And we went and we auditioned, and I actually went to the audition with Frankie.

[Jamie]

Did you?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. Cause we went to the same weekend dance school, so we went together. We queued together.

[Jamie]

No.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. With our parents and.

[Jamie]

Are you nervous or in your head, are you thinking, I'm gonna get this?

[Rochelle Humes]

I just. This is a great day out. Like, this is unbelievable.

[Jamie]

What was the audition process like?

[Rochelle Humes]

It's just really fun. There was a few rounds, and each time it was like, you know, if you don't get it, you know, and at the time, I'd, like, auditioned for, like, West End musicals and Stuff. And I was in one before and I remember auditioning for Lion King. Oh, how mad is this? Marvin and I both auditioned to play Simba and Nala in the same year for Lion King. But then when we went back, because they obviously have so many kids on rotation, I then grew too tall for the Simba. And then he grew too tall as well.

[Jamie]

No.

[Rochelle Humes]

So we could have played Nala and Simba together as like 11 year olds.

[Jamie]

Soulmates.

[Rochelle Humes]

Could you imagine? Yeah.

[Jamie]

But the life didn't allow you to do it.

[Rochelle Humes]

No. Cause that would give me the itch. Yeah. When I look back, it's cute. But it would have also been a little bit cringe.

[Jamie]

But what was it about? What was it about the stage? What was it about being in that limelight that made you excited?

[Rochelle Humes]

I was. You're never gonna believe this, but I was a really shy child.

[Jamie]

I don't believe it.

[Rochelle Humes]

No, just bear with me. Okay, So I had a really bad stammer when I was young. So I went to speech therapy and my mum sent me. They advised her to send me to dancing. Cause I was that kid that hid behind my mom's legs and was very. And I suppose probably because it was just me and my mom, I was very sort of like obsessed with her. Like, you know that kid that's just like, oh, mommy, Mommy. So that was me. And then I had a bad stammer.

[Jamie]

How bad was the stammer?

[Rochelle Humes]

Bad. Until I was probably eight, I'd say. So I would go to speech therapy. And then that obviously worked and they said to send me to. For my confidence, to send me to dancing. And you know, that was an expense for my mom. So she was like, was working hard to send me, bless her. I suppose it was the worst thing she could have done. She couldn't shut me up. She's like, she's gone from going, come on, talk, talk, talk. To being like, shut up, please leave me alone. Like some West End Wendy all of a sudden. So, yeah, so I think that that was the real reason that I first started. But then I just instantly had this. I felt like a completely different person when I was on stage and just loved it and then became really obsessed with it. And I think such good character building. When I look back, like the resilience it taught you.

[Jamie]

Explain that to me. Because that, because in a parent's mind, they're going, oh my God, your kid is going down. You're exposing your child to lots of different things. And it's crazy. But what are the positives that come out of something like that.

[Rochelle Humes]

You're so. So. Your yeses are so. Are so few. Like, if you. You'll go on an audition and you'll get sent for one, because, you know, if you're just on an agent's books, they'll go, oh, go on. Then you try this. But really, when you get there. And I never forget somebody saying to me once, when you arrive, it might not be about anything that you've done. It might be that actually you arrived and they were looking for someone with blue eyes, or they were looking for someone that's a certain height. And it just became about like, let's just give it a go. They might be after someone with curly hair today, or they might be after somebody that's my height, or they might be. So it became no. And I think when you're younger, you're so. What I felt. My experience of the industry as a child, thankfully for me, and I think all of the juniors would say this. I'm confident they would, is that we. I felt that we were really well looked after. Like, there were no horror stories. I didn't. You know, we were really well protected. Our parents were really involved, and I think they were so protective, and they wanted to be part of that journey.

[Jamie]

Did you S Club juniors have a WhatsApp group?

[Rochelle Humes]

We have one, yeah.

[Jamie]

No, you don't.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, we do. It's quite recent. It's about a year or so old, but, yeah, we've got.

[Jamie]

The juniors have a. What's up? Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

How funny. Yeah, it's occasionally, like, someone will be at their parents for the weekend or whatnot, and, like, there'll be, like, a picture that's like, oh, my gosh, mom, just. Just show me this, like, an old

[Jamie]

picture, and then I'll send it in.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, it's so good.

[Jamie]

Did you guys make money from it or. No?

[Rochelle Humes]

Do you know what? When I look, I made more money in Escob Juniors, I did, in the Saturdays. Is that shocking? I know, I know, but there was so much.

[Jamie]

No, no, no.

[Rochelle Humes]

You can't have call Frankie now, Shakur.

[Jamie]

I would honestly call her.

[Rochelle Humes]

She will tell you.

[Jamie]

Are you serious?

[Rochelle Humes]

I think if you called her and said, frankie, did you make more money in Escob Juniors on the Saturdays? She instantly would say, escobunias. In fact, we couldn't believe it. Right. Cause you can imagine what. Frankie's also a person that. I have had two experiences in this with crazy, which is mad. And also, we didn't know about the second one. We knew about the first. Well, we went for the auditions together, but nothing was to say that we were both gonna get it. We were so happy that we went together. Can you imagine how awkward it would've been for our parents? We were all together, and one of us got in and it. But we were so. We just remember being like, oh, we both got in. And then the Saturdays, we had no idea that each of us had gone for the band, which is just crazy.

[Jamie]

Hang on. So I'm just gonna quickly say the Saturdays, right? 11 top 10 singles. And you're saying you made more money in S Club Juniors than you did from that?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, I never.

[Jamie]

Who's making the money? The music.

[Rochelle Humes]

Because the music industry. The money just went out of it. It wasn't the same. It wasn't the same space to be in anymore.

[Jamie]

This is a theme that you see the whole time as you musicians. Here's the dream. Here you go. You want to be this. Come on in. You do it. And they rinse you dry like a sponge. And then you get fatigued. You get tired. People, you're not. As I know. You're not making the songs that people want.

[Rochelle Humes]

Whatever happens.

[Jamie]

Because it naturally happens, right? Because it's like life. And then they go, okay, done. Thanks so much for that.

