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

0:00I made more money in Escob Juniors than I did on 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 there? We'd leave a club and photographers would be on the floor trying to get up our skirts. And 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.

0:33Rochelle Humes, everybody! Marvin apparently took your phone, put his number in it, called himself. He called my phone and 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? I'm like, come on. Our first date, we just went for a drive. We went to a drive from McDonald's. Did you fancy him? How awful. And I married him. Your dad wasn't around. No. And he left when you were one. 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.

1:08My mom, 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. Lifewise, sort of financially, I never knew.

1:25Every idea starts with a problem. Morby Parker's was simple. Glasses are too expensive, so they set out to change that. By designing glasses in-house and selling directly to customers, they're able to offer prescription eyewear that's expertly crafted and unexpectedly affordable. Warby Parker glasses are made from premium materials like impact-resistant polycarbonate and custom acetate, and they start at just$95, including prescription lenses. Get glasses made from the good stuff. Stop by a Warby Parker store near you. Save on tropical flavors at Whole Foods Market during the Savor the Tropics event, with yellow sales signs highlighting seasonal finds throughout the store.

2:04The produce section is bursting with pineapples, mangoes, and kiwis at their juiciest. Grill up fresh seafood paired with tropical fruit marinades, or grab and enjoy the spicy Hawaiian pizza, huli huli chicken, and more. Finish with a sweet slice of mango yuzu chantilly cake. Savor the tropics and save at Whole Foods Market. Hello, I'm Elizabeth Day, the creator and host of How to Fail. It's the podcast that celebrates the things in life that haven't gone right. And what, if anything, we've learned from those mistakes to help us succeed better. Each week, my guests share three failures, sparking intimate, thought-provoking and funny conversations.

2:41You'll hear from a diverse range of voices sharing what they've learned through their failures. Join me Wednesdays for a new episode each week. This is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment original podcast. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

3:26Guys, welcome back to another episode of Great Company. Really excited because we have Rochelle Humes on the podcast today. Okay, Rochelle is 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 growing 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.

3:55We 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 Humes, 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 Plus show called Raising Chelsea. It's out there right now. You can go and check it out. It's on Disney Plus. And we really hope you like it.

4:24And 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 Rochelle Humes. The thing I've worked out recently is that I actually, this is no wonder I can actually sing. So I'm going to, and this is what I showed to my team this morning.

4:57So I sing The Lion King. It's the only thing that gets my baby to relax. Which song? I'm going to sing it for you. And you have to judge if I can sing. Are you ready for this? I think so. Can you feel the love tonight? I was like, okay, I'm actually surprised. That was good, guys. I know. I know. And I can go higher. Ready? And I'm going to go higher for you one more time. Okay. Can you feel? No, I'm not going to do it. Oh, God. I can't. That was, I'm not mad at it. Wait, so he loves this? Loves it more than anything. Loves it more than anything. That's, I mean, you found your fan. Do you still remember S Club Juniors?

5:46Yeah. Do you know what? There are real sort of like gaps in my memory because 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. No, but when we were younger, when I was younger, right, being a pop star, being famous, being like that was just like... Off the charts, I know. But you did it. I know. And do you know what? I just, it's so, basically, we used to watch CBBC at home when we were little, did you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it was an audition and it was called S Club Search. And the actual audition was to support S Club 7 at Wembley.

6:31And 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. Yeah. Thousands of kids queuing around the block at Wembley Arena. And we went and we auditioned. And I actually went to the audition with Frankie. Did you? Yeah, because we went to the same weekend dance school. So we went together, we queued together. No. Yeah, with our parents. And... Are you nervous or when you had... Are you thinking, I'm going to get this? I just... This is a great day out. Like, this is unbelievable. What was the audition process like?

7:09It was 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 audition 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, they obviously have so many kids on rotation. I then grew too tall for the Simba and then he grew too tall. as well. No. So we could have played Nala and Simba together as like 11 year olds. Soulmates.

7:47Could you imagine? Yeah, but the life didn't allow you to do it. No, because that would give me the ear. Yeah. When I look back, it's cute, but it would have also been a little bit cringe. But what was it about? What was it about the stage? What was it about being in that limelight that made you excited? I was, you're never going to believe this, but I was a really shy child. I didn't believe it. 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 because I was that kid that hid behind my mum's legs and was very, and I suppose probably because it was just me and my mum, I was very sort of like obsessed with her.

