Made in Chelsea’s Caggie Dunlop reveals why she’ll NEVER do reality TV again

Caggie Dunlop

by Lily Smith |
Updated on

The former Made In Chelsea star tells Closer about her struggles with fame, and why she’s so proud of her ex-boyfriend Spencer Matthews

She was one of the first-ever reality TV stars, becoming a household name after Made In Chelsea debuted on our screens in 2011, and her on-off romance with Spencer Matthews played out.

But despite her success, Caggie Dunlop now says she’s glad she got out of reality TV when she did, quitting the show after just three series in 2012 to concentrate on her music career.

Caggie Dunlop Spencer Matthews
©Getty

Caggie, 30, says, “I didn’t have a negative experience on Made In Chelsea, and had some amazing things happen because of it – but I’d never do reality TV again. It’s a strange realm to exist in – people are pursuing fame in a way that can be destructive or disruptive.

“Everything is very extreme, so the emotions are heightened all the time, whether they’re positive or negative. And it was at the early stages of reality TV, so it was still quite experimental. I prefer creating a world that’s my own, rather than playing in someone else’s.”

CHECK OUT Made in Chelsea cast: where are they now?

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MIC stars of yore: Where are they now? slider

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Andy Jordan

Kicking things off is Andy Jordan, who first appeared on our screens wooing Spencer Matthews' then girlfriend Louis Thompson. He went on to get the girl, and earned himself a reputation as a bit of a love-sick wet cloth thanks to his incessant warbling - sorry, singing.

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Andy Jordan

Andy left the show in 2015 to focus on his music career and his super laid-back lifestyle brand Jam Industries. Having learned to surf as a teenager, he's now made his home in Cornwall and according to his Instagram is 'preferably underwater'. Still fit though.

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Binky Felstead

Binky is a Made in Chelsea fan favourite, having first appeared in 2011 as a firm friend of Ollie Locke and Cheska Hull. Her time on the show was wracked with unlucky in love storylines, with party boy Alex Mytton cheating on her repeatedly (that was sad, so sad) and man-child Joshua 'JP' Patterson refusing to commit.

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Binky Felstead

Binky went on to have a baby with JP and quit the show for her own spin off, Born in Chelsea, which followed the first few months of baby India's life. Binky is now a mum of two after welcoming baby son Wolfie with husband Max Darnton in August 2021. Yep, she's finally found everlasting love with businessman Max and they secretly tied the knot earlier this year.

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Caggie Dunlop

Caggie was an OG cast member and first appeared as Spencer's childhood sweetheart, who he then spent the rest of her three seasons on the show trying to snare. For a long time, she was the only woman the SW1 lothario ever seemed truly committed to, but she departed dramatically to go and pursue a music career in the States, leaving a distraught Spenny at the airport.

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Caggie Dunlop

Caggie's 'music career' didn't quite go to plan, and after her time in LA she's now moved back to London and recently posted some videos of a gig she played at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen - which, coincidentally, was where she filmed her last ever scene for MIC. She reportedly regretted leaving the show as early as she did, with a social following that trails behind a lot of the cast.

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Spencer Matthews

Speaking of the Devil, Spencer Matthews continued to womanize in Chelsea right up until he left the show in 2017. During that time, he dated nearly every female member of the cast and made enemies out of most of the guys, too. His long running bromance with current MIC cast member Jamie Laing was his most committed relationship.

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Spencer Matthews

For one of reality TV's biggest villains, Spencer has done very well for himself. He married model Vogue Williams in 2018 and the couple are currently expecting their third child together following the birth of son Theodore, three, and daughter Gigi, one. After an ill-fated stint on I'm A Celeb, where he was ejected following that steroid controversy, he's told Closer he would love to return to the jungle. You'll be pleased to know his bromance with Jamie Laing is still going strong as they host a podcast together. Oh, and his brother is married to quasi-royalty Pippa Middleton.

