‘ We’ve both struggled
so we want to help
others’
EXCLUSIVE
E
ver since the national
lockdown began, it’s fair
to say things have been a
little bit bleak. We’ve been
filling our time by deep-cleaning
our kitchen, watching every single
dance craze on TikTok and have
pretty much completed Netflix.
But one thing keeping our spirits
up is Isolation With The Nation,
an Instagram channel hosted by
TOWIE favourites Bobby Cole
Norris and Saffron Lempriere.
As we video call them before
they go live to their followers on
social media, the BFFs tell us
the inspiration behind Isolation
With The Nation, which sees
them dance, bake and chat to
celebrity guests.
“It’s like we’ve made our own
virtual TV channel – The Bobby
And Saff Show,” Bobby, 33, says.
“They’re getting the taste of
TOWIE from home and they’re
loving every minute of it!” Saffron,
27, adds.
They’re not wrong. Their page
has proved so popular, one of
their fans has named two kittens
after them!
new also wants to check in
with the hilarious duo to find
out how they’re coping in
self-isolation themselves.
“I can’t believe how hard it is to
get toilet roll,” Bobby says. “I’m
down to my last two rolls and
panicking. I’m going to have to
ration sheets!”
Here, the pals lift the lid on
helping others and reveal which
former cast members they’redying to get back on TOWIE and
whether or not Bobby could be
walking down the aisle soon...Hi guys! How are you coping
in isolation?
Bobby: I’m just throwing 110 per
cent of my time and energy into
Isolation With The Nation. We’ve
had thousands of fans who are
messaging us saying, “Thank
you so much. You’re helping our
mental health and you’re getting
us through self-isolation with your
humour, comedy and content.”
I was saying to them, “You’re
helping me as well!” I’m so glad
it’s helping people, because it’s
been great for my mental health.
Is that why you set up the
channel?
Bobby: There was never a plan.
We were doing various Instagram
Lives on our personal pages and
jumping on each other’s and
I asked Saff one night, “Are you
getting as many messages as
I am?” I was getting hundreds.
Some people are isolating on their
own and the only thing they’ve got
is a telly and Netflix and that’s
no good for anyone’s mind. So we
set up the account and within two
days we got to 5,000 followers. It’s
been incredible.Saffron: A lot of people don’t
usually relate to reality stars. But
they can see we’re normal, doing
exactly the same thing as what
they’re doing. It’s comforting in
a way, to know we’re all as one.
I’ve suffered with my mental
health, so I get it. I’ve been on
tablets and I’ve had therapy.
What kind of things have
you been doing to cheer
people up?
Saffron: We’ve done online
counselling, spoken about our
down days, cleaned, danced
and we’ve had celebrity guests.
We’ve spoken to a lot of NHS
workers who are on 12-hour
shifts and they come home and
tune in to what we’re doing.
Bobby: And they’re watching
during their lunch hour for a bit
of escapism.
Saffron: It’s a bit of company
for people.
Bobby: There’s no doubt
lockdown and the coronavirus
is a negative situation, but
to take some kind of positive
from it, everyone’s going to be
more grateful moving forward.
About 10 o’clock every night
we do a gratitude Instagram
Live. I ask, “What is everyone
grateful for?”Bobby, the NHS has been
a big part of your life because
of your mum’s battle with
leukaemia. Is there a message
you’d like to give the staff?
Bobby: I’ve been saying this for
years – I cannot thank the NHS
enough. It gets really bad stick
sometimes, but I can’t tell you
how amazing those people
are. They should be on a lot
more money than they are.
NHS staff are angels on this
earth. People are inspired by
sports stars, reality stars or a
Kardashian, but the people who
are doing amazing things are the
ones working in the NHS.
We couldn’t agree more!
Saffron: My aunt and cousin work
for the NHS and they’re taking
coronavirus patients to and from
hospital. They’re only allowed to
take two a day, and if one’s tested
positive they’re only allowed to
interact with another positive
patient. They’ve been under
stress, but I take my hat off to
them. They are walking angels.
And you have a social worker
background, Saffron...
Saffron: My worry with all of this,
because of my background
working with children, is that
they’re not at school. That means
children could be lacking food,
because their meal at school is
their main dinner. People go, “Oh,
my kids are off school. What am
I going to do with them today?”
Well, there are parents who aren’t
doing anything with those kids
and that’s what worries me. ThereAmid the coronavirus crisis, reality
stars Bobby Cole Norris and Saffron
Lempriere reveal how they’re
keeping the nation’s spirits up
‘Bobby is like the
brother I never had’