8:28Like, you know, that kid that's just like, oh, mummy, mummy. So that was me. And then I had a bad stammer. How bad was the stammer? 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 mum. 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 gone from going, come on, talk, talk, talk. It's a big life. shut up 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 Like, such good character building when I look back, like the resilience it taught you.

9:33Explain that to me 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? You're so, so your yeses 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, I 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.

10:13And 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.

10:50did you um s club juniors have a whatsapp group we have one yeah no you don't yeah we do it's quite recent it's about a year or so old but yeah we've got the juniors have a whatsapp group yeah how funny yeah it's 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 i'm just just showing me this and like an old picture and they'll send it in yeah it's so good did you guys make money from it or no Do you know what? When I look, I made more money in Escob Juniors than I did on the Saturdays. Is that shocking?

11:24I know. I know. But there was so much... No, no, you can't. Call Frankie now. Shakula. I would honestly... Call her and she will tell you. Are you serious? I think if you called her and said, Frankie, did you make more money in Escob Juniors on the Saturdays? She instantly would say Escob Juniors. In fact, we couldn't believe it, right? Because you can imagine... What? Frankie's also a person that I have had two experiences in this with which is crazy which is mad and also we didn't know about the second one we knew about the first well we went for the audition together but nothing was to say that we were both going to get it we were so happy that we went together can you imagine how awkward it would have 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 hang on so i'm just going to 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 yeah i never who's making the money the music 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 this is a this is 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 you get fatigued you get tired people you're not as i know you're not making the songs that people whatever happens this naturally happens right because it's like life and they go okay done thanks so much for that but also at the time you're the chosen one so you never want to rock the boat because you're like do you know how how many girls would be whipping these extensions out, ready to put them in their hair to get up there.

13:10Do you know what I mean? I'm always aware that... Did you feel that? 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. Is this Saturdays? 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 it's like picking your favorite Power Ranger almost 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 they were everyone was interested in who we were dating and how that looked and it was kind of those weekly magazines right that 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 no way it was that horrible era of they were actually doing that because we always had these oh my gosh no that was like a thing I never forget when when I started dating Marvin he couldn't believe it because 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 wait yeah yeah yeah yeah stop trying to protect him like yeah we know it doesn't mean but he would like stand behind me when I got in the car and wait and like come around to the door but like fully because photographers would get on the ground and try and take photos up your skirt they just would that would just be part like it'd be awful and you'd think like yeah it's 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 because what's the weird thing about that time right is you you feel like the chosen one so you feel like and you feel like I 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 and all of this is going to be taken away from us and we 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 like so how did the money work you were paid a salary you were paid how does that yes it was it was salary basically they just pay you so you'd get an advance from your everything was advanced so the labor 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 they'll this is the marketing budget this is the you know so on and so forth and then there were these things that they called I don't know, and I'm not in the music industry now so I don't know if it's still the same.

16:25And also how are you meant to know? Exactly. And you're just like whatever lawyer, I'm sighing anyway I need the money and this is what I want to do. 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 because 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 yeah 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 or 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 360 deals 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 proper and so you're living an almost lie because you're trying to live this whole existence or everyone just expects it of you and you know and 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 oh wow that's some that's some times in there that's sometimes funky better on a tuesday fantastic yeah yeah yeah bring back the good old days oh my god um 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 because the labels didn't have as much money as they used to so it wasn't it just wasn't okay we can retire 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 direction with everyone yeah how does how do you manage that because also So you work harder than anyone else.

18:37So I imagine the other band members must have been like, oh my God, Rochelle just works. You would just work. We can't, we can't. She's relentless. She's always turning up earlier. 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 went. So we didn't have that kind of overnight success.

19:19So 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, we all work because 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.

19:54I remember watching your TV show that was on E! Network. Dying. I loved it. Did you? Yeah. Stop it. I loved it. We were. It was when you were breaking America. And the wanted was in it, wasn't it? We give it a go. It wasn't the wanted. Yeah, at the time we shared the same management. Yeah. But yeah, we, yeah, that was a funny period of time. Because 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. Oh yeah, obviously. Obviously, off we go. All right, we'll do this, I guess. And then that was sort of, that was such a funny period of time.

