++Note, Susannah was absent initially and only entered the room towards the middle of the interview++
Tell me the story behind the documentary? How did you decide to put the show together?
T: Susannah was sitting around the kitchen table with somebody brainstorming different things, and from that the embryo of the idea came out. From there we teamed up with t5m (production company) and we brainstormed the concept of doing the show as a real, yet not so real, show. From there it grew, and we got in writers, and we got in actors and finally we got sponsorship from Westfield shopping centre. So from that initial idea by Susannah it all came together.
So how did you settle upon the format of doing a spoof documentary?
T: Well the idea was that we wanted to do a parody of ourselves, and all the things that people have taken the piss out of over the years, filmed under the guise of being a serious documentary. It’s a genre that had been around since the days of Spinal Tap; you know the idea that you’re watching something and are not sure if it is real or not. I think it’s a very British thing, and it’s nice to be doing something that is quintessentially British.
I think it’s good that you don’t take yourself too seriously either…
T: Yes it is, and do you know what? We’re not 30; we don’t need to take ourselves too seriously anymore. We’re 46 and 48, we’ve done quite a lot in our lives and we’re now at the right time where we can do this and – hopefully – get away with it as well.
How much is what we see on screen true then? The documentary is based upon your exaggerated real life personalities?
T: We draw from experiences, because we’re not actresses we have to draw from our own experiences in the past, but the whole premise of the show is all a script. You’re following a storyline that is a made up storyline.
What are the real Trinny and Susannah like then? You’ve been working professionally now for 14 years. How did you first meet each other?
T: We met through a neutral friend – a very good friend – and we were both at a transition in our careers so the timing was perfect. We started writing a column together in The Telegraph, which we did for seven years. And from that we did telly, and books, and internet, and products and finally this.
So how close are you both? Do you speak to each other every single day? Do you ever get sick of each other?
T: We probably speak every day, and we are best friends. It’s like being married. I think we probably know more about each other than our partners do! It’s very lucky that we know each other. We are literally like soul mates.
In terms of being Trinny and Susannah, and people’s perception of you, do you feel more pressure when choosing what you wear when out in public?
T: We probably do because you are more aware of people who think it is an easy shop to say ‘who do they think they are to give advice when they dress so shit?’ It is actually one of the reasons Susannah lives in the countryside, because she won’t come across as many people whilst living out in the country. There is pressure to dress well because that is what we built our career on, but we’re still people and we still make mistakes.
So what are people like when they meet you?
T: People will come up to us, especially when we’re together, and ask ‘Do you like what I’m wearing?’ Men especially do that. Women tend to come up to us and ask what body shape they are. It is always the same questions, but we never mind and are always happy to talk to people – you know if it wasn’t for all these people who watched the program or read the books, we wouldn’t be where we are today. At the end of the day, these are the people who have made our career.
You have a reputation for being quite blunt with people as well when it comes to their choice of clothes…
T: We’re honest.
S: Always honest.
So do you feel that people can be nervous around you because of your reputation?
T: No.
S: No, I wouldn’t say so.
T: I think when some people are nervous, and we are aware that they are, because we don’t want them to feel nervous, we would ignore it if we felt they might be.
Apart from fashion, what other interests do you guys have together?
T: We go skiing together. We go on holidays together.
S: We have a passion for books. We have our own little book club!
T: I help Susannah with music, she helps me with clothes.
S: We both love food. I do love cooking.
In terms of the other fashion shows on television at the moment, what are your views on them? What do you think of the likes of Gok Wan?
T: He’s great, really great.
S: What I love about him is that he is so right for now. We were right for our time, but he is right for now. He is the right person to have – it is more about fashion, it is for a younger audience and he comes across as a really warm, kind hearted person. I think he’s done brilliantly and is doing a really good job. Our time was then, his is now.
Aside from your fashion shows, I always remember you when that infamous appearance on Parkinson with Meg Ryan…
T: Oh my god! The Meg Ryan interview was just so embarrassing.
S: It was so painful! We hadn’t met her before as being the big superstar that she is, she didn’t sit in the green room with us as we waited to go on. And then of course when she came out the interview was appallingly bad. At the end of the interview he (Parkinson) just turned to us and whispered “C***! What a c***!” we couldn’t believe what we were hearing!
T: It was so funny, but I think she was probably going through a tough time in her career, so I kind of felt for her. I think she just thought ‘fuck it, why do I always have to be nice?’ You should always do something to the best of your abilities, but I think she perhaps let herself down a bit. She could have been really having a shitty time and you just never know what is going on in someone’s life.
In terms of being critical when it comes to clothes, do you ever criticise each other’s taste?
T: Always!
S: We always criticise each other’s taste in clothes, we keep each other on our toes!
So who wears the trousers in your relationship?
S: We both do, but at different times.
T: We really are total opposites and that is why it works.
What is the worst fashion disaster you have ever seen?
T: Probably on myself actually! I have totally flat tits and always wear dresses with a low cleavage and always having to give them to Susannah. I remember when Susannah was pregnant she went shopping with a gay friend to buy clothes. Gay friends are terrible to take shopping with you when pregnant because all they want you to do is cover up. He took her to what can only be described as a linen tent shop. When I saw her I was like ‘What the fuck are you wearing??’ I had to lead her to the nearest wardrobe to get changed before any more damage was done.
You can catch up with Trinny and Susannah’s latest adventures on www.trinnyandsusannahwhattheydidnext.com
