ANDY COHEN

AMERICA’S ONLY GAY LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST PAYS A FLEETING VISIT TO SEE ATTITUDE IN LONDON

Words: Ben Kelly

PHOTOGRAPHY: LEON CSERNOHLAVEK / STYLING: NICK BYAM

Shirt by Burton

Stripping from tuxedo to dressing gown in a suite at London’s Andaz Hotel, I suggest that Andy Cohen may like some privacy. “Relax,” he says brashly, “I’m not shy, I’m American!” And indeed it’s in his USA homeland where TV mogul Andy Cohen can consider himself a huge star. He hosts his own late night talk show Watch What Happens: Live, he’s the creator, executive producer and all round ringmaster of the popular Real Housewives franchise, and his high flying New York socialite ways are well documented on his social media accounts as well as his book The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year. But here in London – where he’s come to see ‘friend’ Ralph Fiennes on the stage, to dine with Joan Collins, and crucially, to talk to Attitude – he still enjoys some levels of anonymity. “I went out last night and it was interesting being in London. Some people knew who I was, some people didn’t, and it was very fun, it was very... refreshing,” he grins. Bubbly and chatty with everyone on set, and happy to take well positioned selfies, Andy is clearly someone who delights in his work, and every aspect of it. As we sit down for a chat he asks me gleefully, “Are you a ginge?!” expressing his preference for red tops.

Sadly Andy, I’m not, but there’s a copy of RED HOT in the post with your name on it.

Do you know London well?

I love London. I came out of the closet in London. I was studying abroad here when I was in college. Our flat was in Earls Court, and I thought there’s no way I’m going to be able to stay in the closet if I’m here, and I came out. It was a great time.

Who did you tell?

I told my friend Amanda, who’s still one of my best friends to this day. She’s a shrink now, which makes sense.

Your show, ‘Watch What Happens: Live’, is a lot more fun than most other U.S. talk shows right?