20:27And I never forget, like, I take my hat off to anybody that does that. I did it for like eight years. No, I know, but people just think it's... You sell your soul. 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 oh no that's that's small fright we had to like well we 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.

21:22Wait, what? 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, there was a suite in the Mayfair Hotel. That you booked out? That they made look like a doctor's surgery. And we pretended that a doctor was telling me I was pregnant. So good. When I actually think about it, I'm like, wow what do you think you've taken from your mum's parenting into your parenting what haven't you taken 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 well 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.

22:19And I remember just randomly caught a bug or I'd eaten something. And I called my mum at 2am and I was like, mum, you need to come here. And she arrived with a bottle of Jif and a cloth at my front door and got in bed with me. And that's the sort of parent that she's always been, 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. Wow. 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.

22:55I'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. 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.

23:39And 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 because that's only half of the battle but what she did as a single parent I'm like I sort of when Marv's away for the weekend I'll be in a mood with him and like why yeah i'm like yes all right you're at work you're having a lovely time are you is it great djing and ibith how good hope you're having a ball you know and i'm like aggie just because he's away and i think like the kind of the love and the fight that she put in but i never knew when did you recognize that because there's a moment right when you suddenly get a you you you realize you go oh wait hang on a second i think probably not until later as in like probably just before I had my own or just, I think one thing that I'll always give her credit for is I never knew that we didn't have a lot as in like life wise sort of financially.

24:53I 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 help with that. So I can't, that's the only thing that I knew that was different is that I used to be really embarrassed about being... Yeah, what did it make you feel? 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 the school lunch.

25:27I 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 do you remember that moment 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 mum was dating someone at the time and then there was a period of time when my dad started seeing me for the odd weekend.

26:02It 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 really, her 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, your dad wasn't around. No, no. And he left when you were one. He left when I was one. And so I don't really have any memory of him.

26:47I remember 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 where were you waiting literally on the sofa by the window and it's so weird because when I think about it now I there was so many years 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 a layer and we're in those first few months of that bubble, I instantly had zero curiosity about ever getting to know my dad.

27:32But 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. 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 don't want them to be left so I think yeah I just I it weirdly as a as a kid I did find it quite hard and I think he went on to have three other children who 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 I saw it from the outside that it was that he was parenting them and not me.

28:21Who filled that space, the space for your dad growing up? My uncle. My uncle, Paul, 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. Because that's important. 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 all my friends thought that was really cool because he was Paul Ince and he was like this huge sorry hold on a second yeah so yeah I know so he sorry oh you didn't know this I thought that's why you asked me no this is not in the notes this is not in my research I don't think people really know about this actually but yeah so he's so my mum what I know So he's close.

29:15He gave me away at our wedding. Imagine Marvin had to ask Paul to marry me. That's another story in itself. Can't wait. This is... Yeah. Wow. So that was really exciting. So I'd get taken to West Ham every weekend. And I always think that's also why I don't like football so much, because it was such... I just had to go and sit and watch. Because you were forced to go. Yeah, I just remember we'd be just doing colouring and stuff whilst we were watching. so they he really was that like male role model that I looked up to that was like there for his kids that was wow and a lot of other men looked up to as well Paul Ince is a real icon 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 mum 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 just a big responsibility to take 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 I didn't have a male figure around because I had him.

30:35But then he was obviously busy and, you know, he was, but he always made time for me. They always made time, like every single weekend. But my mum, I didn't realise that it was, that everybody had two parents, if you know what I mean, because my mum was just... You didn't understand that. Yeah.

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31:36The produce section is bursting with pineapples, mangoes, and kiwis at their juiciest. Grill up fresh seafood paired with tropical fruit marinades or grab and enjoy the spicy Hawaiian pizza, huli huli chicken, and more. Finish with a sweet slice of mango yuzu chantilly cake. Savor the tropics and save at Whole Foods Market. Hello, I'm Elizabeth Day, the creator and host of How to Fail. It's the podcast that celebrates the things in life that haven't gone right. And what, if anything, we've learned from those mistakes to help us succeed better. Each week, my guests share three failures, sparking intimate, thought-provoking, and funny conversations.

