The Olympia Theatre in Dublin is a hive of excitement for a weekend matinee show of 2:22 – A Ghost Story. Eager for some entertainment, the lively crowd has gathered, encouraged by the play’s solid reputation. The thrilling play has captivated audiences across London’s West End, Hollywood, and even in Australia. As the climax approaches, an unexpected comment from someone in the row behind me, “Sh*t just got real,” breaks the typical theatre etiquette. The end prompts a silent plea, “Shhh, please don’t tell,” displayed in large letters on stage, referring to the plot’s surprise element – a secret which audiences globally have willingly agreed to safeguard.
Among the stars of 2:22 is Laura Whitmore, an Irish TV presenter who admits that she was unfamiliar with the show when she first attended it in London. “That’s the ideal way to see it,” she opines. Our conversation takes place in Maureen’s Bar, tucked at the back of the theatre, an hour prior to her joining the rest of the cast for a pre-performance warm-up, which she amusingly refers to as having “a bit of a rave.”
Dressed in a striking black denim jumpsuit, Whitmore’s hand sports a stunning sapphire-and-ruby ring. “A gift to myself following the birth of my daughter,” Whitmore later reveals. She takes the opportunity to touch upon the mesmerising plot twist of 2:22, stating that it often encourages individuals to return for a second or even third viewing to fully absorb the details and hunt down clues concealed within the play. Post-show, Whitmore frequently heads to a nearby pub with friends, taking great joy in overhearing the animated discussions of audience members dissecting the show they’ve recently witnessed.
In 2022, the former MTV and Love Island host graced the West End with her first performance in a play penned by Danny Robins. She portrayed Jenny, a fresh mother who’s convinced that her and her husband Sam’s newly remodeled house in a newly upmarket area of London is possessed. “Doing it at the Criterion Theatre was incredible. After the performance, I would step out and there was Piccadilly Circus. It was like ticking off the items on my bucket list,” she recalls. In Dublin, Whitmore shone in the role of Lauren, an alcoholic psychiatrist with a builder boyfriend, Ben, portrayed by Jay McGuiness, of The Wanted fame. “I had hoped to play Lauren when I initially auditioned, so I’m over the moon,” she shares.
The casting of the play has always been replete with celebrities. Lily Allen, who bagged a Laurence Olivier award for her exceptional performance, played Jenny earlier. Currently, Donna Air and Stacey Dooley are starring as Lauren and Jenny in the West End version respectively.
Whitmore is elated to be back on her home turf. She was raised in Bray, Co Wicklow, by a single mother and attended Dublin City University. She relocated her whole family from London to Dublin to perform in the show for a span of eight weeks and admits that this opportunity to spend a considerable amount of time home was a big pull. Her hubby, Iain Stirling, a Scottish comedian, is multitasking as he writes and records voiceovers for Love Island from their Dublin residence; he provides the voiceovers for the reality programme’s UK and US editions. They have a three-year-old daughter, who has predominantly lived in London and is now immersing herself in Irish traditions, like Irish dance lessons. “The experience has been grand. She is now more Irish than even I am,” Whitmore jests, bursting into laughter.
In her words, motherhood in addition to her career feels like holding two full-time jobs, yet she considers it to be the most rewarding experience she has ever had. According to her, ever since she became a parent, she’s found herself functioning with more efficiency, questioning how she used her time previously. Hailing from a working-class background, she proudly calls her tireless approach the “Whitmore work ethic,” inherited from her parents. Interestingly, her newfound motherhood has empowered her to decline tasks or engagements that she doesn’t feel like undertaking.
Whitmore has been part of the acting fraternity and even authored and featured in a short film, Sadhbh, a couple of years back. She believes this to be a logical progression from her television career. She cites talents like James Corden and Drew Barrymore who have managed to juggle roles in both sectors successfully. Drama has always held a special place in her heart. As a journalism student at DCU, she auditioned for the Channel 4 series ‘Totally Frank’ about a girl band but missed out on the part, much to her mother’s relief as it allowed her to finish her degree.
Having qualified as a drama teacher, Whitmore in her university days was an active part of the DCU drama society, and even played the role of Lady Macbeth in “the Scottish play,” thus proving her thespian roots. Moving to London as a young woman, she studied Shakespeare at the respected Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. More recently, she spent time touring the UK and Dublin in a play called Not Dead Enough at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
She describes herself as a storyteller with a love for the stage. This manifested when she studied in Boston where she participated actively in the drama club and performed in a play there. Always inclined towards actors, she describes them as her kind of people. This combined with her penchant for live television feeds her adrenaline highs. Her family also has a history in the industry with her aunt and brother having worked at the famous Olympia Theatre, which amuses her.
While pursuing her degree, Whitmore secured an internship at Newstalk. Unexpectedly, she became the winner from among 3,000 contestants vying for the position of MTV’s new presenter. This win required her to relocate to London in 2008 for a year. However, her stay in the city extended and she spent seven years at the music channel.