[Rochelle Humes]

But also, at the time, you're the chosen one, so you never want to rock the boat. Cause you're like, do you know how many girls would be whipping these extensions out, ready to put them in their hair to get up there? Do you know what I mean? I'm always aware that.

[Jamie]

Did you feel that?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yes. Are you kidding me? Like, we just really thought that to a point. Then it got to a point where we were kind of then known individually. And I remember that being quite a conscious push from our management to kind of. We did one album.

[Jamie]

Is this Saturdays?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, the Saturdays, where we all had our own album cover. I was so nervous. I thought, fuck, what if no one buys mine? I was so. That was honestly, like, the scariest thing. But actually it was a strategy because it was.

[Jamie]

It's like picking your favorite Power Ranger almost.

[Rochelle Humes]

And I think almost like, which young girl can relate to. I think it was more of a strategy, as if to say, like, people need to feel more connected to us than the songs that we're putting out there. Like, the Saturdays are a group. Great, but who is this? And then everyone was interested in who we were dating and how that looked. And it was kind of those weekly magazines, right?

[Jamie]

That.

[Rochelle Humes]

That was kind of such a big part of that. Time where we'd leave a club and photographers would be on the floor trying to get up our skirts. And it was. It was that horrible era of they

[Jamie]

were actually doing that. Because you always hear these.

[Rochelle Humes]

Oh, gosh, no. That was like. I never forget when I started dating Marvin, he couldn't believe it. Cause you've got to remember, he was in the boy band, I was in the girl band. But his experience was so different to mine. And I never forget, he would. We'd leave somewhere and they'd still do it with like, my boyfriend. With me, it wasn't a thing. And he would stand behind me always. And now he still does it. And like, that's now illegal. You don't need to worry anymore.

[Jamie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop trying to be protection. We know it doesn't mean anything.

[Rochelle Humes]

It doesn't mean anything. But he would, like, stand behind me when I got in the car and wait and like, come round to the door. But, like, fully, because photographer would get

[Jamie]

on the ground and try and take photos up your skirt.

[Rochelle Humes]

They just would. That would just be part. Like, it'd be awful. And you'd think, like, yeah, it was a really strange period of time that we weirdly were like, just a bit accepting that that's. Oh, God, they're out there again. The paps. Careful, everyone. Make sure you were like. It was our problem.

[Jamie]

Because what's the weird thing about that time, right, Is you feel like the chosen one. So you feel like. And you feel like, I feel lucky to be here. I feel so lucky to be here. So that's the thing that we have to accept. Because if we don't accept all this, then all of this is going to be taken away from us and we

[Rochelle Humes]

weren't earning enough money. It wasn't like, okay, let's just. I don't like this anymore. Let's stop this because we're all good.

[Jamie]

Like, so how did the money work? You were paid a salary. You were paid.

[Rochelle Humes]

How does that. Yes, it was a salary. Basically they just pay you a salary. So you'd get an advance from your. Everything was advanced. So the label would advance you a certain amount of money that you then had to recoup. But that when someone says, your record deal is X amount of money, that doesn't mean what we're making. That means they'll put this money into the album. So they'll pay these producers. This is the marketing budget. This is the, you know, so on and so forth. And then they. Then there were these things that they. That they Called I don't know. And I'm not in the music industry now, so I don't know if it still is.

[Jamie]

And also, how are you meant to know exactly?

[Rochelle Humes]

And you're just like, whatever lawyer I'm signing.

[Jamie]

Yeah, whatever. I need the money and this is what I want to do.

[Rochelle Humes]

So they would then do these 360 deals. Because then what would. For a period of time, music artists were making money touring. I don't know if it's still the same now. Cause I'm not in that space. But the tours and the brand deals was where you would make your money. So the records, that wasn't for us. That wasn't where we were making money. So it would be like we would be the face of a shampoo and we all had our own different scent and that's where we made money. So those brand deals were really important to us. And so it was the touring. But then record labels changed their whole strategy and they would do what they would call 360deals. So they would then also take a cut of the brand and then take a cut of the live performances. So then it just. You've got to remember everything you earn, split that in half, basically, with tax and an agent. And then it goes. Then there's five of you. So I think people would have this. You then live a lifestyle, or you're expected to live a lifestyle that you can't always prop up.

[Jamie]

And so you're living an almost lie because you're trying to live this whole existence.

[Rochelle Humes]

Or everyone just expects it of you. And you know when you go out and it was at the time where it was all clubs and you get given a table and it's all very china whites. Wow. Had some times in there.

[Jamie]

Had some times.

[Rochelle Humes]

Had some times in there.

[Jamie]

Had some times in there.

[Rochelle Humes]

Funky Buddha on a Tuesday. Fantastic.

[Jamie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

Bring back the good old days.

[Jamie]

Oh, my God.

[Rochelle Humes]

So, yeah, it was not necessarily the life that I suppose people thought that it was and it wasn't. And by that point there was literally. That's why everyone was branding and people were collabing with brands to sort of pay for music videos. Cause the labels didn't have as much money as they used to. So it wasn't. It just wasn't. Okay, we can retire.

[Jamie]

And what about the competitiveness? Because that happens in life. Right? So. And this, what seems to happen in bands is that you sit with one direct. You sit with everyone.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah.

[Jamie]

How do you manage that? Because also you work harder than anyone else. So I imagine the Other band members must have been like, oh, my God, Richard just works. You would just work. We can't. She's relentless. She can always. She's always turning up earlier.

[Rochelle Humes]

No, in the group, we all. That was us. Like, we worked hard. Like, no one could ever knock us as a band. And you've got to remember, Jamie, we didn't come off of an X Factor or off of one of those shows where we went out on Saturday and had a big following by the Sunday. Like, we had to. We did, like, every gig, every uni gig, which were the best, by the way. Every. Like, we built up that following as we. As we went. So we didn't have that kind of overnight success. So we were really grateful for every milestone. Like, it took us forever to get our first number one. And it was like, that was a given if you were on the X Factor, right? You finished the show, you're the winner, and then you're number one next week. Like, we just didn't have that. And I think it made us appreciate the journey for sure. But, yeah, when it comes to the group, we all work. Cause we were. We're one, aren't we? So we're kind of. We're all pulling weight for each other. So there was no one. We were very lucky that there wasn't anyone that was, like, slack, because that would be really hard because we just. We were so busy.

