The following is a list of the cast members of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex .
This is a list of the current cast members appearing in the show in order of their first appearance.
| Cast member | Series | Episode count * [ broken anchor ] | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Goodger | 1–6, 16, 19, 32–present | 78 | 2010–2012, 2015–2016, 2024–present |
| Amy Childs | 1–2, 26–present | 99 | 2010–2011, 2020–present |
| Harry Derbidge | 1–3, 12, 26–present | 113 | 2010–2011, 2014, 2020–present |
| James "Diags" Bennewith | 4–present | 347 | 2012–present |
| Dan Edgar | 14–present | 238 | 2015–present |
| Chloe Meadows | 17–present | 193 | 2016–present |
| Courtney Green | 17–present | 192 | 2016–present |
| Amber Turner | 20–present | 154 | 2017–present |
| Jordan Brook | 20–21, 29–present | 66 | 2017, 2022–present |
| Saffron Lempriere | 23–present | 117 | 2018–present |
| Ella Wise | 24–present | 97 | 2019–present |
| Dani Imbert | 27–present | 67 | 2021–present |
| Roman Hackett | 27–present | 63 | 2021–present |
| Bill Delbosq | 28–present | 25 | 2021–present |
| Elma Pazar | 29–present | 44 | 2022–present |
| Junaid Ahmed | 29–present | 44 | 2022–present |
| Sophie Kasaei | 30–present | 17 | 2023–present |
| Joe Blackman | 31–present | 15 | 2023–present |
| Jodie Wells | 31–present | 13 | 2023–present |
| Freddie Bentley | 32–present | 7 | 2024–present |
| Livvy Jay | 32-present | 4 | 2024-present |
| Becks Bloomberg | 32-present | 4 | 2024-present |
| Sammy Root | 33-present | 7 | 2024-present |
This is a list of the former cast members appearing in the show in order of their last appearance.
| Cast member | Series | Episode count | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Woods | 1 | 3 | 2010 |
| Candy Jacobs | 1 | 6 | 2010 |
| Maria Fowler | 1–3 | 26 | 2010–2011 |
| Nicola Goodger | 2–4 | 15 | 2011–2012 |
| Peri Sinclair | 3–4 | 11 | 2011–2012 |
| Georgio Georgiades | 3–4 | 15 | 2011–2012 |
| Dino Georgiades | 3–4 | 15 | 2011–2012 |
| Georgina Dorsett | 4–5 | 15 | 2012 |
| Tom Kilbey | 4–7 | 34 | 2012 |
| Cara Kilbey | 3–7 | 49 | 2011–2012 |
| Mark Wright | 1–3, 7 | 42 | 2010–2012 |
| Mick Norcross | 2–8 | 53 | 2011–2013 |
| Danni Park-Dempsey | 5–8 | 21 | 2012–2013 |
| Kirk Norcross | 1–3, 7–8 | 54 | 2010–2013 |
| Darrell Privett | 6–8 | 13 | 2012–2013 |
| Jack Bennewith | 8 | 8 | 2013 |
| Danny Walia | 7–8 | 12 | 2012–2013 |
| Chris "Little Chris" Drake | 4–10 | 59 | 2012–2013 |
| Joey Essex | 2–10 | 110 | 2011–2013 |
| Abi Clarke | 8–10 | 26 | 2013 |
| Lucy Mecklenburgh | 1–10 | 107 | 2010–2013 |
| Sam Faiers | 1–11 | 129 | 2010–2014 |
| Grace Andrews | 11–12 | 22 | 2014 |
| Tom Pearce | 5–13 | 105 | 2012–2014 |
| Georgia Harrison | 13 | 11 | 2014 |
| Leah Wright | 2, 9, 11–14 | 22 | 2011, 2013–2015 |
| Dan Osborne | 8–14 | 67 | 2013–2015 |
| Ricky Rayment | 4–14 | 114 | 2012–2015 |
| Jasmin Walia | 1, 7–14 | 78 | 2010, 2012–2015 |
| Mark Wright Snr. | 3, 6–11, 16 | 25 | 2011, 2012–2015 |
| Patricia "Nanny Pat" Brooker | 1–16 | 117 | 2010–2015 |
| Lewis Bloor | 10–17 | 83 | 2013–2016 |
| Jake Hall | 14–17 | 46 | 2015–2016 |
| Ferne McCann | 9–18 | 101 | 2013–2016 |
| Jess Wright | 1–16, 18 | 184 | 2010–2016 |
| Billie Faiers | 1–18 | 184 | 2010–2016 |
| Ben Shenel | 19–20 | 11 | 2016–2017 |
| Ercan Ramadan | 19–20 | 12 | 2016–2017 |
| Milly McKenna | 18–20 | 12 | 2016–2017 |
| Debbie Douglas | 2–10, 12–20 | 131 | 2011–2013, 2014–2017 |
| Jamie Reed | 3, 6, 8, 20 | 18 | 2011–2013, 2017 |
| Kate Wright | 16–20 | 62 | 2015–2017 |
| Lydia Bright | 1–7, 9, 11–20 | 186 | 2010–2017 |
| Carol Wright | 2–21 | 154 | 2011–2017 |
| Charlie King | 4–9, 20–21 | 63 | 2012–2013, 2017 |
| Tanya McKenna | 18–21 | 17 | 2016–2017 |
| Megan McKenna | 1, 17–21 | 60 | 2010, 2016–2017 |
| Ruby Lacey | 21 | 9 | 2017 |
| Jack Rigden | 20–21 | 23 | 2017 |
| Amber Dowding | 18–21 | 49 | 2016–2017 |
| Taylor Barnett | 21 | 14 | 2017 |
| Joan Collins | 5–12, 20–23 | 38 | 2012–2014, 2017–2018 |
| Mike Hassini | 16–18, 21, 23 | 52 | 2015–2018 |
| Dean Ralph | 22–23 | 14 | 2018 |
| Jon Clark | 17–23 | 83 | 2016–2018 |
| Jordan Wright | 22–23 | 16 | 2018 |
| Billi Mucklow | 3–8, 23 | 50 | 2011–2013, 2018 |
| Chris Clark | 17–23 | 72 | 2016–2018 |
| James Argent | 1–19, 21-23 | 233 | 2010–2018 |
| Adam Oukhellou | 22–23 | 10 | 2018 |
| Chloe Lewis | 14–23 | 119 | 2015–2018 |
| Kady McDermott | 23 | 5 | 2018 |
| Myles Barnett | 20–23 | 47 | 2017–2018 |
| Lauren Pope | 1–16, 20–23 | 201 | 2010–2015, 2017–2018 |
| Nathan Massey | 18–22, 24 | 11 | 2016–2019 |
| Cara De La Hoyde | 18–22, 24 | 9 | 2016–2019 |
| Vas J Morgan | 12–19, 21–22, 25 | 73 | 2014–2019 |
| Sam Mucklow | 23–25 | 24 | 2018–2019 |
| Gemma Collins | 2–25 | 236 | 2011–2019 |
| Jayden Beales | 24–25 | 20 | 2019 |
| Chloe Ross | 24–25 | 22 | 2019 |
| Olivia Attwood | 24–26 | 16 | 2019–2020 |
| Fran Parman | 11–16, 20, 26 | 62 | 2014–2015, 2017, 2020 |
| Mario Falcone | 3–11, 13–16, 19–21, 26 | 154 | 2011–2017, 2020 |
| Danielle Armstrong | 10–19, 21, 25–26 | 119 | 2013–2017 2019–2020 |
| Elliott Wright | 1, 9–16, 21, 25–26 | 72 | 2010, 2013–2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| Shelby Tribble | 22–26 | 38 | 2018–2020 |
| Matt Snape | 25–26 | 15 | 2019–2020 |
| Charlie Sims | 9–14, 25–27 | 59 | 2013–2015 2019–2021 |
