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.
Chloe Linda Daisy Margaret Sims is an English television personality. From 2011 to 2021, she appeared in the ITVBe reality series The Only Way Is Essex, in which she was the longest serving cast member.
"TOWIE Live" is the second episode of a series of special episodes airing throughout December 2012 of The Only Way Is Essex. The episode originally aired live on the ITV2 television network in the United Kingdom on 3 December 2012, becoming the first reality television series to ever broadcast a live episode.
The thirteenth series of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex was confirmed on 30 January 2014 when it had been announced that it had renewed for a further three series; the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth. The series launched on 8 October 2014 with two The Only Way Is Ibiza specials. It was the first series to feature on ITV's new channel ITVBe, which also launched on 8 October 2014. The first episode of The Only Way Is Ibiza featured a live afterparty straight after the episode hosted by ex-cast member Mark Wright and narrator of the show Denise van Outen.
The fourteenth series of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex was confirmed on 26 November 2014 when it had been announced that it had renewed for at least a further two series, the fourteenth and fifteenth. It is therefore the first series to be included in its current contract. The series launched on 22 February 2015 and was immediately followed by a one-off special "TOWIE: All Back to Essex" hosted by Mark Wright. It is the second series to feature on ITV's new channel ITVBe. It was the first series to include new cast members Dan Edgar, Jake Hall and Chloe Lewis, and the last to feature Charlie Sims, Dan Osborne, Jasmin Walia, Leah Wright and Ricky Rayment. Frankie Essex also made a brief return to the series having last appeared during the tenth series.
The fifteenth series of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex was confirmed on 26 November 2014 when it had been announced that it had renewed for at least a further two series, the fourteenth and fifteenth. The series launched on 14 June 2015 with two Marbella specials. After the launch of the new series, it will be immediately followed by another one-off special "TOWIE: All Back to Essex" hosted by Mark Wright. It is the third series to feature on ITV's new channel ITVBe. As well as confirming the new launch date, it was confirmed that ITV had renewed their contract keeping the show for a further six series, taking it to Series 21. Ahead of the series it was announced that cast member Ricky Rayment had taken a short break from the show but would be back, however he did not return. It was also confirmed that Mario Falcone had been suspended from the show for the second time, this time after promoting slimming pills on social media. He returned during the fourth episode. This was the final series to feature long-running cast member Gemma Collins until her brief return for the Essexmas special, and first to include new cast member Pete Wicks.
The sixteenth 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 therefore the first series to be included in its current contract. The series launched on 4 October 2015 with two Marbella specials. After the launch of the new series, it was immediately followed by another one-off special "TOWIE: All Back to Essex", hosted by Mark Wright. Ahead of the series it was announced that cast member Gemma Collins had quit the show having appeared since the second series, however she later returned for the Essexmas special. This was also the final series to feature original cast member Lauren Pope, who quit mid-way through the series, Jess Wright and Ferne McCann who both announced their departures from the show ahead of the seventeenth series. This was also the final series to include Patricia "Nanny Pat" Brooker following her death. A Christmas special of the show aired on 16 December 2015 which featured the brief return of former cast members Gemma Collins, Lauren Goodger and Mario Falcone.
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 nineteen 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. It is the fourth series to be included in its current contract. The series will launch on 9 October 2016 with a The Only Way is Marbs special. It includes the first appearances of new cast members Ben Shenel and Ercan Ramadan. Mario Falcone and Frankie Essex also made a surprise one-off return to the series during the final episode of the series to celebrate Chloe Sims's 35th birthday. Love Island winners Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde both made another guest appearance during the eighth episode. Original cast member James Argent was also absent for most of this series. A further two Essexmas specials aired in December 2016, where Danni Armstrong announced her departure from the series.
The twentieth 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 launched on 5 March with the cast going to Tenerife, and concluded on 3 May 2017 after eighteen episodes, making this the longest series to date. Ahead of the series it was announced that James Argent had taken a break from the series having only appeared in the first half of the previous series. It was also announced that Mario Falcone, Jamie Reed and Charlie King would all be returning to the series. Lauren Pope also made a return to the series during the final episode, and Fran Parman also made a brief return during this episode.