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Lucy Watson

Lucy came in like a wrecking ball when she first appeared on the show in season four, dating Andy and Jamie at the same time and instantly heightening tensions among the girls. One of her most high-profile storylines was dating Spencer after he broke up with Louise, making fast frenemies with a lot of the close-knit girls already established on the show. A few seasons later she was joined (and then succeeded by) younger sister Tiffany. The girls' dad was also a regular on the show, as the owner of many of the cast's favourite pubs.

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Lucy Watson

Lucy is still happily loved-up with James Dunmore and they got married in Greece in September 2021. She's also gone on to found multiple businesses since leaving the show in 2016. A vegan activist and fitness fanatic, she launched west London cafe chain Farm Girl and a jewellery design venture, Creature. Despite impressive business-woman credentials, she's said she'd 'never say never' to returning to the show, and is even approaching agencies for acting gigs.

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Jessica Woodley

OK, OK, so she was a bit of a 'non-character', but Jess gets a spot on this list for her infectious charm, addictive flirtations with Jamie Laing (he loved her, dontcha know) and her enduring best bud-ship with fellow cast member Toff. She was best known for her quirky wardrobe and not-quite-Chelsea edge, and her most explosive storyline was her 'unfinished business' with Alex Mytton...

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Jessica Woodley

When Jess left the show in 2016, her friendship wth Toff was on the rocks after Toff tried to bury the hatchet with arch-nemesis Tiffany Watson. But we're happy to report the two of them are still the best of friends, having gone on holiday to Mykonos together. She's still rocking her mega-watt looks, and these days earns a living as a fashion designer, stylist and photographer.

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Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor

The show's original messy love story, Hugo and Millie's relationship was ill-fated from day one, with the couple breaking up when Millie found out Hugo had cheated on her with best friend Rosie (throwing a drink in his face was a real dramatic highlight).

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Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor

All together now... awhhh! Proof that happily ever after really does exist, these two are now MARRIED after parting ways for five years and each embarking on relationships with other people. Millie was married to Professor Green, but turned back to her ex for comfort after their divorce and the spark for a romantic reunion was lit. Their 2018 summer wedding was covered by Hello! magazine, and featured an amazing macaron wedding cake and a dress by Halfpenny London. They're expecting their second child together after welcoming daughter Sienna last year.

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Phoebe Lettice

Also known as 'wrong 'un Jess Woodley' (in the Closer offices, at least), Phoebe first appeared on the show in season five and was pretty much universally hated by the time of her departure at the end of season six. She famously battled it out with Lucy Watson for title of Queen Cow on the show, and was confident she could lure ex-boyfriend Mytton away from her - she couldn't.

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Phoebe Lettice

Phoebe's career has followed a similar trajectory to actual Jess Woodley's, and she's now working as a stylist and creative consultant in London. But do any of us really care? I think not.

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Rosie Fortescue

Another original cast member, Rosie was a true MIC veteran when she finally left the show in 2017. She was best known for snogging Millie Mackintosh's then boyfriend/now husband Hugo - and not much else. She was a comforting presence on the show, but after that early explosive episode, her storylines had been decidedly lackluster.

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Rosie Fortescue

Since leaving MIC Rosie's jewellery business and fashion blog, At Fashion Forte, have hit dizzyingly successful heights. Though she launched them whilst still on the show, taking a step back from filming means she's been able to focus fully on them, and is now a bona fide business woman. She was even a guest (some reports say bridesmaid) at Millie and Hugo's nuptials.

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Stevie Johnson

Adorable but mild mannered (read: a bit dull), Stevie was only on the show from 2012 to 2015, but became Chelsea's unlucky in love stalwart, constantly trying to compete with his lothario mates Spencer, Proudlock and, er, Jamie Laing. An ill fated liaison with Steph Pratt saw him dumped for his best mate Josh – but Stevie still captured the hearts of the nation. The classic good egg,

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Stevie Johnson

Still very much living the high life, it's unclear what Stevie is actually doing with his life other than partying and going on holiday. But hey, he deserves it. Stevie also tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend Henrietta Oakes in July 2021.

