Episode 1

Episode image for Episode 1

Episode 1 of 5

Duration: 1 hour

Three single princesses from around the world come to the UK to find Prince Charming to take back to their kingdom. To ensure the people they meet love them for themselves and not just their title, the Princesses go undercover as everyday girls, living together in a house in Essex.

Without their riches and servants, it is the first time the princesses have ever had to fend for themselves. They take on ordinary jobs in a hairdressing salon, cafe and cricket shop. And in their search for the perfect, ordinary man, they trawl the pubs, clubs and supermarkets of Essex for 'the one'.

Narrated by Russell Tovey, The Undercover Princesses is an entertaining factual entertainment series that follows the hilarious and compelling antics of three very different royals on one extraordinary quest.

The Undercover Princesses arrive in the UK to start their search for the perfect man... in Essex. To help them meet ordinary men who will love them for themselves and not for their royal status, the princesses take on regular jobs in a hairdressing salon, café and a cricket shop. Initially they have mixed fortunes on the dating scene. Whilst confident Princess Xenia is a big hit with the Essex boys, picky Princess Sheillah and shy Princess Aaliya struggle more with Western-style dating. But things look up when Princess Xenia celebrates her 23rd birthday with a karaoke night... and surprise stripper! And the princesses even brave a big Saturday night out dressed as 'real' Essex girls.

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Chapters

9 items

  • Introducing the Princesses

    Three princesses: Princess Nvannungi Sheillah, Princess Xenia and Princess Aaliya try and pass themselves off as ordinary girls in order to find their Prince Charming.

  • The Princesses’ New Home and Princess Xenia

    Princesses Xenia and Aaliya have to make their own way from Heathrow to their new home in Essex. There’s also a look into Xenia’s royal life in her native Saxony, Germany.

  • The Final Arrival and Princess Aaliya

    The final Princess, Nvannungi Sheillah, arrives to complete the trio. The three then discuss if they will change their names, and if so, what to. Princess Aaliya speaks about her role as a princess.

  • Food Shopping and Princess Sheillah

    Xenia aka Gabriella, Sheillah aka Cindrellah, and Aaliyah head out into the community, for the first time, in search of fish and chips. Also, Sheillah talks about her kingdom in Uganda.

  • New Jobs

    The trio find out what jobs they will have: Gabriella will work in a hairdressing salon, Cindrellah will work in a café and Aaliyah gets to meet England cricketer Graham Onions in her new job.

  • Gabriella and Aaliya go down the Pub

    Two of the princesses pay a trip to their local in search of love; however approaching men proves a little too much for Aaliya.

  • Gabriella’s Birthday

    Aaliya and Cindrellah have a surprise for Gabriella on her birthday; however this surprise means they must bunk off work. The girls then celebrate in a karaoke bar, with a stripper.

  • The Princesses Prepare for Saturday Night

    The girls look for inspiration before hitting the shops in order to find the authentic ‘Essex’ look.

  • Saturday Night in Essex

    The girls go clubbing in order to find dates; will Aaliyah overcome her nerves and will Cindrellah stop being so picky?

Credits

Narrator
Russell Tovey
Producer
Anoushka Roberts
Executive Producer
Nick Parnes
Executive Producer
Adam Adler

Broadcasts

See all broadcasts of Episode 1 (11)

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