Great Company with Jamie Laing

Imagine being scouted to be in one of the biggest bands of the 00s, going on to tour the globe and have thousands of fans worldwide, and then one day it all just stops. S Club 7 was a band I grew up with and until now, I’d ‘Never Had A Dream Come True…’ Rachel Stevens has topped the charts in both a band and as a solo performer, but the imposter syndrome she was battling never faded. Speaking cand...

‘How are you?’ - a question we don't ask enough, but one Simon Gunning wants us to ask more often. Ahead of World Mental Health Day, I’m joined by Simon, CEO of CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a charity dedicated to suicide prevention, raising awareness, and offering practical support. As an ambassador for CALM and someone who has had struggles with anxiety myself, this conversation mean...

Posh, tall and hilarious - believe it or not, I’m not describing myself - this week I have the wonderful Jack Whitehall joining me on the show. Jack and I have known each other for years, but in that time, his rise has been astronomical: from a gigging standup to the big screen, Jack is one of the most successful British comics of our day. Getting a friend on the show is always an interesting expe...

Alain de Botton views the world in a way that is profound yet easy to understand; a modern-day philosopher and essayist, he set up the School of Life, which explores self-understanding and aims to educate people on the aspects of life we don’t get taught at school - like relationships, careers, anxiety, ageing and so much more. I had the honour of sitting down with Alain to chat, and am so pleased...

The fastest-selling male album debut of the 2010s, winning two BRITs and touring with Shania Twain, you might expect Rag’n’Bone Man to be arrogant but Rory Graham is shy and self deprecating, seemingly unaware of his star - and therefore immediately likeable. Before the astronomical success of “Human”, Rory spent years in the underground music scene, alongside being a carer - the best job he’s had...

I'm not a big reader, but last year, I read a book called The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and was so moved by it, I DM’d the author, never expecting a reply… Robin Sharma is an internationally renowned author and motivational speaker, who responds to DMs with kindness and time. This is the conversation that followed that DM… Finding your joy, embracing suffering and how constant optimism can come at...

What is ADHD? Are you born with it? How can it affect your life and the people around you? Nicole Vignola, neuroscientist and ADHD expert joins me for an expert special episode of Great Company to talk all things ADHD. Branded as a naughty child, with difficulty regulating emotions and concentrating, I was diagnosed with ADHD while at school, and later in life struggled with chasing thrills which...

Growing up in a space you don’t fit in; feeling like a fish out of water around your own family, Rob Rinder’s polished accent and loquacious tone might not point to his working class roots. We're often mistaken for brothers, but Rob’s background is starkly different from mine…Opening up, Rob discusses his attitude to privilege and the undeniable love he felt from parents who perhaps didn’t fully u...

From the heights of winning the original Pop Idol, to the depths of an anxiety disorder during his time on Strictly Come Dancing, Will Young is a stalwart of pop culture, selling over 10 million albums globally, winning two BRITs and an Olivier nomination.  Growing up watching him at weekends whilse I was at boarding school, I get to chat to Will, my Saturday night saviour about his experienc...

How much does it cost to become an Olympic athlete? Equipment, kit, gym, a coach, competitions, travel and time to train. When funding is cut for a sport, it makes an already tough mountain all the more impossible to climb. Emily Campbell is one such athlete who had to self-fund her Olympic career and has gone on to become the  only  female Olympic medalist in British weightlifting histo...

Loneliness, grief and addiction juxtaposed by an incredible fearlessness and strength, beauty founder, Trinny Woodall became a household name in the 00s on our television screens, but now you’ll find her products from Trinny London all over the internet. From TV star to CEO, Trinny and I have plenty to talk about, from building a brand to enormous television success, Trinny’s path has not been str...

Can being more productive lead to a more fulfilling life? World-leading expert and entrepreneur, Ali Abdaal sits down with me to talk about the pressure of finding purpose in life and the importance of finding the fun. Ali Abdaal has garnered over 5 million subscribers with his insightful productivity tips and study hacks, amassing more than 380 million views. Before his online success, Ali was on...

From singing Bohemian Rhapsody on American Idol to singing it with Brian May for the Queen at the Platinum Jubilee, Adam Lambert’s voice has taken him to astronomical heights, winning 14 awards internationally. Growing up in California, with no queer role models, he found his voice through theatre and performing. Unbeknownst to him, his mother sought advice from a local community group for parents...