32:13You'll hear from a diverse range of voices sharing what they've learned through their failures. Join me Wednesdays for a new episode each week. This is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment original podcast. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

32:55creepy man. Sorry, creepy man. This isn't the first time you've done this. I know. How many people have you done this to? Do you know what's so funny is we're talking like Blackberry era. Okay, great. With that little like... Guys, bring back the Blackberry. Loved it. Why have we all got iPhones? That was like the best period of time. That little time. Yeah. China White's Funky Buddha and a Blackberry. Like, bring back the good old days. Do 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 okay and was called graham graham 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 yeah creepy creepy guy so we'd all we'd done this big gig that they have an island called child line which is like um it's a bit like jingle bell ball yes but it's all for charity so lots it was one of those multi-act bills so lots of different sort of artists were performing then there was an after party at this club i think it was called lilies 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 saturdays table which is just cracking me up anyway it's just so funny and did you fancy him yeah I did but I just come out just come out of a relationship okay 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 I don't need I don't need I've got no time for it like whatever that was the headspace I was in and also I mean we'll get to this but I'm like I'm not doing someone in a boy band that was just like my thing.

34:49Absolutely not a chance. Why? Because? He's just going to be like. He's going to be like, everybody out. Like, no way. Everybody out. Like, he's got girls throwing themselves at hit. Like, I'm just not interested. And then, anyway, I left my bag, which he's like, what girl goes to the bathroom and doesn't take her bag? Which, fair. But I actually needed a wee. Like, I just needed a wee. And I just ran, like, I was like, oh, I just actually needed a wee. And then I was. Well, he was rummaging. I know. Just everything is just. So image of her rummaging through your bag. Also, like, who isn't raised to know that you never go through a woman's handbag?

35:24I know. And 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 going to tell 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 I'm like my toes just cut it's so curly and he'll he'll be so angry that he's not here to defend himself because he thinks he didn't ever put that voice on but I promise you he did and 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 because we were like we just liked hanging out together and we didn't like to be on our own so I never so I was like how did you get my number and he's like don't worry about that and I was like okay oh god creepy yeah yeah um and then trying to be sexy yeah and then he was like and he could obviously hear of Ness from the background he was like who's with him like oh I'm with Ness 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?

36:48And I was like, yeah. Perfect flirting tactic, by the way. I'm like, I'm just not in it. Exactly. Just to really like, just slightly. I know, I'm like, just to let him know. And obviously, JLS were way more successful than the Saturdays, but that is not the point, okay? I know this already. And then he offered that I go to his room because 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. Nice tactic. And I was like, it's all right. And then he was like, no, nothing like that. We can just chill. We can sit.

37:23We can sit and read the Bible that's in the drawer. Literally that. And then... I promise I'm dipping to everyone else. I know, it was so... It was literally that. Nothing, nothing like that at all. Anyway, I didn't take him up on his offer. However, 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... Persistent from him. Really persistent from him. I don't think he was used to someone being like, it's okay. I was then trying to find reasons not to like him.

38:05And my friends were like... You like him. You like him and he seems really sweet. But I think I was trying to stop myself. When you went on the date, did you guys kiss? 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 and we just went for a drive. Again, creepy from him. Well, we just didn't really know where to go. I didn't want to be seen. Yeah. So do you know what we did? We went to a drive from 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.

38:43And it was like, I'm so normal. And he's fancy car. And we were just going around, going around town. Quite sweet though. 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 how he felt about me. And it wasn't an ick. And do you know what? That's what I was saying to my sister who's recently started dating. 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 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 how did he propose?

39:35he proposed in the Maldives we went did you know it was coming? no idea whatsoever but it didn't feel scary it didn't feel young when I think of like my sisters now yeah I'm like wow that is crazy to me but you lived a life yeah yeah and so did he so I think You'd lived a life in the same age together. You'd lived this life. So you'd grown up so quickly. 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 going to be back at 10.

40:15You'll be back at like 2 o 'clock in the morning. I'm like, oh, whatever. So he got it where my ex before 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. What do you think the secret is to a happy marriage? My gosh, that's such a good question. We'll be married 14 years this year. Amazing. I think communication, and I know that sounds so basic, but it is so important.

40:52Like 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 high points are. Yeah. Because I've seen couples be competitive and I find that so strange. 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'm like, I'm so proud. And it's kind of, I have that feeling. And I would always be like the one in the way.