| Rem Larue | 27 | 11 | 2021 |
| Joey Turner | 24–27 | 48 | 2019–2021 |
| Kelsey Stratford | 24–27 | 47 | 2019–2021 |
| Tom McDonnell | 24–27 | 51 | 2019–2021 |
| Harry Lee | 24–27 | 51 | 2019–2021 |
| Clelia Theodorou | 22–27 | 70 | 2018–2021 |
| Nicole Bass | 16–17, 26–27 | 45 | 2015–2016, 2020–2021 |
| Bobby Cole Norris | 4–27 | 300 | 2012–2021 |
| Frankie Essex | 2–10, 14, 19, 26, 28 | 79 | 2011–2013, 2015–2016, 2020-2021 |
| Georgia Kousoulou | 11–27, 28 | 218 | 2014–2021 |
| Clare Brockett | 24–26, 28 | 19 | 2019–2021 |
| Chloe Sims | 2–28 | 325 | 2011–2021 |
| Nikki Blackwell | 17–21, 23, 25, 28–29 | 25 | 2016–2019, 2021–2022 |
| Liam "Gatsby" Blackwell | 16–29 | 175 | 2015–2022 |
| Yazmin Oukhellou | 20–26, 28–29 | 95 | 2017–2022 |
| Pete Wicks | 15–29 | 181 | 2015–2022 |
| James "Lockie" Lock | 8–30 | 256 | 2013–2023 |
| Tommy Mallet | 13–27, 31 | 182 | 2014–2021, 2023 |
| Chloe Brockett | 24–31 | 91 | 2019–2023 |
| Frankie Sims | 25–28, 34 | 53 | 2019–2021, 2024 |
| Demi Sims | 12, 23–28, 33 | 66 | 2014, 2018–2021, 2024 |
| Current | Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | |||
| Lauren G | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harry D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diags | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chloe M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtney | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amber T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jordan B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saffron | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ella | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dani | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elma | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Junaid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sophie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jodie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Freddie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former | Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | |||
| Michael | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Candy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicola | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peri | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dino | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgina | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom K | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cara K | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mick | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Danni P-D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darrell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Danny | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Little Chris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joey E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lucy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam F | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom P | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan O | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ricky | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jasmin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Snr. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nanny Pat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lewis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ferne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jess | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ben | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ercan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Milly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debbie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jamie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lydia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlie K | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tanya | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Megan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ruby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amber D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taylor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dean | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jordan W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chloe L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kady | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Myles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lauren P | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nathan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cara DLH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gemma | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jayden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chloe R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olivia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fran | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mario | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Danni A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elliott | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shelby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlie S | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rem | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joey T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kelsey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harry L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clelia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicole | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bobby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frankie E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clare | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frankie S | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chloe S | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hannah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nikki | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gatsby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yaz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lockie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tommy M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chloe B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Livvy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Becks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Only Way Is Essex is a British reality television series based in Brentwood, Essex, England. It shows "real people in modified situations, saying unscripted lines but in a structured way." Broadcast on ITV2 from 2010, the series was moved to ITVBe in October 2014. The first series consisted of 10 episodes and ran for 30 minutes, with a Christmas special following later in the year. Due to popularity, the runtime was extended to 45-minute episodes and renewed for a year's airing. On 22 May 2011, the series won the Audience Award at the 2011 BAFTA Awards.
Samantha Elizabeth Faiers is an English television personality. She starred in the ITV2 reality series The Only Way Is Essex from 2010 to 2014 and had her own reality series "Sam and Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries" for nine series from 2016 to 2021.
James David Thomas Argent is an English television personality. From 2010 to 2018, he was a regular cast member on the ITVBe reality series The Only Way Is Essex. He has appeared in various other reality series, such as Sugar Free Farm and The Jump, and in 2019, he presented the entertainment segment on Good Morning Britain.
Lauren Rose Goodger is an English media personality. She starred in the ITVBe reality show The Only Way Is Essex from 2010 until 2012. She made brief returns to the series in 2015 and 2016 respectively, before returning permanently in 2024.
Joey Donald Essex is an English television personality. He came to prominence for his appearances on the ITV reality series The Only Way Is Essex (2011–2013). He went on to appear on various reality television shows, including Splash! (2013), I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2013), The Jump (2015), Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity Ex on the Beach (2020), Dancing on Ice (2023), and Love Island (2024).
The seventh series of The Only Way Is Essex, a British semi-reality television programme, began airing on 30 September 2012 on ITV2. The series concluded on 31 October 2012 after ten episodes. Following the series, three festive special episodes aired from 2 December to 19 December 2012, including one live episode. The Only Way Is Essexmas special episode is included on the Series 7 DVD and Britbox, however for unknown reasons the other two specials were aren't on this DVD. This was the first series to include brand new cast members and siblings Jasmin and Danny Walia. Jasmin had previously appeared during the Essexmas special of the first series auditioning for girl band LOLA.
The eighth series of The Only Way Is Essex, a British semi-reality television programme, began airing on 24 February 2013 on ITV2. The series consisted of 12 episodes. Series 8 marked the first series not to feature Lydia Bright, after her departure from the series in December 2012. The series also saw the departure of numerous supporting cast members and introduced new supporting cast members.
The ninth series of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 2 June 2013 and included the 100th episode of the series which aired 12 June 2013. This was the first series not to feature both Mick Norcross and Debbie Douglas after their departure from the show during the previous series although Douglas made a cameo appearance in Episode 11. Both appeared in the show from series 2–8. It was also the first series not to include Kirk Norcross since he returned to the cast in series 7. On 12 April 2013, ahead of series, Lucy Mecklenburgh announced on Twitter that her relationship with Mario Falcone had ended. The series began with two The Only Way Is Marbs specials.
Ex on the Beach is a British reality television series that is broadcast on MTV UK. The series was first announced in February 2014, and premiered on 22 April 2014. The series is narrated by Andrew Maxwell. Ex on the Beach follows the format of cast members staying abroad and beginning relationships, which are typically interrupted by their exes arriving at various points throughout the series. MTV in the United States airs an American version of the series.
