As Real Housewives of Cheshire super fans (we'd either choose RHOCheshire or Gemma Collins as our Mastermind subject FYI) and therefore as individuals who are well versed in the show's many fights, rows, and rifts, even we've been left scratching our heads wondering how the current cast are going to move on from the latest cast divide.
A little refresher for those slightly less obsessed than we are; last time we saw the ladies on-screen, a cast divide had split the group right down the middle resulting in a truly wild series 17 reunion episode. The divide is between Rachel Lugo, Nicole Sealey, Lauren Simon, Seema Malhotra, and former Housewife Hanna Kinsella on one side and newer (ish) cast members, Lystra Adams, Sheena Lynch, Paige Chohan and newest Housewife Eleanor Egar on the other.
This divide has been a long time coming and has grown as a result of multiple factors; primarily, a raging feud between Lauren and Paige, and some, erm, recent on-screen frostiness between Nicole and Eleanor.
The Housewives finished filming series 17 months ago now, so surely they've had time to build bridges and have a few apology Proseccos away from the ITVBe cameras by now? Sadly not. In fact, according to Guest Housewife and OG of OGs Tanya Bardsley, the cast divide is rifer than ever amongst the ladies.
During a quick exclusive catch-up about Tanya's meaningful jewellery line, we asked whether the cast divide was still prevalent amongst the ladies, to which Tanya responded (in the most Tanya way), "Oh God, yeah."
While Tanya didn't speak out about taking sides as a Guest of the show, she did stress that she was very much "Team Lystra" (Tanya and Lystra Adams are on and off-screen best friends) in this whole debacle, adding, "Yeah, I’m always team Lystra.
"At the end of the day, we all know that we can all be dickheads, and that’s what I’ve been saying to people. I don’t hold grudges or hate. Yeah, I can say, ‘I don’t agree with that’, and ‘You’re being a dick head’, but I’m also very aware that I can be a dick head, too. Am I allowed to swear?”
Did we mention that we adore Tanya? No? Okay, we do.
When asked whether the divide is likely to spill over into the next series/any ten-year-anniversary plans, Tanya simply said, "Yeah, there’s no sign of it letting up yet."
However, the OG and mental health advocate reckons she could play a hand in eventually bringing the ladies together, telling Closer, "I am good at that. I do it every single day in my house. I’m like a referee. They’re always fighting in my house so yeah, I’m kind of used to it.'
Visit TanyaBardo.com to explore Tanya’s range of meaningful jewellery.
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Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big Brother, Love Island and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