This week on The Way They Were, we’re unlocking one of our most popular Patreon episodes of the year and sharing it on the free feed. We’re doing something a little different today. Chantal swaps her mic for a magnifying glass and Gráinne pulls her fedora low as they step away from the usual romantic nostalgia and into the glittering golden age of Hollywood. This time, our sleuthing duo turn their attention to the tragic, endlessly puzzling story of Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner: movie stars, tabloid royalty, and the centre of one of Tinseltown’s most haunting mysteries. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive, pop culture, history, mystery, and two hosts gently sparring their way through it, there’s plenty more where this came from. Join us on Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere⁠⁠ You can also access our exclusive bonus episodes every other week and take part in The Gossip our exclusive Patreon group chat! Happy New Year! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Way They Were, Gráinne and Chantal hang the tinsel, spike the mulled wine, and take a sleigh ride through Christmas past, present and future via Crimbo movies. From Judy Garland’s golden-age yearning, through Jimmy Stewart’s moral reckonings, to Cate Blanchett’s ice-cool elegance and Alicia Silverstone teaching us that even Netflix makes mistakes . Along the way, Chantal reveals herself to be a Guardian Angel sent directly from Heaven to revive our Christmas spirits, while Gráinne is a big-city lady who’s forgotten the true meaning of Christmas and must be gently but firmly guided back to her Irish roots. Merry Christmas. God bless us, every one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Way They Were, we do the unthinkable: we go back to Love Actually. Gráinne and Chantal rank the couples from least offensive to “maybe we should call the police”, asking the big questions Richard Curtis never did. Who do we hate the most? Are half these characters quietly unhinged? What exactly is going on with Keira Knightley’s extremely youthful bride? And is the secretary secretly a feminist icon? (No.) Along the way we interrogate Christmas number ones, language barriers, workplace power dynamics, and why we will always, always cry during that Emma Thompson scene. The full episode is available now on our Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere⁠⁠ You can also access our exclusive bonus episodes every other week and take part in The Gossip our exclusive Patreon group chat!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Kardashian romance promised a fairy tale and delivered a tragedy

Effie Gray and John Ruskin looked like the perfect Victorian power couple: she, bright and brilliant; he, the era’s leading art critic. But behind the portraits was one of history’s strangest age-gap marriages. Unconsummated, uncomfortable, and the sort of story that would make Gen Z turn away in horror. This week on The Way They Were, Gráinne and Chantal team up with one of Britain’s best stand-ups, Ian Smith, to look at the grottiest couples we've ever looked at on the show. To get episodes ad free and early, join us our Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere⁠⁠ You can also access our exclusive bonus episodes every other week and take part in The Gossip our exclusive Patreon group chat!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Now this is a right royal mess. Before it all went spectacularly wrong. Before Epstein, before the exile, before the Palace decided Prince Andrew should probably just be Andrew: there was “Randy Andy” and Fergie. The cheeky, chaotic couple who briefly made the monarchy look like a Jilly Cooper book. From their whirlwind courtship and tabloid scandals to the toe-sucking! This was a love story that had it all. In fact maybe it had a little too much!  This week, comedian Michael Clarke (Crybabies, Everything Is News) joins Gráinne and Chantal to dive into the doomed romance of the Ex Duke and Duchess of York. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to the recent revelations about Prince Andrew’s formal removal from the Royal Family and Sarah Ferguson’s overly pally prison letters to Jeffrey Epstein. To get episodes ad free and early, join us our Patreon: patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere You can also access our exclusive bonus episodes every other week and take part in The Gossip our exclusive Patreon group chat!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Way They Were, we’re catching up on all the heartbreak, hair dye, and high drama of the celebrity world. Lily Allen’s West End Girl has landed, a sharp, funny, furious record that lays her split from David Harbour bare. We talk through the fallout, the shock, and the pussy palace. Elsewhere, Ariana Grande’s got 'new' hair but no ponytail. What does it mean? Finally we’re checking in on a few of our favourite couples: JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes (Gráinne’s not convinced they’ll make it) and Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman (Chantal suspects there’s a touch of the 'David Harbour' about him). For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room! To celebrate Lily Allen's new album we are giving away 20 month long memberships to out Patreon! Click here for more info - https://www.patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere/redeem/A3154 ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Way They Were, we’re diving into the breakup that everyone’s talking about: Pop Princess Lily Allen and Stranger Things star David Harbour. It was the lockdown love story that looked like a rom-com London girl meets Hollywood nice-guy, until it all went a little bit strange.  Now Lily has a new album out which is going to set the record straight about the hottest romance to come out of the global pandemic. Gráinne and Chantal are joined by the wonderful Rosemary Mac Cabe who shares her own insights on transatlantic love affairs, David's secret Raya account and we do a deep dive on their carpeted bathroom.  For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room. ⁠⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we step back in time to the 1940s to meet the literary it-couple: Truman Capote and Jack Dunphy. Truman was the sharp-tongued genius and Jack existed in his shadow. So how did the socialite and the introverted novelist make it work for so long? This week, Chantal and Gráinne are joined by the brilliant Jen Ives to unpack the devotion, destruction and divine madness of Capote and Dunphy’s decades together. Expect post-war passion, very posh best friends like Lee Radziwill and the Queen Mother, plus an emotional affair with a killer on death row. For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our ⁠Patreon⁠? