'The Valleys makes Made In Chelsea look like The Antiques Roadshow'
Thursday 25 October 2012
They are mentors to MTV’s most outrageous cast so far, but Jordan Reed and AK (Anna Kelle) are giving nine welsh youths a chance to follow their dreams by taking them from their country lives in The Valleys and plonking them in the buzzing capital of Wales, Cardiff.
Jordan is a confident promotions manager and at only 28 is owner of popular nightspot Glam nightclub. AK is an empowered woman who has been her own boss for a while now and is here to put an end to the bimbo glamour girl stereotype and prove that it takes brains to be a model!
So whats the show about?
J: It’s about different people, with different dreams and aspirations. They come to work for myself and AK and we, as their bosses, try to help them reach those goals.
Would you say it gives us a proper insight into the Welsh way of life?
AK: I think it’s a bit of a snapshot
J: It does show the characteristics of being Welsh in the sense that they're passionate and very loving people. I think it shows the characteristics, but yeah as AK said it’s just a snapshot.
So it’s early doors for the show, but has anybody on the street recognised you so far?
Ak
AK: Yeah, all of us get recognised. We’re all getting a lot of love and a lot of compliments.
J: I think the strangest thing that keeps happening is people keep giving me cv’s. they want a job and I still find that really strange
AK: I’ve had a lot of girls and guys who want to become models. It’s great, me and Jordan are great bosses so who wouldn’t want to work for us!?
So it’s been all positive so far?
Both: Yeah!
J: A lot of people stop me and tell me they feel my pain. They're like I feel sorry for you because of how wild it can be.
AK: I don’t know about you Jordan but I’ve grown some grey hairs whilst working with these kids.
J: grey hairs in my Mohawk wouldn’t work, so no.
So, how would you say you differ from shows like Made In Chelsea and TOWIE?
AK: Oh completely, I mean obviously it’s a reality show, but at the end of the day we’re offering something to these kids, we’re offering them a chance, we’re guiding them and mentoring them we’re letting them follow their dreams which is something the other shows don’t actually have.
There’s the same aspect of drinking and partying, but these kids have a dream and a passion and me and Jordan are there to help them!
J: I’d say that was one of the main reasons AK and I agreed to do the show was that we actually took on people that we genuinely felt we could help. We weren’t just given anybody. When we looked at the applications we genuinely believed we could make a difference to their lives.
Would you say it’s more real in that sense then?
J: Yeah definitely, we’ve taken them out of their comfort zone as well whereas with TOWIE and made in Chelsea they know the area and they know their surroundings. The cast were taken from really remote parts of the valleys to the city and they had to adapt and you are seeing them getting used to the city and everyday life. The Valleys makes Made In Chelsea look like The Antiques Roadshow
AK: (laughs) yeah definitely!
So its all real, not scripted?
J: it’s the rawest form of reality TV that you can get
AK: Me and Jordan have both been jaw dropped at some of these antics that’s how real it all is. These are kids being by themselves and every aspect you see is 100% genuine.
Do you watch any of the other reality TV shows?
AK: Of course! Geordie and TOWIE
J: TOWIE!
People have said that reality tv shows are on their way out - what would you say to that?
AK: Definitely not! I think they’re on the way up!
So the valleys will prove those people wrong?
AK: 100% it's fresh, it's genuine, it's fun and all the cast are fantastic! Yeah they drive us insane but they are lovely, lovely kids and I’ve got hope for The Valleys. You know for me, it's an exciting show and they’ve got a lot to give and viewers are hooked, people love the show! It does have that jaw dropping culture but it's fantastic to watch.
Who would you say is the biggest personality in the show?
AK: Lateysha - I think she’s one hell of a character. She's feisty! She's a diva in fact! She’s kind of like a mini-me, I do love her. And the boys? I work a lot with Chidgey so I would say him, he’s arrogant he loves himself, but he's lovable as well.
J: Definitely Carly
Jordan
So who’s your favourite?
AL: I wouldn’t say I had a favourite, I love them all in a different way but they all have equal ways of driving me mad.
J: I don’t really have favourite’s, I treat everyone the same!
Who do you think is going to be the biggest success?
AK: I think it’s going to be Jenna, or Lateysha. Jenna is cute, sexy and flirty and she has got potential to make it as a model as long as she gets her hair cut! Lateysha is feisty like I said earlier, and she can be a bitch but people like that, I think shes going to go far.
J: They will all be a big success if they work for me. It just takes hard work and dedication, we’ll get them there!
Who do you think will be the least successful?
AK: I don’t know, they all work hard in different ways so I can’t answer that.
J: If they work the way that we want them to and they start from the bottom and they learn and ply their trades properly then they will be successful, if they’re not then that’s down to them.
What are the craziest things you guys have ever done on a night out?
AK: Who me?! Well, when I served in The Royal Navy I was young and away from home and we had some crazy nights when were out! There was lots of tequila, lots of vodka and lots of fancy dress! I don’t really do anything outrageous though, perhaps I’m a bit boring!
J: All my nights are crazy!
Who’s the most famous person you’ve met so far then?
AK: I mix in lots of circles with a lot of glamour models, so I often I come across a lot of sports players. I've met Joe Calzaghe and Robbie Savage recently.
J: We get celebrities dropping in and out of my club all the time. One time I walked down Oxford Street and I saw Ricky Gervais! I was really happy but that’s probably the only person I’ve ever stopped to say hello to. But in terms of recently, JLS came to the club, as did Tinie Tempah and Rizzle Kicks. Plus we’re in the process of arranging Nicki Minaj’s after party. I like to think I run the celebrity playground in Cardiff.
So apparently Jordan has said that it’s not a case of if you two get it on but when - AK what do you have to say about that?
AK: Jordan is all talk, don’t believe a word he says! He’s tried it on with me numerous times during the eight years that I’ve known him, but we are friends and ONLY FRIENDS! He will never have a bit of AK. Jordan, when you're reading this, I repeat FRIENDS AND ONLY FRIENDS. I do adore him though he is a really nice guy.
J: The thing is, I’m not attracted to AK. She’s an attractive lady, but we work together. If I was attracted to AK I could pull her.
AK: Jordan please!
J: I’m happy with those comments.
Can you speak welsh?
AK: I can speak it in small amounts but not fluently. I can say hello how are you and that’s about all I can remember!
J: Nope
Sheep or cows?
Both: Sheep!
Cardiff or The Valleys?
Both: Cardiff!
Fast food or Cooking?
Both: Cooking!
Fake tan or natural?
AK: Fake
J: Natural
High street or designer?
AK: High Street
J: Designer
Facebook or Twitter?
Both: Twitter
Rugby or Football?
AK: Rugby
J: Football
Charlotte Church or Katherine Jenkins?
Both: Katherine Jenkins
AK: I’d love to shoot Katherine Jenkins, in a nice sexy setting. (not with a gun)
Take that or Spice Girls?
AK: Take That
J: You cant do that! I dunno…Take That then…with Robbie though!