[Jamie]

I remember watching your TV show that was on E. Network dying. I loved it. Did you? Yes.

[Rochelle Humes]

Stop it.

[Jamie]

I loved it.

[Rochelle Humes]

We were.

[Jamie]

It was when you were Breaking America and the Wanted was in it, wasn't it?

[Rochelle Humes]

We give it a go.

[Jamie]

It was in the Wanted.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. At the time, we shared the same management, but, yeah, we. Yeah, that was a funny period of time. Cause then all of a sudden, we were like, you need a reality show now to be a star. We're like, of course we do. Okay.

[Jamie]

Oh, yeah, obviously.

[Rochelle Humes]

Obviously. Off we go.

[Jamie]

All right, we'll do this, I guess.

[Rochelle Humes]

And then that was sort of. That was such a funny period of time. And I never forget. Like, I take my hat off to anybody that does that.

[Jamie]

Like, I did it for, like, eight years.

[Rochelle Humes]

No, I know, but people just think it's. People think it's.

[Jamie]

You sell your soul.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. It's so different. I remember I drew the line when I just found out I was pregnant, and they asked me to do a test. I knew I was pregnant, by the way, so I did my husband. But they asked me to recreate it and tell the girls. I was like, well, I would never tell the girls before I've told Marv. Like, this is just. And I wouldn't do it. And I was, like, really seen as awkward because I wouldn't. And.

[Jamie]

Oh, no, that's small fry.

[Rochelle Humes]

We had to, like. Well, we. The compromise was that we faked a scene in a doctor's where he told us that I was pregnant. I mean, obviously I could have found that out.

[Jamie]

Wait, what?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. So I sat down and we were waiting at the doctors for the pregnancy results. But can I just tell you something so funny? Oh, God. So the doctors was a suite in the Mayfair Hotel

[Jamie]

you booked out that

[Rochelle Humes]

they made look like a doctor's surgery and we pretended that a doctor was telling me I was pregnant.

[Jamie]

So good.

[Rochelle Humes]

Actually, think about it. I'm like, wow,

[Jamie]

what do you think you've taken from your mum's parenting into your parenting? And what haven't you taken?

[Rochelle Humes]

My mum. And still now, to this day, is the sort of mum that I could call her at 3am and she'll be there in two minutes. Like, I remember when I'd first moved out and I. I woke up and I threw up and I didn't know what to do, how bad. Like, I had this, like, phobia for a long time of being sick and I remember I just randomly caught a bug or I'd eaten something and I called my mum at 2am I was like, mum, you need to come here. And she arrived with a bottle of GIF and a cloth at my front door and got in bed with me. And that's the sort of parent that she's always. And she still is, And I do, I think I definitely take that from her that, like, if my phone went now and it was the school nurse, best believe this conversation's done, you know, and that is the sort of parent I am. But I just. I think she's the reason that I'm, like, weirdly fearless. I will just take a chance, I'll take a risk, I'll try something new. But I definitely. That is from my mum. There's no two ways about it. She really raised me as, like, her thing was always like, shy kids don't get sweets and, you know, like, if you don't ask, you don't get. Don't take no for an answer. And she really sort of. I suppose that sort of tenacity and that willpower is definitely from her. Like, when I think about it now, she raised me and my sister solo and that worked every job under the sun and we didn't have any, like, you know, she had me in a hostel and then I remember we got a council flat and that was like such a win. And then we got a council house and then she worked and she bought the house off the council. And it was like we were letting off confetti cannons, you know, that was like winning the euros. So I think, yeah, when I look back now and I see not only the financial privilege that we now have, that, yeah, of course I've worked my ass off for, but she works her ass off and our finances are very different. But when I look back now and I think, not only financially, cause that's only half of the battle, but what she did as a single parent. I'm like, how I sort of. When Marv's away for the weekend, I'll be in a mood with him and like, why? I'm like, yes, all right, you're at work, you're having a lovely time. Are you? Is it great djing at Ibiza? Good. Hope you're having a ball, you know. And I'm like, aggie, just. Cause he's away. And I think like the kind of. The love and the fight that she put in, but I never knew.

[Jamie]

When did you recognize that? Cause there's a moment, right, when you suddenly get a. You realize. You go, oh, wait, hang on a second.

[Rochelle Humes]

I think probably not until later. As in, like, probably just before I had my own. Or just. I think one thing that I'd always give her credit for is I never knew that we didn't have a lot. As in like life wise, sort of. Financially. I never knew. I kind of. The only thing I was ever aware of is that I stood in a different queue when we used to queue up for school dinners because I used to get mine because she. I didn't pay for my school dinners because she had helped with that. So I kind of. That's the only thing that I knew that was different is that I used to be really embarrassed about.

[Jamie]

Yeah. What did it make you feel?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, I used to be really, really embarrassed about standing in the queue. But it's weird. They never do that now. I don't think. I mean, I don't actually know because my children aren't in that situation. But I can't imagine now that you'd be in a different queue if you got help with school lunch. I probably. This is where I have. Like, I'm delusional with how positive I am. I probably thought I was a VIP in the other queue. Like, okay, don't worry about Me, guys, my name's on the list. I was like, cool. Until someone flagged that it was because my mum couldn't afford to. And it's because she doesn't. Her dad's not around.

[Jamie]

Do you remember that moment?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, I do remember those conversations. I remember. Which is actually so cute. My best friend used to be really jealous that I had. My mom was dating someone at the time and then there was a period of time where my dad started seeing me for the odd weekend. It was only very short and this is how kids can be. Also really cute that she went home to her mum, who is still my mum's best friend to this day, and she said, I can't believe Rochelle gets two dads. So unfair. She could, you know, parents have still been married like 30 odd years now and she just thought it was so rude that I got two dads. And obviously for me, that's how kids can even be so beautiful or so awful, you know, And I think we do such a job in dictating that, you know.

[Jamie]

Your dad wasn't around?

[Rochelle Humes]

No, no.

[Jamie]

And he left when you were one?

[Rochelle Humes]

He left when I was one. And so I don't really have any memory of him. I remember sort of there was a short window where I did see him at the odd weekend, but then that ended quite quickly because I remember waiting for him and I remember then that then being like, oh, he's not coming today.