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-second series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began on 25 March 2018 with the cast heading to Barcelona and concluded on 27 May 2018 after ten episodes. The series was confirmed on 21 December 2017, when it was announced that a further two series had been commissioned for 2018. It was also confirmed that the series will only air once a week unlike past series which aired twice a week. Ahead of the series, it was confirmed that a number of cast members had been axed including Chris Clark, Amber Dowding, Vas Morgan, Mike Hassini, Jordan Brooks, Jack Rigden, Taylor Barnett and Ruby Lacey, however Chris and Vas each made brief appearances. As well as this, Mario Falcone and Megan McKenna also confirmed that they wouldn't be returning to the show. This was the final season to feature James Argent. New cast members for this series include Dean Ralph and Jordan Wright, who both previously appeared in the seventh series of Ex on the Beach, as well as Clelia Theodorou and Shelby Tribble. Yazmin's brother Adam Oukhellou also joined the cast midway through the series. Prior to this Adam appeared in the sixth series of Ex on the Beach.
The twenty-third series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 2 September 2018 with an Italian special as the cast flew off to Sardinia. The series was confirmed on 21 December 2017, when it was announced that a further two series had been commissioned for 2018.
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. 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-fifth series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 1 September 2019, and concluded on 10 November 2019 following 11 episodes. The first episode of the series marks the 300th overall episode of the show. Ahead of the series, it was announced that former Love Island star Olivia Attwood had joined the cast having already made an appearance during the previous series. Frankie Sims and Matt Snape also joined the cast for this series. This series also featured one-off appearances from former cast members Charlie Sims, Danni Armstrong, Elliott Wright, Gemma Collins and Vas Morgan. In October 2019, it was announced that Sam Mucklow and Shelby Tribble had quit the series. During the final episode, it was confirmed that a "The Only Way Is Essexmas" special would return having not aired the previous year.
The twenty-sixth series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 13 September 2020. This series was due to air earlier in the year, but in March 2020 it was announced that filming had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Whilst off air, it was announced that the series would return later in the year and would go back to airing two episodes per week, and that filming would take place with social distancing to protect cast and crew. Ahead of the series, it was announced that cast members Chloe Ross and Jayden Beales had been axed from the show. It was also confirmed that original cast member Amy Childs would be returning. Nicole Bass, Harry Derbidge and Fran Parman also returned.
The twenty-seventh series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 14 March 2021, and concluded following eleven episodes on 23 May. This series returned to airing just one episode per week, and like the previous series, it was filmed with social distancing measures in place to protect both cast and crew from Coronavirus. Despite filming for this series taking place during a national lockdown, some restaurants and pubs opened especially for the show. Ahead of the series it was announced that cast member Yazmin Oukhellou had quit the show to focus on a new career. It was also confirmed that Rem Larue had joined the cast instead. This series also features the arrivals of new cast members Dani Imbert and Roman Hackett. as well as the departures of Georgia Kousoulou, Tommy Mallet and Joey Turner.
The twenty-eighth series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 12 September 2021, and concluded on 14 November following 10 episodes. A further two "Essexmas" special episodes aired on 15 and 16 December. Ahead of the series it was announced that the show would be evolving with some changes, including axing a number of cast members to therefore focus on a smaller group of cast and allow more time to film their real lives such as their bonds between family and friends. Cast members confirmed not to be returning for this series were Chloe Meadows, Clelia Theodorou, Courtney Green, Ella Wise, Harry Derbidge, Harry Lee, Kelsey Stratford, Nicole Bass, Rem Larue and Tom McDonnell, joining Georgia Kousoulou, Tommy Mallett and Joey Turner, who had already previously announced they'd quit. Bobby Cole Norris also announced that he had quit the series but would be presenting "TOWIE: The Official After Party", a new online spin-off 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.
The thirtieth series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 26 March 2023. Filming for the series commenced in January 2023, with a number of episodes set in Thailand.