The third series of Ex on the Beach, a British television programme, began airing on 11 August 2015 on MTV. The series concluded on 13 October 2015 after 10 episodes. The group of cast members for this series included former The Only Way Is Essex star Kirk Norcross, whilst exes featured star of Geordie Shore and series 1 returnee Vicky Pattison as well as Rogan O'Connor who was an original cast member from the second series. Jordan Davies also joined the series as an ex having already appeared in Magaluf Weekender as well as Cami-Li, who appeared in fifteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother earlier in the year. This was the first series where the "Tablet of Terror" gave the cast members the decision to evict one another in evil twists. As well as this, it was the first series to include a same-sex ex. The series was filmed in Cancún, Mexico.
The seventeenth series of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex was confirmed on 3 June 2015 when it was announced that it had renewed for at least a further six series, taking it up to 21 series. It is the second series to be included in its current contract. The series will launch on 28 February 2016. Ahead of the series it was announced that cast member Jess Wright had quit the show having appeared since the first series in 2010. Ferne McCann also confirmed that she would be taking a break from the show but would be back. It will be the first series to include new cast members Chloe Meadows, Courtney Green, and Chris and Jon Clark. Jon previously appeared on ITV2's Love Island.
The eighteenth series of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex was confirmed on 3 June 2015 when it was announced that it had renewed for at least a further six series, taking it up to 21 series. It is the third series to be included in its current contract. The series launched on 17 July 2016 with a special entitled The Only Way is Mallorca. Ahead of the series it was announced that cast member Jake Hall had quit the show having appeared since the fourteenth series. Despite quitting the show at the end of the sixteenth series, Jess Wright made a one-off appearance to support Bobby over the loss of his dog. It was also the first series not to include long-running cast member Lewis Bloor, who quit during the previous series. New cast member Amber Dowding joined the show for this series. Love Island winners Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde also made guest appearances during the ninth episode of the series. This was the final series to include Billie Faiers after it was announced she had quit the show.
The sixth series of Ex on the Beach, a British television programme, began on 17 January 2017 on MTV. The series was confirmed on 2 November 2016. The group of cast members for this series included Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers, former The Only Way Is Essex star Nicole Bass and Love Island series 1 contestant Josh Ritchie. It also featured the return of Ross Worswick following his appearance in the first series of the show.
Olivia Jade Attwood Dack is an English television personality, presenter and model. In 2017, she appeared on the third series of Love Island and later became a regular cast member on the ITVBe reality series The Only Way Is Essex. In November 2022, she participated in the twenty-second series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! but withdrew on medical grounds two days after arriving. In 2023, Attwood joined Loose Women as a panellist. As of 2024 Attwood and GK Barry are the youngest panellists in the shows 25 year history.
The twenty-first series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex was confirmed on 3 June 2015 when it was announced that it had renewed for at least a further six series, taking it up to 21 series. The series began on 10 September 2017 with the cast going to Marbella, and concluded after seventeen episodes on 5 November 2017, making it the second longest series to date after it was confirmed that the lengths of each series would be extended. Ahead of the series it was announced that James Argent would be returning to the series following his break from the show. It was also confirmed that after making brief appearances during the previous series, Lauren Pope and Mario Falcone would be returning to the series as a full-time cast member. With this announcement, it was revealed that Mike Hassini would also be returning to the series having previously left the show after the eighteenth series. Former cast member Elliott Wright also made an appearance during the second episode of the series, whilst Vas J Morgan also returned to the show mid-way through the series. This was also the first series to include new cast members Ruby Lacey and Taylor Barnett. Former cast member Danielle Armstrong also made a brief return to the series, appearing in the Halloween special episode airing on 29 October 2017. During the series it was announced that Carol Wright had quit the show. A further Essexmas episode aired on 17 December 2017.
The twenty-fourth series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 17 March 2019 with a special episode as the cast visited Thailand. Ahead of the series, it was announced that a large number of cast members had quit the series or had been axed from the show. These include Adam Oukhello, Chloe Lewis, Chris and Jon Clark, Dean Ralph, James Argent, Jordan Wright and Myles Barnett. Original cast member Lauren Pope also quit the show before the launch, despite appearing in promo images for the new series. Therefore, no original cast members appeared in this series. The new cast members replacing them were Chloe and Clare Brockett, Chloe Ross, Ella Wise, Harry Lee, Jayden Beales, Joey Turner, Kelsey Stratford and Tom McDonnell. Despite announcements that Amber Turner and Gemma Collins would not be returning for this series, they both made appearances. Former cast members and Love Island winners Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey also made a brief appearance during this series.
The twenty-ninth series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 21 August 2022. Filming for the series commenced in June 2022 and was set to begin months prior, but due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television, it was postponed. For the first time in the show's history, the series was filmed entirely before the series had begun airing, as opposed to filming days prior to transmission. The series will consist of 11 episodes, with two episodes filmed in the Dominican Republic. Filming ended on 18 August 2022 with an episode filmed in Hythe, Kent, that focused on a party for the cast members. Lime Pictures, the show's production company, recruited extras to appear in the background of the episode.