[Jamie]

Where were you waiting?

[Rochelle Humes]

Literally on the sofa by the window. And it's so weird because when I think about it now, there was so many years that I was like, I'd be really upset about it or really angry. And the day that I. It's like you now in this era for you. So the day that I sort of had Aleyah and we were in those first few months of that bubble, I instantly had zero curiosity about ever getting to know my dad, but also knowing that I don't think I'd ever respect him as a person, as he wouldn't be someone that I'd choose to spend time with. So I think I instantly became less upset when I think of the little me. I think, oh, God, that's so sad. Like, I think of my children, I think, oh my gosh. Even if they wait for me and I'm in a traffic jam for five minutes at the school or I'm like, I'm like, I don't want them to be left. So I think, yeah, I just. It weirdly as a kid, I did find it quite hard and I think he Went on to have three other children who now are like my right arms. You know, I'm like, we're obsessed with each other. But I found it really hard that the way that I saw it from the outside was that he was parenting them and not me.

[Jamie]

Who filled that space? The space for your dad growing up?

[Rochelle Humes]

My uncle.

[Jamie]

My uncle called.

[Rochelle Humes]

Big time. Yeah. He would be like the one that would, you know, if something happened or. He was kind of that male presence in my life. But really.

[Jamie]

Because that's important.

[Rochelle Humes]

It is, yeah, it is. But really, I think my mum just wore so many hats that I just didn't know any different. So I felt so special. My uncle Paul would come and he played football, so he was playing for England. And my friend. My. All my friends thought that was really cool because he was Paul Ince and he was like this huge.

[Jamie]

Sorry, hold on a sec.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, so. Yeah, I know. So he. Sorry. Oh, you didn't know this? I thought that's why you asked me.

[Jamie]

No, this is not in the notes. Ignore my research.

[Rochelle Humes]

I don't think people really know about this, actually. But, yeah, so he's so My mum. I know. So he's so. He's close. He gave me away at our wedding. Imagine. Marvin had to ask Paul to marry me. That's another story in itself. This is. This is. Yeah. Wow. So that was really exciting. So I'd get taken to West Ham every weekend. And I also think that's also why I don't like football so much, because it was such. I was. Had to go and sit and watch.

[Jamie]

Because you were forced to do.

[Rochelle Humes]

It was like. Yeah, I just remember we'd be just doing colouring and stuff whilst we were watching. So he really was that, like, male role model that I looked up to. That was, like, there for his kids. That was. Wow.

[Jamie]

And a lot of other men looked up to as well. Paul Ince is a real icon.

[Rochelle Humes]

I didn't know that until I was older, until I was, like, at secondary school and, you know, boys thought it was cool. Like, I didn't actually realize that. I just knew that he was. And I think I really saw their life as. So. Claire, his wife and my mom are best friends. They grew up in the house next door to each other. He's not actually my blood uncle, but he was instantly. My mum, was the first one in the group to have a child and that was it. He just became like, what a great guy. Oh, he's incredible. And he's.

[Jamie]

That's just a big responsibility to take

[Rochelle Humes]

on yeah, he was just around and he was just always that person for me. Always is, always will be. They both are. So I think I never really felt that I didn't have a male figure around because I had him. But then he was obviously busy and, you know, he was. He always made time for me. They always made time, like every single weekend. But my mum, I didn't realize that it was that everybody had two parents, if you know what I mean, because my mum was just.

[Jamie]

You didn't understand it.

[Rochelle Humes]

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[Jamie]

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[Jamie]

So apparently he took your phone, put his number in it, called himself and that's how you started connecting.

[Rochelle Humes]

How weird is that?

[Jamie]

Very weird. And creepy.

[Rochelle Humes]

Isn't that like now you'd be cancelled?

[Jamie]

Yeah, yeah, creepy, yeah, he should be cancelled for that.

[Rochelle Humes]

And do you know he's answering.

[Jamie]

How did he get into your phone?

[Rochelle Humes]

This is his answer. He's like, what Girl doesn't have a pin code on their phone. Also, we're talking like, creepy man. Sorry, Creepy man. Is this. This isn't the first time you've done this.

[Jamie]

How many people have you done this?

[Rochelle Humes]

Do you know what's so funny is we're talking like BlackBerry era.

[Jamie]

Okay. Great with that little like.

[Rochelle Humes]

Ah, guys, bring back the BlackBerry. Loved it. Why we all. Why have we all got iPhones? That was like the best period of

[Jamie]

time, that little tack.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. China white, spunky butter and a BlackBerry. Like, bring back the good old days, you know what I mean? Bring them back. Yeah. So he. He stands by that. Basically, I went. We were in a nightclub in Ireland, in Dublin, and we at the time shared the same security guard.

[Jamie]

Okay.

[Rochelle Humes]

And was called Graham.

[Jamie]

Graham.

[Rochelle Humes]

So we. We shared the same security. And I never forget that the promoters had put. I then found out afterwards, Graham told me that Marvin requested that our table were next to each other.

[Jamie]

Yeah, creepy. Cause he.

[Rochelle Humes]

Creepy guy.

[Jamie]

Creepy guy.

[Rochelle Humes]

So we'd done this big gig that they have in Ireland called Childline, which is like. It's a bit like Jingle Bell ball.

[Jamie]

Yes.

[Rochelle Humes]

But it's all for charity, so lots. It was one of those multi app bills. So lots of different sort of artists were performing. Then there was an after party at this club. I think it was called Lily's Lilies. Yeah, it was. And long story short, I now know that he'd asked to see if the JLS table could go next to the Saturday table, which is just cracking me up. Anyway, it's just so funny.

[Jamie]

Did you fancy him?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, I did, but I'd just come out. Just come out of a relationship.

[Jamie]

Okay.

[Rochelle Humes]

And my ex cheated on me. And it was all very kind of like, I was a bit. I was kind of like, anti. I'm in a girl band.

[Jamie]

I don't need this.

[Rochelle Humes]

I'm traveling. I don't need. I've got no time for it. Like, whatever. That was the head space I was in. And also, I mean, we'll get to this. But I'm like, I'm not dating someone in a boy band. That was just like my thing. Absolutely. Not a chance.