Since that time, Whitmore’s career has seen consistent advancement with her presenting various programmes such as “Love Island,” “Celebrity Juice,” and “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!”. She’s also hosted her own broadcast, “Laura Whitmore’s Breakfast Show,” on ITV and a well-received slot on BBC Radio 5 Live. Last year marked her debut in a feature film, an independent project titled “A Mother for an Hour,” starring Frances Barber and Asia Argento. It is slated for release next year. She’s also earned accolades for her documentaries, particularly her recent one on incel culture, and promises more in the pipeline. During the pandemic, Whitmore penned her self-help book, “No One Can Change Your Life Except for You.”
She and Stirling also co-host a successful true-crime podcast, “Murder They Wrote,” amassing a growing listener base on BBC Sounds. Their debut live podcast event is scheduled this month at the Electric Picnic.
Despite her representative’s request not to discuss her involvement in “Strictly Come Dancing”, the topic comes up indirectly. For those unfamiliar with this drama surrounding the wholesome BBC TV show, two professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, have exited under allegations of misconduct from their celebrity dance partners Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott.
Details of Pernice’s alleged behaviour paint a grim picture, described by Abbington as “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”. In defence, Pernice countered the allegations via Instagram, denying any “abusive or threatening behaviour”. Di Prima expressed regrets about his actions leading to his exit on Instagram and suggested that his zealousness to win might have influenced his training approach, conceding that stepping back from the show was in its best interest.
Whitmore competed in Strictly in 2016, where Pernice became her dance partner. Reflecting on her time in the show in a HuffPost article she wrote in 2018, she presented her distressing experience. She stated that her stint was marred by an unpleasant partnership, one that left her emotionally and physically shattered. Despite projecting a smiling face to the world, she confessed to being deeply affected by the incident. She received the support of her friends and family, who were aware of her difficulties. Nonetheless, she felt that the media perceived her as a glamorous pawn dressed in sequins.
Asked about the changes she’s seen for women under scrutiny since she started her career, Whitmore expressed belief that there has been a shift. She feels people are being held accountable more often. She hopes that the process of social change continues, bringing to light the issues she spoke about eight years ago, which are currently under review.
She expressed the feeling of being dismissed or gaslit when she tried to communicate her issues in the past. While she hesitates discussing much while the BBC investigates the complaints, she expressed frustration at the victim-blaming dynamic these situations often adopt and the difficulty that comes with being the first to voice such issues.
Whitmore had a tough time deciding how and when to discuss the alleged inappropriate conduct of the professional dancers. She eventually took to Instagram to share some thoughts amid the whirlwind of speculation. Recognizing the spread of misinformation in the media, she sought to offer support and correct the narrative.
She revealed that she was among six others who had been invited to discuss their encounters with the same individual at the BBC. Even though she had flagged her concerns in 2016, she initially presumed her experience was unique, only to find out it wasn’t. Whitmore expressed her desire to put an end to such behaviour patterns through her revelations.
“In her Instagram story, she voiced her desire for acknowledgement that her experiences during her stint on BBC Strictly in the rehearsal rooms were inappropriate, with the hope that such instances would not reoccur. She recounted her attempts to raise her concerns appropriately and acknowledged the efforts made by the BBC and other media outlets to improve.
Following the allegations made by Abbington, Pernice’s spokesman has stated that the dancer has fully collaborated with the BBC’s ongoing investigation. While awaiting the outcome of this investigation – which Pernice believes will vindicate him – the BBC has pledged to reinforce the welfare and support available on Strictly Come Dancing, and has made the decision to have chaperones present during all in-studio rehearsal sessions.
Whitmore, who has openly criticized the treatment of women who opt for public careers, has announced she will not be making further comments about Strictly after sharing her Instagram story. She has previously been outspoken about the effects of unsubstantiated tabloid reports concerning her personal life, alongside her experiences of upskirting by the paparazzi – a now-illegal practice in both the UK and Ireland.
In a 2022 interview with a newspaper, Whitmore spoke out about her intolerance for such behaviour, alluding to a maturing perspective since becoming a mother. She expressed regret over her past silence in confronting such behavior.
She acknowledged that the overly intrusive attention by tabloid press had lessened since she departed from Love Island two years previously. However, she also stated that the memories of those experiences still affect her. She highlighted the unfounded expectation that being a reality TV host equates to being a reality star, and recalled the discrepancies in treatment during her tenure on the show. She admitted to being judged on her appearance and being sexualised, elements that she believes are not present when men are hosting similar shows.”
Whitmore is approaching her 40th birthday in the coming year. Her thoughts about this significant marker? She views ageing as a gift. “It’s a privilege to grow old,” she notes. While women are often burdened with expectations of maintaining a certain appearance, she frankly couldn’t care less. She confesses to feeling more at ease in her own skin now than when she was in her 20s and wishes she could have had this confidence back then. Several of her friends were not given the chance to age, making her all the more appreciative of the opportunity. “I’m grateful,” she sums up her sentiment.
She looks up to strong women like the late, vibrant New York style influencer, Iris Apfel, who was applauded for her bold fashion sense well into her 90s. Whitmore admires established actresses such as Jennifer Coolidge, Laura Dern, and Joanna Lumley – powerful women she categorises as “icons”. Their thriving careers spark hope in her about the potential future of her own career in acting and presenting. These women assure her that life doesn’t end at 40. Finally pursuing an acting career, she is no longer just the girl from MTV and she’s content with this transition.