It was perhaps never destined for the glamorous heights of TOWIE or Geordie Shore, but MTV’s jaw-dropping Geordie Shore rip-off The Valleys was a reality show with heart.
It ran for just three seasons from 2012 to 2014, but during that time the cast – strippers, builders and models galore – earned their stripes as some of the most OUTRAGEOUS reality stars of the lot.
Over those chaotic two years in the '10s, we watched some of South Wales’ biggest wannabes team up for the infamous Valleywood Nights tours, descending on clubs up and down the UK to pump up punters and generally cause absolute carnage. It was Geordie Tours without the class; Sugar Hut, without Mark Wright – and a tonne more booze.
Bare boobs and risky public romps were par for the course, but there was also a tender side to the cast, with Chidgey’s teddy Graham a much loved character and a long term (three year) relationship between two of the cast members.
As with most reality stars, some have remained in the spotlight ten years later, while others have vanished off the face of the Earth. We say that; we think about each and every one of them...a lot. Maybe even daily...definitely daily.
CHECK OUT The Valleys cast: then and now
The Valleys: what are they up to now
Lateysha Grace THEN
As a fresh-faced 19 year old with a moderately sized bum, Lateysha was partial to a strop, and wasn't averse to dropping her housemates in the shit if it meant she got brownie points.
Lateysha Grace NOW
When Lateysha landed her own show on MTV, Million Dollar Baby, she said it was because she wanted to give daughter Wynter all the things she didn't have growing up. Awh. She also appeared on Big Brother in 2016 and Celebrity Ex on the Beach in 2020. The Valleys queen is also known for that iconic skirt-ripping gif (woah, remember gifs?) - the one that almost broke Rylan and the internet.
Chidgey THEN
Like Lateysha, Chidgey was – well – let's just say, pretty full of himself. He rated himself as "the best thing to come out the Valleys" and was a gym obsessive.
Chidgey NOW
Chidge was a bricklayer by trade, and after filming wrapped, he went right back to the hi-vis jackets and cement. But he's also heavily involved with fitness and has a personal training business on the side.
Natalee Harris THEN
Natalee came in like a wrecking ball when she joined the show a couple of weeks late – as Chidgey's recent ex. Her various love (and sex) exploits dominated her time on the show.
Natalee Harris THEN
Needless to say, it wasn't long before Nat was snapped up by MTV's other most debauched offering, Ex on The Beach, and she has since gone on to become an OnlyFans creator. According to her Instagram, she is also an aesthetics practitioner and phlebotomist. She is even the girl boss of her own aesthetics company called Aesthetics by Natalee.
The Suminski twins THEN
The Suminski twins showed up in season 2 to replace Aron Williams, and were truly outrageous. One time, Jason (or maybe Anthony?) peed in a bottle of apple juice for his brother and Liam to drink, which seems miles away from today's heavily edited/filtered Love Island aesthetic True story.
The Suminski twins NOW
They must have calmed down a bit because both of them returned to college to study Mental Health Nursing and Psychology. This is a picture of one of them, but we can't tell which one. Aesthetically, we're pretty sure Anthony has Ken-style blond hair now and Jason has a beard, so there's that.
Liam Powell THEN
Liam Powell was the cheeky chappy whose biggest storyline was his vicious bust up with Carley early on in series one. A lot of his time on the show was spent with Chidgey trying to wingman him; a nice Welsh fella.
Liam Powell NOW
Can we just say, Liam has not aged a day since 2014. It's unclear what, exactly, he's up to from his social media (other than he has his own vehicle leasing company), but he seems to be living a glamorous life with lots of travelling and family time – splitting the majority of his time between the UK and Ibiza. You go, Liam. Looks like mission accomplish – you got out of the Valleys.
Carley Belmonte THEN
Carley Belmonte was an aspiring DJ and thought of herself as a seriously cool cat, but lost her edge when she drunkenly proclaimed her love for 'best friend' Chidgey. They made up, though, and it was never spoken of again.
Carley Belmonte NOW
Carley's now dropped out of the limelight completely, and has a three-year-old daughter. She still likes glamming up for a night on the town with the girls, though. Don't worry. Oh, she also wears glasses now.
Leeroy Reed THEN
Aspiring rapper Leeroy Reed was in trouble with the law a few times back then, specifically for domestic violence charges when he was accused of slamming a car door on his then girlfriend's head.
Leeroy Reed NOW
Though he wasn't arrested at the time, and went on to become a dad, Leeroy was handed a 22 month prison sentence for his role in supplying drugs in his native South Wales.
Jenna Jonathon THEN
Jenna Jonathon had a personality which didn't quite match up to the lariest of the Valleys lot, but she quickly became a lad mag star and fan favourite.
Jenna Jonathon NOW
During filming, Jenna already had one law degree, but since the series wrapped she went on to get another, earning distinctions in EVERY module. These days, Jenna is living in Wales with her beautiful daughter Amori Valentina and partner Joe. She recently changed career and decided to move into aesthetic medicine.
Nicole Morris THEN
Stylist and hair dresser Nicole Morris was known for ditzy antics and absolutely her inhumanly large hair. She was also the best of buds with Lateysha Grace, and the pair of them regularly ended up snogging at the end of a night if they hadn't pulled other people.
Nicole Morris NOW
It's unclear whether Nicole and Leteysha are still close (we like to believe so), but Nicole is certainly still enjoying a night out. She worked briefly as a shot girl in Magaluf after filming. These days, she is living in Swansea, but not really as it looks like she is living her best life all over the world. Oh, and her hair is flatter and blonder these days.
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This article first appeared on Closer on 6 August 2019.