Big white collar, black specs, and a bald head. Harry Hill is a cherished part of television culture from TV Burp to You’ve Been Framed, for many (including me!), he was a big part of childhood. Having quickly discovered that he was not cut out to be a doctor, Harry pursued a career in comedy, becoming the first ever winner of the Edinburgh New Comer (formerly Perrier) award. Together, Harry and I...

Posting online every single hour, of every single day, for years. That’s how founder of The Good Quote, Meggan Roxanne, grew her staggering 24.3million followers online. Propelling the careers of Jay Shetty, Steven Bartlett and more, Meggan launched The Good Quote (previously Kush and Wizdom) during a deep depression.  Years later, after battles with depression, Meggan received life changing...

An obsession with fame, a breakdown that left him unable to make a cup of tea, and THAT scene on X Factor with Nicole Scherzinger, Rylan Clark joins me for this week’s episode. Rylan hit our screens in 2012 on TV talent show, X Factor and quickly became one of the most talked about contestants. Fast forward 12 years and he’s gone from TV joke to national treasure. But all the success came at a cos...

Panic attacks, the value of true friendship and having a crush, Madeline Argy sits down with me for a rare interview away from her own camera. Madeline's candour and skill in honest and hilarious storytelling has built her a Tiktok empire of over 5 million followers. As a fellow oversharer, this interview is unfiltered and dives straight into Madeline's wild distraction techniques as an anxious ch...

Living with Tourette's, overcoming anxiety, and realising I don't resemble Judge Rob Rinder quite as much as he thought, I welcome a guest whose success has inspired millions, including myself - one of the original YouTuber's, Caspar Lee. Having started his channel as a teenager his subscriber count quickly skyrocketed to seven million, I now have the chance to sit down with Caspar to chat about l...

TW: This episode contains graphic descriptions of birth loss, trauma and PTSD Life-threatening haemorrhages, almost dying on the operating table, and suffering with post natal depression, I sit down with my old friend, Louise Thompson to simply ask: How are you? Since growing up together on Made in Chelsea, Louise’s life drastically changed in November 2021, when she gave birth to her son, Leo, in...

Let's Go Girls.... Overcoming grief, illness, heartbreak, sexism, losing her voice, Shania Twain is a cultural icon whose resilience is truly astonishing. Selling over 100 million albums worldwide, her story is one of fearlessness and strength. Shania joins me to share her wisdom and optimism, always finding the silver lining in life. Growing up in a home marked by domestic violence, she reached a...

Reframing the narrative on psychedelics, how alcohol is the most destructive drug in society, and the debate on legalising drugs, leading expert in psychedelic research, Dr Rayyan Zafar joins me to change your perspective on this fascinating topic. With only 30% of the population actually responding to anti-depressants, Dr Zafar reveals the potential of psychedelics as an alternative to anti-depre...

From the cult-like world of Playboy, financial abuse at the hands of her husband and building her life up after leaving the “bunny” empire at 31, Crystal Hefner is a NYT best selling Author, American model and the third wife of Hugh Hefner. Crystal reveals how she entered the Playboy mansion as a young, introverted women; the collateral damage of a highly competitive and misogynistic environm...

Misconceptions about the gut, its astonishing connection to our mental wellbeing, and the truth about Ultra-Processed Foods, leading expert and Head Nutritionist at ZOE, Dr Federica Amati joins me for this special guest expert episode of Great Company. Dr Federica reveals staggering statistics, sheds light on alcohol's direct impact on risk of cancer [16.12], unpacks common misconceptions [05.50]...

TW: This episode contains discussion of suicide Living in fear, burying the past and discovering magic in unusual places, Steven Frayne is one of the most successful magicians of our time, having overcome health issues, bullies, and an alter-ego that came to be too much to live up to. Having destroyed his alter-ego, Dynamo, in December 2023, Steven chats to me about the beauty of naiveté, arriving...

Craving validation, the pitfalls of being a perfectionist and having to grow up quickly, Zara Larsson's lived a lifetime in the spotlight; her story is one of fearlessness and passion. Join me as I chat to the sunniest popstar in the biz; from finding fame aged 10, to why Beyonce brings her to tears, Zara is a force of good energy and positivity. However, with great fame comes responsibility - Zar...