[Jamie]

Why?

[Rochelle Humes]

Because he's just gonna be like.

[Jamie]

He's gonna be like everybody else.

[Rochelle Humes]

Like, no way. Like, he's got girls throwing themselves, like, I'm just not interested. And then anyway, I left my phone, my bag, which he's like, what girl goes to the bathroom doesn't take her bag? Which. Fair. But I actually needed a way. Like, I just needed a way. And I just Ran like. I was like, oh, yeah. Just needed a. I just actually needed a way. And then I was.

[Jamie]

While he was rummaging through.

[Rochelle Humes]

No, just everything is the image of

[Jamie]

rummaging through your bag.

[Rochelle Humes]

Also, like, who isn't raised to know that you never go through a woman's handbag?

[Jamie]

I know.

[Rochelle Humes]

And this. His dad is horrified at this story. You can imagine. He's like, I trained him better than this. Anyway, I didn't know that he had my number until I got back to the hotel room. So we'd gone out. Everyone on this bill for this show was staying at the same hotel. So we're having a drink downstairs. We go up to our room. And when I think about this, it does give me the X. I'm telling this quickly. He called my phone, and then there's a number calling me that I don't know. And I answer it. He's like, hi, it's Marvin. Do you know what I mean?

[Jamie]

I'm like, my toast is curling.

[Rochelle Humes]

It's toe curling. And he'll. He'll be so angry that he's not here to defend himself. Cause he thinks. He didn't ever put that voice on, But I promise you, he did. Oh, God. I was in a room with Vanessa, and we would always share a room. And it wasn't because we didn't have our own room. It was just. Cause we were like. We just like to go out together, and we didn't like to be on our own. So I never. So I was like, how did you get my Danbury? Don't worry about that. And I was like, okay.

[Jamie]

Oh, God. Creepy. Yeah. And then trying to be sexy.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, don't you worry about that. And then he was like. And he could obviously hear Vanessa in the background. He was like, who you with? I'm like, oh, I'm Vanessa. And he almost. I think he was, like, trying to position himself above us a little bit. And he was like, have you not got your own room? And I was like, yeah, perfect flirting

[Jamie]

tactic, by the way.

[Rochelle Humes]

I'm just not in it. Exactly. And then he just. To really, like, just slightly. I know. I'm like. Just to let him know. He's just. And obviously, JLS were way more successful than sadists, but that is not the point. Okay, I know this already. And then he offered that I go to his room. Cause I was like, oh, no. We just always share because we don't like being in our own room. And then he offered, well, you can come to my room if you want.

[Jamie]

Nice tactic.

[Rochelle Humes]

And I was like, it's all right. And then he was like, no, nothing like that. We can just chill.

[Jamie]

We can sit. We can sit and read the Bible that's in the drawer.

[Rochelle Humes]

Literally, no. And then I promise, I'm dipping to everyone else. I know. It was so literally that. Nothing. Nothing like that at all. Anyway, I didn't take him up on his offer. However, we. It was then, like, the odd message was exchanged. He was saying, like, we've got to go for dinner. I'd love to take you out. I'd love to take you out. But I was just so. It was like, after a while that Then I did. I think I tried.

[Jamie]

Consistent from him.

[Rochelle Humes]

Really persistent for me. I don't think he was used to being like someone, being like, it's okay. I was then trying to find reasons not to like him. And my friends were like, you like him. You like him, and he seems really sweet. But I think I was trying to stop myself.

[Jamie]

When you went on the date, did you guys kiss?

[Rochelle Humes]

I don't know if we kissed on the first date. Our first date. We just went for a drive. How funny. He picked me up. We just went for a drive.

[Jamie]

Again, creepy from him.

[Rochelle Humes]

Well, we just didn't really know where to go. I didn't want to be seen anything. Yeah. So do you know what we did? We went to a drive through McDonald's. How awful. And I married him. I had a fillet of fish. Fillet of fish, no cheese. And an apple pie. And we were driving around Wembley because we wanted to, like, chat. And it was like, I'm so normal.

[Jamie]

Whatever.

[Rochelle Humes]

I know. In his fancy car. And we were just going around. Going around town in.

[Jamie]

Quite sweet, though.

[Rochelle Humes]

It was just like, what was it about him? I just. He felt really normal and I think really honest. And he was just so transparent about, like, how he felt about me. And it wasn't an ick.

[Jamie]

Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

And do you know what? That's what I was saying to my sister, who's recently started dating, and she's really into this guy, and he's lovely. And she was saying, it's so weird that if this would have been somebody else saying all of this stuff, it would make me feel sick. But I obviously, like, it's obviously right. But actually, when I think about it, like, he was saying, we're getting married. And I was like, okay. It didn't freak me out.

[Jamie]

How did he propose?

[Rochelle Humes]

He proposed in the Maldives. We went.

[Jamie]

I didn't know it was coming.

[Rochelle Humes]

No idea whatsoever. But it didn't feel Scary. It didn't feel young. When I think of, like, my sisters now.

[Jamie]

Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

I'm like, wow, that is crazy.

[Jamie]

But you lived a life.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. Yeah. And so had he. So I think you'd lived a life

[Jamie]

in the same image together. You'd lived this life. So you'd grown up so quickly.

[Rochelle Humes]

So quickly. We had so. And we still do have so much in common. And I remember finding that so refreshing, where he'd ask what I was up to that day and I'd say, I'm in the studio. And he'd say to me, oh, we were in with that producer last week. You're not gonna be back at 10. You'll be back at like 2 o' clock in the morning. I'm like, oh, whatever. But so he. So he got it where my ex didn't understand that. So if I was then later than I said, it would be calling my phone constantly, like, where are you? Are you sure you're at work? You know? Whereas I just feel like he got me. He understood it and he was living that same life. And I think we both found that really refreshing.

[Jamie]

What do you think the secret is to a happy marriage?

[Rochelle Humes]

My gosh, such a good question. We'll be married 14 years this year.

[Jamie]

Amazing.