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room. ⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes the gossip gods hand you something so big you have to drop everything and run straight to the mics. . . Several days after the event (sorry we had a busy week) Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. Over. Finished. Kaput. Was it the hair? The cowboy boots? The fact she's constantly working? This week, Gráinne and Chantal react to the breakup of Australia's greatest love. For our special Taylor Swift edition, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our exclusive gossip chat room, join us on⁠ Patreon: patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She was Hollywood’s “most agreeable” girl, he was cinema’s golden boy genius. Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles looked like the dream couple – but behind the glamour it was all drama, long distance, and the inability to separate work from pleasure. This love story from the golden age of Hollywood even features brilliant cameos from Hedda Hopper, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Judy Garland herself. Gráinne and Chantal take a trip to 1940s Hollywood with the fabulous ⁠Kevin Bennett⁠, host of ⁠The Big Smoke Variety Show⁠, in this very special episode of The Way They Were – as requested by our brilliant patron Lady K! Plus, we take a closer look at Charli XCX’s star-studded wedding and the Dawson’s Creek reunion. For early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our exclusive gossip chat room, join us on Patreon: patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A whirlwind romance that burned bright, fizzled fast, and left the tabloids confused as to what just happened. Ashton and Brittany gave us chaos, comedy, and a very short-lived love story. This week, Gráinne and Chantal are joined by Chris De Rosa, cohost of Fixing Famous People, to relive the highs, the lows, and the red-carpet PDA of one of the naughty's best celebrity pairings. We may even get some special insights from Chris's conversations with the afterlife… For extra episodes, ad free versions and early releases why not join our Patreon? You'll even get a shoutout on the show and a chance to chat with Gráinne and Chantel in our gossip room. patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She was the Vicar of Dibley and he the king of Comic Relief. Together, they were the King and Queen of British comedy. Dawn French and Lenny Henry were the nation’s funniest couple but behind the gags and the glitter, their marriage had ups, downs and an unforgettable night out with John Sessions. This week on The Way They Were, Chantal and Gráinne are joined by broadcaster, campaigner and author Natasha Devon to unravel the love story that made us laugh, broke our hearts, and proved that even legends can’t always make it work. Want our episodes ad free and early episodes? Fancy a shoutout on the pod? Howe about special bonus episodes every other week? Get all of this and more on our Patreon! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oh baby baby, how was she supposed to know that something wasn’t right? Britney Spears thought Kevin Federline was her happily-ever-after but soon turned into a one of the biggest breakups of the 00s. This week on The Way They Were, Chantal and Gráinne are joined by guest of honour Claire Parker, co-host of Celebrity Memoir Book Club, to dig into the heady highs, the very public lows, and the sombre truths behind one of celebrity culture’s most chaotic love stories. NOTE - If you thought Chantal was a little quieter than usual on this week’s episode, you’re right! Two Britney superfans took centre stage, while she kept some of her thoughts back. Now she’s recorded her own right to reply, a short solo take on the Britney narrative, and it’s up on Patreon’s free feed. if you fancy hearing what Chantz was really thinking. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before the Frasier reboot, before the Tony Awards, before the dinner party from hell - there was just Kelsey and Camille. This week, comedian, agony aunt and Attitudes! host Bryan Safi joins us to revisit the unforgettable union of sitcom royalty and a dancer on club MTV who would go on to become "the most hated housewife in America". Was it true romance or simply a love bomb that blew up on national television? Bryan helps Chantal and Gráinne dig through the drama, the showbiz, and the pegging allegations in this very special episode of The Way They Were. Also if you're in Edinburgh this month you simply have to go watch Bryan's show: Are you mad at me? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To get the latest episode of the podcast early and ad free, visit our Patreon here: ⁠patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere⁠ By popular demand, Gráinne and Chantal dive into the unlikely, unbelievable, and utterly adorable romance between Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson. With both stars carrying enough tragic backstory to write a series of novels, could this be the rare beam of romantic sunshine in an otherwise awful summer? Or is it all too good to be true? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She’s the Queen of Pop. He’s the matinee idol who didn’t want to be filmed feeling things. This week on The Way They Were, Chantal and Gráinne are joined by comedian and lifelong Madonna fanatic Dane Buckley to relive the high-camp, high-conflict love affair between Madonna and Warren Beatty. From the set of Dick Tracy to the iconic Truth or Dare documentary, the pair’s romance was equal parts glamour, ego, and deeply awkward silences. You don't want to miss this one! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on a very special The Way They Were, we’re lighting a black candle and cranking up the Sabbath, because Ozzy Osbourne has taken his final bow. In honour of the man, the myth, the prince of Darkness, Gráinne and Chantal dive into his decades-long, chaotic, and somewhat violent marriage to Sharon Osbourne. Was it true love or the ultimate power couple? We look at one of the longest rock 'n' roll romances of all time. We'll be back next week with brand new episodes! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the very first edition of THE GOSSIP — where Chantal and Gráinne crack their knuckles, flip open the tabloids, and say the quiet bits out loud. You asked for it. And by asked, we mean demanded in the DMs. This week: Katy and Orlando’s break-up comes under the microscope as our cupids try to figure out what has gone wrong between the interstellar popstar and the former elf/pirate. Plus we announce the return date of The Way They Were! (5th of August, mark your diaries!) Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In New York, love is everything — until it isn’t. This week on The Way They Were, Chantal and Gráinne celebrate the return of And Just Like That by taking a walk down memory lane. So pour the cosmos and let’s count down the top five Sex and the City breakups. From Post-it notes to wedding day bust-ups, we couldn't help but think: is Sex and the City the best TV show of all time? Let us know in the comments! The full episode is available now on our Patreon — sip, listen, and support us here: https://patreon.com/TheWayTheyWere See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.