41:42And it's like, ah. But that's what you've got to be. But 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 it'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 I want to talk about your business My Little Coco have you found juggling being a founder oh my gosh well you'll know it's a wild ride it's a wild like if i could look back i'm and i want it 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 such a good brand thank you it's no truthfully it's And the only way it is, it's so, it's so clean.

42:41Oh, thank you. And I don't, and I hope that translates to what people I mean by that. It's just, it's just good. It is. It's really safe. It's just good. 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.

43:25I'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. Such a good brand. 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 and honey. That's like. That ending dance. Peak Jessica Albert. Unbelievable. Love her. I believe. Jessica. Got this. The best. The best. 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.

44:07Yeah, that lack of fear just going to go down. 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.

44:58you know things can happen and balls can be dropped and and I did drop a couple balls um but now I just feel like we are I understand what I'm doing I'm in the rhythm of are you more confident in that space as well yeah so 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 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 oh yeah it is i'm get so uncomfortable I've talked about myself just do it 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 yeah but people also must love working with you 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.

46:24Still now, grateful? 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 you would work harder than anyone else in the room 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 outside of that 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.

47:20We have help. I have a woman that is with me Monday to Saturday morning and she is incredible and she helps hold the thought down why Marv's currently at his radio show. I'm here. She's there until I get back after that, you know, and we have... And did you ever feel guilty about talking about that or did you feel that you couldn't talk about that at some point? 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 getting help. And the first response was like, no one's looking after my grandkids but me.

47:59I was like, oh gosh. And also like, oh, you're too good to see you washing up, are you? I'm like, no, I just need some help. It was more my mum that I was really nervous. I don't ever care talking about it. 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. Like, other parents at school have been like, oh, so you're the nanny. And she's like, yeah, I'm their nanny. But she means their actual nan, you know. Because when they call her nanny. That's so funny. You were worried to tell your mum. I was so scared. And rightly so, because she wasn't happy.

48:35Really? Yeah. She was like, I don't know who you two think you are. Oh, my God. Dying. yeah she was like outraged really yeah and then she's come around to it now because when she looks after the kid she's got extra for her hands she's like I get in my mom's having a cup of tea on the sofa and she's done having a sleep so yeah but she was who I was the most nervous to tell because and my aunt because I was like they're so gonna judge me because we're from that you know hustle work 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 mom 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 mom wanted to have a night out she'd take me with her and i'd she'd put two chairs together no in yeah when She'd go out with her friends and put two chairs together.

49:38I'd be there. I'd be asleep on the chair for someone's come over me. Because she would never have anyone babysit me. It was like... Get out. Are you serious? So you would go to like a wine bar or whatever? A car ball of wine bar. 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... And then pull a seat. Night-night. Two chairs would come out and that was it. I remember just... Yeah. But 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.

50:07Yeah, you would remember that when you used to wake up in your bed. But the idea of us being out of her sight wasn't a thing. 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 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 it's that's really given me the confidence to go again with another brand And actually just sort of having this sort of network now of girls around me.

51:04And I love that people take so much from it.

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51:50The produce section is bursting with pineapples, mangoes, and kiwis at their juiciest. Grill up fresh seafood paired with tropical fruit marinades. Or grab and enjoy the spicy Hawaiian pizza, huli huli chicken and more. Finish with a sweet slice of mango yuzu chantilly cake. Savor the tropics and save at Whole Foods Market. I just want to say thank you. Thank you. And you get your dislike. I'm so pleased to come. I've seen this on Instagram. I love it. You are the greatest in every single one. I really agree. And everything you're doing. every single time I ever see you're just so kind and you are and so like sweet and it's just likewise likewise and I'm obsessed with you on 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'm I love it I love it so much it's coming back so we're doing much as sophie's like I just uh she's honestly like because she she finds me quite annoying sometimes because i'm just like let's keep going we all find ourselves yeah it is what it is it is what it is thank you listen we like to end our conversation with eight questions quick fire you ready for this i'll try and be quick here we go what's a saying or phrase that makes you smile or cheers you up i would say and we we my gang we all say it to each other now i said we say it's temporary love that but here's why because when we're like having a great time it's temporary right so like just soak it up enjoy it like we don't know how long this is going to be for so let's just soak it up but also if you're having a shit time it's temporary yeah so like it's the best either you know and you know that that's going to 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 best compliment anyone's ever given you 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 bad stuff i can deal with but like we had parents even not too long ago before we broke up for easter and they were saying how kind valley 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.