[Rochelle Humes]

I think communication, and I know that sounds so basic, but it is so important. Like, we don't let anything build. We've just got a real respect level for each other that I think is so, so important. And I would say that we really. We're good at letting each other shine. So if he's got a JLS tour, for example, my life will then be around that. We're quite good at knowing, like, when each other's piggy points. Yeah.

[Jamie]

Because I've seen couples be competitive and I find that strange. And I find that so strange.

[Rochelle Humes]

I will till the day I die, be as big as hype woman. Like, I'm like, almost, like, weirdly so. Like, I'm like, I love it. And I get. I'm like, I'm so proud. And it's kind of. I have that feeling and I will always be like, the one in the wings. That's like, ah, yeah, but that's what you do. He's the same for me. And I think it's. That's what's important. And we've just got this, like, I just. I want to be around him. Like, I don't if there's a choice of, like, a night out, I want my girls there. But I hope he's there too. Like, I Love. I just. We love spending time with each other. I think no matter how busy you are, that always comes first, you know?

[Jamie]

I want to talk about your business. My little Coco. Have you found juggling being a founder?

[Rochelle Humes]

Oh, my gosh. Well, you'll know. It's a wild ride. Like, if I could look back, I'm. And I wanted to be that girl that had something for myself and not be the face of everything for other brands and do everything for everyone else and build this bill. And I think I was sort of

[Jamie]

such a good brand.

[Rochelle Humes]

Thank you.

[Jamie]

It's. No, truthfully, it's the only way. It's so. It's so clean.

[Rochelle Humes]

Oh, thank you.

[Jamie]

And I don't. And I hope that transcends what be by me by that. It's just. It's just good.

[Rochelle Humes]

It is. It's really safe.

[Jamie]

It's just good.

[Rochelle Humes]

I'm so proud of it. Like, I've. They say you become a founder and you find yourself. And that, for me, has really been key. I was so worried after the group, like, what will I do now? Like, it was kind of like, oh, it's just code that, you know, that to be in a girl band and have a family is kind of. You're supposed to be these, like, single girls that, you know, I had this idea, and at the time, I was with a management company, and they were really pushing for me to be an ambassador for a baby brand as opposed to building something of my own. I'm like, no, no, no. I know what it is I want to do here. And I remember seeing Jessica Alba stateside and build Honest.

[Jamie]

Such a good brand.

[Rochelle Humes]

Such a good brand. And I've always loved her. And I remember thinking, like, wow, that is such a huge pivot from being. Well, I just love her.

[Jamie]

And, honey, that's like that ending dance.

[Rochelle Humes]

Oh, peak. Jessica Alba.

[Jamie]

Unbelievable.

[Rochelle Humes]

I believe. I just remember thinking, God, it's so impressive to me that she's building that now, built this. That's so different to what she knew. And I've always been that person that's like, I want to try this now, and I want to try that, and let's.

[Jamie]

That lack of fear just gonna go down.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. So. But in terms of business, I didn't know what on earth I was getting myself into, because I've always been the shiny part. So I've always been the, like, face of. Or, you know, let's hope this product sells out, because you'll get a contract renewal at the end of this. That was always my story. So the Whole thing's been a constant learning curve, but I just. The way it's now evolving and I think it's been. It started off with such a boom, then it was really steady, and now I feel like I'm pleased for those steady sort of 18 months, two years. Because having those years of really understanding the business myself and understanding what it is we do, trying things, taking risks, rebranding. We had a big trademarking issue. You know, things can happen and balls can be dropped, and I did drop a couple balls. But now I just feel like we are. I understand what I'm doing. I'm in the rhythm of.

[Jamie]

Are you more confident in that space as well? Yeah, so.

[Rochelle Humes]

And I. I am confident because of things that have. Like that. That have happened, that have gone wrong, that I've learned, you know, people that I've trusted that I shouldn't have. I feel like I walk the walk now.

[Jamie]

What I find. And we can talk about what I find amazing, is the fact that you have stayed within the industry, stayed relevant, stayed working, stayed everything for such a long time. That is. It's not even weird. It's incredible. What do you think your secret is? What do you. Why do you think that you have stood the test of time, truthfully? Do you have to. And it's hard to talk about yourself sometimes. But what do you think it is?

[Rochelle Humes]

Oh, yeah, it is. I'm gonna get so uncomfortable. Talk about myself.

[Jamie]

Just do it.

[Rochelle Humes]

Do you know? It's a really good question. I just want to turn up and do my job. I'm not bothered. And I can't be bothered with any of the bullshit that comes with our world. I just can't. I go to work, I do my job. I'm home to my kids. You know, that's kind of the cycle of my life.

[Jamie]

Yeah, but people also must love working with you.

[Rochelle Humes]

I pride myself on being easy to work with. Like, I love what I do. I enjoy it. I'm so. I will always be grateful of the life that I've managed to build for myself.

[Jamie]

Still now grateful.

[Rochelle Humes]

Forever grateful. And it's that working class in me where I can't. I won't ever shake that. So I've always been like, it's great. I'm in. And I'm like. I'm just. I want to turn up and do a good job. But I think one thing about me, I was never the best singer, the best dancer. I wasn't the best host. But I will work my ass off to be. And I will be the first One there and the last one to leave because.

[Jamie]

So you would work harder than anyone else in the room?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, I think so. And I also, as the older I'm getting, I realize that it can be a bit toxic to wear that as a badge of honor, because sometimes you can work yourself into a frenzy and you become, you know, you lose a life outside of.

[Jamie]

Outside of that.

[Rochelle Humes]

Outside of that. But I actually. I never want to sit here and be on a podcast like this and act like I don't have help. We have help. I have a woman that is with me Monday to Saturday morning, and she is incredible and she helps hold the fort down. Why Marv's currently at his radio show. I'm here. She's there until I get back after the. You know. And we have.

[Jamie]

And did you ever feel guilty about talking about that, or did you feel that you couldn't talk about that at some point?

[Rochelle Humes]

No, I didn't know. I never really felt that I couldn't. I just. I suppose I couldn't have a career if I didn't. I remember I was really scared to tell my mum I was going out. And the first response was like, no one's looking after my grandkids but me. I was like, oh, gosh. And also like, oh, you're too. Good to see you washing up, are ya? I'm like, no, I just need some help. It was more my mum that. I was, like, really nervous. I don't, like, ever care talking about it, but. And people say, have you got a nanny? And we don't like, it is. And I remember when my mum's done the odd pickup, other parents at school have been like, oh, so you're the nanny? And she's like, no, yeah, I'm their nanny. But she means their actual nan, you know, because they call her nanny. So.