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Stephanie Pratt

By the time Stephanie joined the cast of MIC in 2013 she was already a reality TV pro, having starred on the equally glossy The Hills since 2007. She first appeared as the girlfriend of – surprise surprise – Spencer Matthews, earning herself a reputation as a bit of a keeno when she moved in with him almost straight away. She made close friends with Lucy Watson, but a fall out between them (involving Lucy's boring boyfriend James) gradually escalated until Steph found herself with no friends and promptly left Chelsea.

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Stephanie Pratt

Having 'worked' in reality TV for her whole life, it makes sense that after her departure from the show Steph has appeared on Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Big Brother. It was announced that The Hills would be rebooting for a new series in 2019 and she filmed scenes for that in LA, although E4 bosses are reportedly 'open' to her returning to the show. She's also collaborated with Goddiva on a spangly AF collection of special occasion dresses.

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Chloe Green

In case you forgot (you probably did) heir to the Topshop throne Chloe Green appeared briefly on the show as Ollie Locke's girlfriend - the long-hair-and-Union-Jack-everything-years. She succeeded Gabriella Ellis as his one and only, before he decided he wasn't into girls, after all.

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Chloe Green

In some of the most WTF news of the current decade, Chloe Green shacked up with 'hot felon' Jeremy Meeks, the convicted LA gang member who found fame and fortune thanks to his viral mug shot and left his wife and two kids to be with the multi-millionaress. Sadly though, the pair weren't able to make it work and split in August 2019 after two years together. They share a two-year-old son.

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Gabriella Ellis

The original cast member was heartbroken when Ollie was grappling with his sexuality – so heartbroken, in fact, that one scene saw her casting a bunch of Ollie Locke-lookalikes for her upcoming music video. She quit the show shortly after to -you guessed it - focus on her music career.

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Gabriella Ellis

Gabriella's debut single Fight did indeed feature an Ollie-esque leading man. But since then we've heard very little from the aspiring pop-star, other than her cameo on MiC LA and that she's rebranded as London Ellis. Edgy.

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Cheska Hull

Another OG MIC cast member, Cheska was best pals with the likes of Binky Felstead and Rosie Fortescue but left the show after 14 series as she said it made her "depressed".

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Cheska Hull

Cheska briefly returned to the show in 2017 to announce she was expecting her first child with boyfriend Tom Huggett. The pair are no longer together but co-parent their son Charlie. Cheska now lives in Devon where she runs boutique Amelia's Attic with her mum.

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Caggie’s rocky relationship with lothario Spencer, and her close friendships with co-stars Millie Mackintosh and Rosie Fortescue, meant she was often at the centre of MIC’s dramas.

She was later linked to singer Harry Styles in 2012, and Millie previously revealed that the attention surrounding them “was horrible for Caggie”, as 1D fans even showed up at Caggie’s parents’ house.

She now prefers to stay out of the spotlight, and has been dating art consultant Nicholas Campbell for six months, telling Closer, “I’m in a relationship now with a boyfriend who I met through a mutual friend. We’ve very happy, so we’ll see how things go.”

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But the model and singer is still close to her former cast mates, including Spencer, and – despite their difficult past together – says she’s delighted he’s found happiness with wife Vogue Williams and their baby son Theodore, 11 months.

The star – who was Millie’s bridesmaid at her wedding to Hugo Taylor last year – says, “Spencer and I are still friends; he’s very happy. Fatherhood really suits him. He’s really come into himself in a great way, so I’m proud of him for that.

"I don’t watch the show any more, so I don’t really know what’s going on with it, but I’m still close with some of the cast. Millie and I have been best friends all through the years. Even when I was living in America [for her music career], we’d speak – but it’s nice to be back [in London] and to be able to see everyone more.”

Closer spoke to Caggie at the Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef Awards

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