Duvet Days

Camilla Thurlow

Humanitarian and reality TV star Camilla Thurlow invites Abby to her new pad to chat about how Love Island pulled her out of a dark time in her life, how falling in love with Jamie Jewitt on the show changed her and why she lets their new french bulldog puppies snuggle in bed. Camilla discusses growing up in Dumfries, as a shy and self-proclaimed 'uncool' kid, going off to boarding school at the age of 10 and receiving a letter from her Mum every day to help her cope with homesickness. She opens up about her work as a bomb disposal expert in Cambodia and reveals that witnessing the devastating affects landmines have on civilians left her feeling guilty and emotionally shut off. Love Island was her last ditch attempt to shake off these feelings - and it worked! Give yourself a duvet day and check out the final episode of Series 2, as Camilla kicks back and talks about the car crash she survived at 18 and why her and Jamie are not the perfect Instagram couple. Presenter and Producer: Abby Hollick Executive Producer: Mike Hally Assistant Producer: Rosie Stopher Composer: Ian Kellett Duvet Days is a Square Dog Media production

Yola

Yola invites Abby Hollick for a duvet day as she talks about growing up with nothing in Portishead and how her mum disproved of her singing. The country soul star explains how Dolly Parton inspired her to be unapologetically herself and why she ended up sleeping on the streets when she was trying to make it in London. Plus, she opens up about how stress caused her to lose her voice for a year and a half and how she was made to feel that she should be a backing singer instead of up front. Presenter and Producer: Abby Hollick Executive Producer: Mike Hally Assistant Producer: Rosie Stopher Composer: Ian Kellett Duvet Days is a Square Dog Media production.

Lemn Sissay

Poet and writer Lemn Sissay takes a duvet day with Abby Hollick to discuss being taken from his Ethiopian mother, memories of his foster family and discovering why he was forced out of that home at the age of 12. He details his life in care, recalling the racism, the system of punishment and never receiving a hug during his teenage years, but ultimately reveals what it taught him about family and home. For the first time, Lemn discusses notes from his care files, reading reports his foster mother made accusing him of being threatening and amoral. He describes how he forgave her and why being able to read about his childhood helps him understand himself better. Plus, Lemn explains why he’s fighting to change perception of children in the care system and how he’s defined by his ability to heal rather than the scars he has. Presenter and Producer: Abby Hollick Executive Producer: Mike Hally Assistant Producer: Rosie Stopher Composer: Ian Kellett Duvet Days is a Square Dog Media production.

Rosie Jones

Comedian Rosie Jones is pulling a duvet day to chat with Abby Hollick about how she’s always been a show off, her love of Gareth Gates and why being disabled is way better when you’re on TV. She opens up about how having Cerebral Palsy has often meant she’s patronized, why she thought the comedy world wouldn’t welcome her and why she doesn’t mind representing other young people with disabilities. She admits that she’s not actually the funniest person in her family and that her mum said she’d never want to watch her on stage, but ended up watching her with 10,000 other people at Wembley. Presenter and Producer: Abby Hollick Executive Producer: Mike Hally Assistant Producer: Rosie Stopher Composer: Ian Kellett Duvet Days is a Square Dog Media production

Munroe Bergdorf

Munroe Bergdorf invites Abby Hollick for a Duvet Day on her sofa. She explains how she’s learnt to love her bedroom again after the trauma of sexual assault, but why it’s still off limits for visitors. She describes growing up in the middle of nowhere and not fitting it, being bullied for being effeminate at school, and being written off by her teachers. The model, DJ and activist opens up about how she finally learnt that being trans doesn’t mean you can’t be happy, deciding who she wants to be and how learning to talk about her feelings has helped in her recovery from an eating disorder. Plus, she explains why she’s fed up with explaining how people can be better allies to the trans community. If you have been affected by issues discussed in this episode such as eating disorders, emotional distress and sexual violence, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/ Presenter and Producer: Abby Hollick Executive Producer: Mike Hally Assistant Producer: Rosie Stopher Composer: Ian Kellett Duvet Days is a Square Dog Media production