Jess Carter is co-headwriter of one of the biggest sitcoms in America and a comfy sofa viewer in the UK. Magdalena Eriksson is fresh from one of the most prominent documentaries in the UK and a soccer player who has appeared with the British Isles’ national team. In Chelsea Girls and Boys, like their comedy counterparts, they offer observations of 21st century life in London that no amount of modern games can escape. And now they can share their secrets on the magic of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show with your cameras.
In this exclusive clip, they discuss the power of plants on human health, how a garden helps recover from depression and why we should grow our own vegetables.
M&C Saatchi are sponsoring the Chelsea Flower Show, which this year takes place August 23 – 27. However the campaign breaks a few weeks earlier — August 22. Viewers can watch their exclusive interview in full here.
CNN: So “Chelsea Girls and Boys” is a documentary. How did you get the idea?
Jess Carter: Magdalena and I began writing the script as soon as we knew we’d be working together. It’s a combination of a comedy about life in Chelsea, as told by two Chelsea girls. We tried to capture the essence of our main characters, Jen and Sophie, and capture the essence of the Chelsea Garden: filled with blooms, muses and celebrities.
We explored so many fun topics: from cynicism and sex to young Muslim women fighting stereotypes. We also approached the project very seriously: we filmed with the Chelsea Bunnies and volunteers at the Chelsea Flower Show on both sides.
CNN: What are some of the common misconceptions about Chelsea?
Magdalena Eriksson: Chelsea is a romantic playground for everyone. It’s ridiculously opulent, very luxurious, filled with fame, stars and glitz. It’s a playground for the rich and famous, fun and flamboyant.
Our characters Jen and Sophie are shocked that people are flocking to their home to watch football while they play soccer in the garden. So, how do they respond to it? Well, like many, they completely ignore their busy lifestyles and head to Chelsea for a day out. It’s quite funny watching them try to talk about their lives in a world where fame has never been more important.
CNN: As you get older, do you think our days of just being told the fad of the day, like Chelsea Girls and Boys, are over?
Jo Ensor: I guess so, but people are still connected to real life. And even if nothing has changed, what you buy is so much more important than buying a toy. You never know what the next big thing is, so invest in yourself, build yourself up and a better version of yourself will come.
CNN: What do you see going forward for Chelsea?
M&C Saatchi: Chelsea will be bigger and better than ever this year with a record number of exhibitors and guests. Our campaign to promote the event is designed to showcase London’s rich history and rich diversity through the sport of Chelsea Football Club. The Chelsea Flower Show, which is celebrating 150 years of timeless creativity, also presents a huge opportunity to showcase both the world-class creativity of our future designers, and the world-class gardening skills of the very greatest organic growers in the world.