Dinner parties have been an iconic staple of the Real Housewives franchise ever since Camille Mayer (formerly Grammer, permanently iconic) invited that talon-wielding, margarita-chugging psychic to terrorise the likes of Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump and Taylor Armstrong over a humble five-course meal (we don't know that last part for sure, but don't rich folks always have more than three courses?) back in 2010. We genuinely thought nothing could ever come close to trumping that chaotic Real Housewives of Beverly Hills dinner party over a decade ago – and then we witnessed ('watched' feels too comfortable a word) the dinner party to welcome new Housewife, Natasha Hamilton to The Real Housewives of Cheshire.
Deep exhale.
Frankly, it threw us right back to the days where security had to step in to the Big Brother house during the most heated of rows. Okay, so no-one physically came for anyone (although to be fair, that teaser for the next episode has raised concerns), but this dinner party was intense.
When we say everyone was coming for everyone, we mean everyone was coming for everyone, with a particular focus on Lauren Simonvs Nicole Sealey, Nicole vs Natasha, and Seema Malhotra vs Hanna Kinsella. We just kept thinking; those poor extras dining in the background.
The ferocious rows culminated in Hanna leaving the dinner table while calling frenemy Seema a "snake" following a row over newbie Paige Chohan. As the episode wrapped up, the teaser for next week's episode played, showing even 'spicier' scenes yet to come and, honestly, we appreciate the girls and producers bringing the drama this season, but this was uncomfortable viewing.
One fan even took to the series' official Instagram page to comment, "The preview for next week's episode is disgusting."
We're not quite sure how things managed to elevate to such heights, but the preview was introduced with Rachel Lugo (in her confessionals), saying, "And it didn't even end there".
The uncomfortable preview showed the dinner party table surrounded by waiters, producers and other RHOCheshire crew appearing to calm the situation down, with Rachel exclaiming, "What the hell is going on?" and Lystra Adams and Nicole getting into a row over Nicole sitting in Lystra's chair and Lystra removing it (with Nicole still on it). The last thing we hear is Natasha, off camera, saying, "Is this seriously happening?"
We can't really swear in these articles, but right now we're only left with four-letter words, to be honest.
Since the heated episode aired, many of the Housewives have taken to their socials to share their thoughts on what really went down (clearly, at the same time, trying to spoil next week's revelations).
Natasha wrote, "Dinner party…more like battle field 🫣."
Hanna confusingly commented, "🥴😌❤️."
Lystra said, "This dinner party was spicier 🌶️ than a vindaloo."
While Sheena wrote, "Ahh the face of people who thought they’d eat their mains 😂😘🙌🏾."
The Real Housewives of Cheshire continues Mondays at 9PM on ITVBe and ITVX