[Jamie]

That's so funny. You were. So you were worried to tell your mum.

[Rochelle Humes]

I was so scared. And rightly so, because she wasn't happy, really. Yeah. She was like, I don't know who you two think you are dying. Yeah. She was like, outraged, really. Yeah. And then she's come round to it now because when she looks after the kids, she's got an extra pair of hands. I get in, my mum's having a cup of tea on the sofa, and she's done that having a sleep. So. Yeah. But she was who I was the most nervous to tell because. And my aunt. Cause I was like, they're so gonna judge me because we're from that, you know, hustle work.

[Jamie]

Do you think?

[Rochelle Humes]

And also, not only that, you don't. Like, we come from nothing. Right. So people that had nannies were like rich people that didn't look after their kids and the nannies brought the kids up. So she was really. She hated the idea of that. And I'm like, no, Mum, this isn't what it is. It's just like an extra pair of hands. And I think it took her a minute to come around to that. Like, I'm from the era where you would. If my mum wanted to have a night out, she'd take me with her and she'd put two chairs together.

[Jamie]

No.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. When she'd go out with her friends and put two chairs together, I'd be there. I'd be asleep on the chair for someone's coat over me. Because she wouldn't be. Never have anyone babysit me. It was like, get out.

[Jamie]

Are you serious? So you would go to like a. I don't know, like a wine bar or whatever.

[Rochelle Humes]

Wine bar or. And she'd be like desperate to see her girlfriend or whatnot. And I'd be like, sat there for a little bit, allowed a lemonade and then.

[Jamie]

And then fall asleep.

[Rochelle Humes]

Night, night. Two chairs would come out and that was it. I remember just. Yeah, I loved it. I thought it was the coolest thing. And then I'd get carried to the car and wake up in my bed and I wouldn't know anything else.

[Jamie]

Yeah, you would remember that when you used to wake up in your bed,

[Rochelle Humes]

the idea of us being out of her sight wasn't a thing.

[Jamie]

Also, by the way, your podcast ladies who launch are like, just. I've listened to a couple of them and my friend Georgie Larue, who's a founder, she has a brand called Gigi and Olive. She's incredible. You're her go to one. And so within this female founder community, it's like people are obsessed with it because I think it's. She says to me, because I'm not a female founder, so it's quite a lonely place.

[Rochelle Humes]

It's so lonely. That's exactly why, you know, I launched the podcast because I was sort of bumping into other female founders at events and really sort of gravitating towards them and being like, how have you found this? How have you? And I just thought, do you know what I would love? Nothing. It was actually really self indulgent to sort of invite people on, pick their brains. And that's really given me the confidence to go again with another brand.

[Jamie]

Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

Actually just sort of having this sort of network now of girls around me and I love that people take so much from it.

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[Jamie]

I just want to say thank you.

[Rochelle Humes]

Thank you. You're just like, I'm so pleased to come. I've seen this on Instagram. I love you.

[Jamie]

You are the greatest in every single way and I really appreciate it and everything you're doing every single time I ever see. You're just so kind. I love it and so like, sweet

[Rochelle Humes]

and it's just likewise, likewise. And I'm obsessed with you on insta your reels, you and Sophie. I can't. I'm like, I get in a hole and my algorithm is. Is you guys and your podcast together. And I love it. I love it so much.

[Jamie]

It's coming back. So we're doing much as Sophie's like, I just. She's honestly, like, she finds me quite annoying sometimes because I'm just like, let's get going.

[Rochelle Humes]

We all find our husbands.

[Jamie]

Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. It is what it is. It is what it is.

[Jamie]

Thank you. Listen, we'd like to end our conversation with eight questions. Quick fire, you ready for this?

[Rochelle Humes]

I'll try and be quick.

[Jamie]

Here we go. What's a saying or phrase that makes you smile or cheers you up?

[Rochelle Humes]

I would say. And we, my gang, we all say it to each other now. We say it's temporary.

[Jamie]

Love that.

[Rochelle Humes]

But here's why. Because when we're like having a great time, it's temporary, right? Yes. So like just soak it up, enjoy it. Like, we don't know how long this is gonna be for, so let's just, ah, let's soak it up. But also, if you're having a shit time, it's temporary.

[Jamie]

Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

So, like, it's the best, you know, and you know that that's gonna pull you out of the fog that you're in. So I think just knowing that, like, everything is temporary. Everything is temporary makes you really be present in the good and enjoy it, but also know that it will pass. It will pass.

[Jamie]

Best compliment anyone's ever given you.

[Rochelle Humes]

I think when anyone compliments my kids, I can't. It, like, makes me cry. Like, I cry at, like, the happy things rather than, like, the stuff I can deal with. But, like, we had parents evening not too long ago before we broke up for Easter, and they were saying how kind Valli is and that she makes sure that everyone. No one's left out. And she was sitting with another girl on the bench because she thought that she was on her own. It's actually embarrassing, Jamie, because I'm thinking I'm gonna break down in front of the teacher. And I've normally rushed from work to make the parents evening on time. I'm sweating by the time I get there. And then she's like, I just have to say to you, Mrs. Hulmes. And I've gone. I've gone already. Don't bother. I'm out the door. She'll. She is the kindest girl I've ever. And I'm like. And Marvin's looking at me as if saying, not now, not now. Hold it in a quiet. Britain's Got Talent golden buzzer.

[Jamie]

Yeah, the golden buzzers. The golden buzzer. I'm unbelievable. This.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. And I'm not. Yeah, that's me. So, yeah, anything, anything.

[Jamie]

And you see the person on stage.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, that's it. And I'm done. I'm finished. So anytime you wait, you'll have this. They compliment your kids and you've done such a good job. And you know that for me, is the best compliment anyone could ever give me.

[Jamie]

So for sure, what scares you most about yourself?

[Rochelle Humes]

My delusion. And of, like, how much I can take on.

