The Made in Chelsea NYC cast waved the flag for Britain as they touched down stateside for a summer of partying, love and drama.
The spin-off series began on Sunday with a modern day Sex and the City feel- the girls strutting down 5th Avenue with bags of designer clothes while the boys drove across Brooklyn Bridge in an open top Cadillac.
The cast later met for brunch on a New York City skyscraper rooftop in Midtown but the subject on everyone’s lips was Binky and Alex Mytton's relationship.
Since the end of series seven almost two months ago, the status of the pair's tumultuous romance has been relatively unknown. According to Spencer Matthews, nobody had heard from Alex and Jamie Laing admitted that he was fearful that if their friend came to the Big Apple, the drama would continue. As the fashionable 20-somethings dined on cupcakes and champagne, newcomer Billie Carroll strolled into the brunch party, greeted by family friend Mark Francis and Victoria.
Lucy quickly struck up a conversation with her new BBF Billie but was soon interrupted by her exes, Spencer and Jamie, who began to compete for the sweet shop heiress' attention. "Boys behave," joked HELLO! Online blogger Lucy Watson as she made a quick exit from the awkward love triangle. The drama continued as Lucy strolled over to the rest of the Chelsea gang as she and Rosie began arguing in front of the guests. An awkward Stevie stood by attempting to ease the situation but to no avail-the gloves were off. Meanwhile across town, Binky finally made her entrance in Central Station, but surprisingly without her love interest. "Alex isn’t coming," revealed Binky to her big sister, Anna Louise, explaining that she had finished the relationship. Over in Brooklyn, the rest of the cast members got sporty in their sunny New York surroundings -the boys opting to play a game of traditional American baseball while the girls relaxed by doing some much-needed yoga.
The competition heated up as Proudlock introduced his fashion entrepreneur friend, Alik Alfus to the group. The newcomer appeared to ruffle Spencer's feathers as it was clear that he wasn't scared of a bit of 'friendly' competition with the London elite. Back in Anna Louise's apartment, Binky explained how she couldn't fight for her relationship with Alex any longer while so many of her friends were against him. Thinking about her friendship with Lucy, Binky revealed that she thought her pal had turned her back on her and she was unsure of if they could ever be friends again.
Later that day, Stevie visited Lucy at her new apartment and enquired how she was getting on with the MIC group. "I love being friends with girls…they don’t love being friends with me," she explained as she admitted that she felt cast aside from the rest of the Chelsea girls.
The Londoners met that evening for an afterparty at Proudlock and Stevie’s apartment.
The bash gave Binky the perfect opportunity to make amends with former friends, Cheska and Lucy.
"Love is blind," admitted Binky as she apologised to Cheska for letting her relationship with Alex getting in the way of their friendship. Speaking with Lucy, Binky promised that she would never "go back there" with Alex and the friends finally made up.
As friendships were mended between the girls, Stevie failed to impress New Yorker Billie with his chatter. He later became jealous of Spencer, who succeeded in charming her to go out on a date with him. The sneak peek of next week’s episode showed Jamie calling Alex begging him to come over to New York but when he arrives, he reduces Jamie to tears suggesting that the lothario has once again destroyed a friendship.
One thing is for sure - the city that never sleeps is sure to have many more sleepless nights now the MIC gang are in town.
The next episode of Made in Chelsea New Yorkwill air next Sunday 17 August.