Drama, cheekiness & ‘strange’ behaviour: Ester Dee spills Real Housewives of Cheshire: Christmas Cruising secrets

Words by Harriet Mallinson

Ester Dee, 38, was born in the Czech Republic and moved to the UK in 2003, joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Cheshire from 2015 to 2020.

However, the ex-Playboy model (below) reunited with the ladies this winter when she joined a Princess Cruises festive voyage from San Francisco to Mexico in ITVBe’s The Real Housewives of Cheshire: Christmas Cruising.

Episode One aired last Monday and showcased all the gossip and titillation reality TV lovers could want, from frosty sniping between the ladies to vibrators being wielded on deck. With Episode Two airing tonight (December 12), fingers crossed we’re in for more of the same!

Sailawaze caught up with ex-cast member Ester Dee to find out what went on behind the scenes.

“We really enjoyed our first time cruising; it was a good take on a different way of travel,” says Ester of her time onboard Royal Princess. “I love all the people…I’m a chatty sort so it really felt great.”

Indeed the social aspect was a huge draw for the Real Housewife: “It did feel more like a big family where you start knowing people and people are friendlier than in a normal resort.” It’s also very safe – something you can’t guarantee so much on land “because somebody can come in from the forest or outdoors…it’s more exposure,” explains Ester.

A down-side? Rumours can spread like wildfire on a cruise. “If you do something cheeky on a cruise, like vomit overboard, it travels really quickly,” The Real Housewives of Cheshire star cautions (note to self).

Luckily Ester details that she didn’t come wanting to spark anything contentious among the cast of The Real Housewives of Cheshire. “I’ve gone very much into it wanting to make laughs – I don’t want to hate anybody,” she says of her surprise appearance on the show – a reveal that not all the ladies were happy with.

“Yeah there was sometimes friction but what do you expect in a group of girls?” She adds: “Me and Lystra [Adams] (below, right and centre) are now absolutely fine, that was one of my goals. You know, spend time together and be good together.”

Ester Dee also gives an insight into what life is like behind the camera. “We make a TV show and we look after each other,” she insists. “If you think somebody is not treated right we all sit down together. Ultimately, we are a group.”

The ex-model points out that it’s easy for viewers to dismiss the show as fiction. “It can be quite intense,” the Housewife goes on, “because it affects your personal life very heavily. People think that it’s a job, but it’s not a job, it is our life…It’s not staged, you do follow our feelings and emotions.”

The erstwhile Real Housewives of Cheshire member also notes the up-side of stepping back from the show. “I really benefited from a little break because sometimes when you lose something you realise how much you miss it or you how much don’t miss it.

“I’m a born housewife, I’ve got it in my blood… but there are some characters who might find it more disturbing.” She reminds us that viewers need to remember that cast members, as with anyone, could be dealing with all sorts behind the scenes that we don’t know about, be it menopause, children, partners or illness.

“There’s a lot of going on as well which we haven’t got the time for otherwise it would have to be like Coronation Street,” chuckles Ester (second from left, below).

As for relationships between the cast of The Real Housewives of Cheshire during the cruise, Seema Malhotra and Rachel Lugo “are the two girlies” she “absolutely adores” but there is clear tension between Ester and Nicole Sealey.

“I just did not enjoy some of the behaviour,” Ester admits. “I did find it quite strange… because Nicole was quite cold-ish and it was really hard to point out what we can do to make her happier… she wasn’t herself… We got on really well before I came back to the cruise and after the cruise, we weren’t necessarily stronger as friends.”

Is their rapport ruined for good? Fortunately, it seems hatchets have been buried. “We’re back on track now so it’s fine,” shares Ester.

That’s not to say viewers will be denied the theatrics they’re after in tonight’s episode of The Real Housewives of Cheshire: Christmas Cruising. “Oh, there’s always drama with the girls,” Ester Dee reveals. “There will be a bit of friction.”

So is the blonde beauty tempted to rejoin the show properly? Alas, it seems her official Real Housewives boots have been hung up for good. “It made me miss the girls,” Ester divulges, “but if you go back to Cheshire it’s not like on holiday.”

That said, she’s keen to join another special… so long as it takes place abroad. “If they can invite me on cruises every time they film of course I’m going to go, I’m not going to say no to cruising next time in Norway or somewhere!”

Producers take note! Ester Dee is keen to do a cruise somewhere wintry. “I’m a bit more of a cold person,” she explains. “That’s quite exciting being somewhere where it’s really cold and snowy. I might look into that in the future.”

Indeed she says she would recommend cruising to some of her friends. “Princess was really classy – nice, comfortable and reliable,” she enthuses, and she was particularly impressed by the service. “All the crew members were polite; you could ask for anything,” Ester said. “The response was lovely, it was like a seven-star hotel when it came to service.”

Just don’t make them clean up any vomit.