54:12It's actually embarrassing, Jamie, because I'm thinking, I'm going to break down in front of the teacher. And I've normally rushed from work to make the parents even on time. I'm sweating by the time I get there. And then she's like, I just have to say to you, Mrs. Humes. And I've gone, I've gone already. Don't bother. I'm out the door. She is the kindest girl I've ever, and I'm like, and Marv is looking at me as if she's saying, not now, not now, hold it in. I'm quite like Britain's got talent, golden buzzer. Yeah, the golden buzzer. the golden mother it's a wrap I'm not unbelievable this yeah and I'm not yeah that's me so yeah anything and you see the person on stage yeah that's it and I'm done I'm finished so any time you wait you'll have this 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 so for sure what scares you most about yourself my delusion and of like how much I can take on yeah good one that's that's yeah because you build a house of cards sometimes yeah yeah so probably that because i i don't feel it until i'm like okay when was the last time you cried maybe golden buzzer yeah at the weekend my friends did a little surprise for my birthday and you don't 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 yeah what's something you can't let go of well as we've discovered I'm quite good at letting go I don't mind change that's great then I don't so nothing you can change and you can let go of it yeah I think so what's your guilty pleasure?

55:50four in a bed on channel four okay I was like have you ever seen it? is it really is it good? is it really good? guys is it really it's great to be honest is it really good? how good is it? it's a good show it's so good it's like they all go around and they try each other's like B &B's out really yeah and they go to different hotels and they're like I found a pew by the toilet really I'm like no it's great that's why my friend loves place in the sun oh it's all that they're on after are you joking they're on in an order come dine with me four in a bed place in the sun that is my that's your jam 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 what turns you off I was going to ask me what turns me on.

56:37Or is that next? That's coming.

56:42Dishonesty. I can't. I like to know where I am with someone. What turns you on?

56:51I would say the opposite of that. Do you want, like, in the bedroom? No, you can do whatever you want. You can do whatever you want. This is your show. Oh, okay, this is me. Wow. Okay, now I'm washing. So honesty. Yeah, I would say just, like I said, that was the thing that attracted me to Marv the most. He was very transparent with how he felt about me. And up until then, I didn't know that's what I wanted, but there was kind of like a safety in that. He also just doesn't age. It's really annoying. But you don't. The only thing that's happened is he's bald. Yeah, but he looks great. I know. He looks so good.

57:30It's really annoying. Honestly, you guys could be like 12 or like in your 20s. Like you have this like, it's amazing. A bald 12 year old. Yeah, honestly. Honestly, it's insane. What do you like most about yourself? 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, And 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. And that's where your friends turn up for you. Yeah, probably. 100%. Probably. Bonus, last one. Will the Saturdays ever do a reunion tour?

58:16Blake, is that you? My son is desperate for it to happen. You can't. Was that from Blake Hughes? It was. And you would deny Blake that? 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, Una's like, I'm over from Ireland this week. Who's free? And it'll be like one of us each time. 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...

58:49I go, I'm so excited to tell you this, guys. And people are like... Oh, I know. and then I feel like I'm like disappointing so many people the gays are like they're clucking they're ready they are ready ready and the only time there's like a Mighty Hoopla announcement they think it's us and the irony is JLS are doing Mighty Hoopla this year and the clues made it sound like it was going to 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 100 and 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 yeah that's good yeah exactly that 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 your company it'll thank you so much you're great you're incredible oh you're a great company i love this guy you make a good cup of tea too

1:00:02Hello, I'm Elizabeth Day, the creator and host of How to Fail. It's the podcast that celebrates the things in life that haven't gone right. And what, if anything, we've learned from those mistakes to help us succeed better. Each week, my guests share three failures, sparking intimate, thought-provoking and funny conversations. You'll hear from a diverse range of voices sharing what they've learned through their failures. Join me Wednesdays for a new episode each week. This is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment original podcast. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. With endless scroll algorithms and AI flooding feeds, podcasting stands out.

1:00:38They're sought, not served. Audiences actively choose to hear trusted voices on topics they care about. In fact, 72 % of listeners say podcasts shape cultural conversations. For marketers, that means podcasts shift brand perception like no other channel. ACAST's Podcast Pulse 2025 report has the proof. Get all the insights at podcastpulse2025.com.