[Jamie]

Yeah, good one. That's. That's. Yeah. Because you build a house of cards sometimes.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. Yeah. So probably that. Because I don't feel it until I'm like, woof. Okay.

[Jamie]

When was the last time you cried? It'd be golden buzzer.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. At the weekend, my friends did a little surprise for my birthday and, you know, just retouch when People think of you and they turn up for you and show up for you. So, yeah, as I said, I cry when it's nice.

[Jamie]

Yeah. What's something you can't let go of?

[Rochelle Humes]

Well, as we've discovered, I'm quite good at letting go.

[Jamie]

Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

I don't mind change.

[Jamie]

That's great. Then.

[Rochelle Humes]

I don't.

[Jamie]

So nothing you can change and you can let go of it.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah, I think. I think so.

[Jamie]

What's your guilty pleasure?

[Rochelle Humes]

Four in a bed on Channel four.

[Jamie]

Okay. I was like, did you ever see this? Is it really. Is it good? Is it really good, guys? Is it really.

[Rochelle Humes]

It's great. Be honest.

[Jamie]

Is it really good? How good is it?

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It's a good channel.

[Rochelle Humes]

It's so good. It's like they all go around and they try each other's B B's out.

[Jamie]

Really?

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. And they go to different hotels and they're like, I found a pew by the toilet. Really? No, it's great.

[Jamie]

That's where my friend loves Place in the Sun.

[Rochelle Humes]

Oh, it's all that. They're on after the. Are you joking? They're on in an order. Come Dine with me. Four in a bed place. That is my.

[Jamie]

That's your jam.

[Rochelle Humes]

That is like, if I've got nothing on in the afternoon and my meetings are done and I've got an hour and a half before the school run, best believe a cup of tea and I'm watching all three in a row. Fantastic.

[Jamie]

What turns you off?

[Rochelle Humes]

I'm just gonna ask you. What turns me on or is that next that's coming. Dishonesty. I can't. I like to know where I am with someone.

[Jamie]

What turns you on?

[Rochelle Humes]

I would say the opposite of that. Do you want, like, in the bedroom?

[Jamie]

No, you can do whatever you want.

[Rochelle Humes]

I don't know where we're going.

[Jamie]

You can do whatever you want. This is your show. Okay.

[Rochelle Humes]

This is me. Wow. Okay, now I'm sorry.

[Jamie]

So, honesty.

[Rochelle Humes]

Yeah. Yeah. I would say just like I said, that was the thing that attracted me to Marv the most. Like, he was very transparent with, like, how he felt about me. And up until then, I didn't know that's what I wanted. But he was. There was kind of like a safety in that.

[Jamie]

He also just doesn't age.

[Rochelle Humes]

It's really annoying.

[Jamie]

But you don't. You don't.

[Rochelle Humes]

The thing that's happened is he's bald, but he's got.

[Jamie]

He looks great.

[Rochelle Humes]

I know.

[Jamie]

He looks so good.

[Rochelle Humes]

It's really annoying.

[Jamie]

Being honest, you guys could be like 12 or like, in your 20s, like, you have this. Like, it's amazing. I bought 12 year olds. Yeah.

[Rochelle Humes]

Honestly. No, honestly, it's insane.

[Jamie]

What do you like most about yourself?

[Rochelle Humes]

I'm extremely loyal, and I know I'm a good listener. Like, I'm the person that my friends lean on when something's happened. When, you know, I really. If you've got a problem, I want you to share it with me. Like, I don't. I never. I live a busy life, but I'm never too busy for that.

[Jamie]

And that's why your friends turn up for you. Yeah, probably. 100%. Probably. Bonus. Last one. Will the Saturdays ever do a reunion tour?

[Rochelle Humes]

Blake, is that you? My son is desperate for it to happen.

[Jamie]

You can't.

[Rochelle Humes]

Was that from Blake Hughes?

[Jamie]

It was. And you would deny Blake that?

[Rochelle Humes]

I know. Do you know what? I wouldn't deny him of anything in life. But do you know what? To be totally, totally honest with you, we can barely get a dinner in, like, our group chat is like, Oona's, like, I'm over from Ireland this week, who's free, and it'll be like, one of us each time. And. And Vanessa's just had a baby. Molly's also got a young family. We actually sort of spoke top line on it the other day because I think, just imagine, anytime any of us announce something new, people assume it's, oh, God, I'm so excited to tell you this, guys.

[Jamie]

And people are like, oh, I know.

[Rochelle Humes]

And then I feel like I'm disappointing so many people. The gays are. They're clucking. They're ready. They are ready. And the only time there's, like, a mighty hoopla announcement, they think it's us. And the irony is, are doing my mighty Hooper this year. And the clues made it sound like it was gonna be us. And they were raging. They were like, marvin, are you joking? We wanted your wife and her group. So, look, I just. I'm grown enough to say never say never.

[Jamie]

100%.

[Rochelle Humes]

You know, we don't sort of close the door on it. We never have. Never say never. Get us to a restaurant first. Get us for a cocktail then. That's good. Yeah, exactly that.

[Jamie]

Rochelle, thank you so much. You're brilliant. We're gonna leave all of your links in the show description. Go and click on your podcast. Everything it all. Thank you so much. You're great company. You're incredible.

[Rochelle Humes]

Oh, you're great company. Love this guy. You make a good cup of tea, too. Acast Powers, the world's best podcasts Here's

[Jamie]

a show that we recommend.

[Rochelle Humes]

Do you like being educated on things that entertain but don't matter? Well, then you need to be listening to the Podcast with Knox and Jamie Every Wednesday we put together an episode dedicated to delightful idiocy to give your brain a break from all the serious and important stuff. Whether we're deep diving a classic movie, dissecting the true meanings behind the newest slang, or dunking on our own listeners for their bad takes or cringy stories, we always approach our topics with humor and and just a little bit of side eye. And we end every episode with recommendations on all the best new movies, books, TV shows or music.

[Jamie]

To find out more, just search up

[Rochelle Humes]

the Podcast with Knox and Jamie wherever you listen to podcasts and prepare to make Wednesday your new favorite day of the week.

[Jamie]

Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere.

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[Rochelle Humes]

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