The Only Way is Essex is REEM

I don’t know how it happened. I am sure I could try and blame someone else for getting me into The Only Way is Essex or TOWIE as it is now known, but I can’t blame anyone else but myself.

So yes my name is Sarah and I am a TOWIE addict.

TOWIE is based in Essex and follows real people but they admit that some (I’d say most) of what they show is staged. Now into its third season and they won a BAFTA earlier this season beating Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Miranda to name a few. The programmes are filmed a few days ahead of when they are shown. Ratings are still up for TOWIE and with the two shows a week (Sunday and Wednesday) they have benefitted even more with the promotion time from ITV from The X Factor and Downton Abbey.

Only a year ago did TOWIE burst onto our screens and now phrases like well jell  (jealous) and shuuut uuuuup (no way) are now becoming used more and more. The series has also made the “stars” overnight celebrities and they each have started their own businesses with most now having their own shop.

So who are the main players in TOWIE?

The Bromance – James Argent and Mark Wright are inseparable and don’t the women know it! Mark is a real ladies man but it’s Arg that he wants to spend time with. They have been affectionately called ‘Marg’ as a nod to their bromance. Arg has an up and down relationship with Lydia and Mark has just broken up with Lauren G after another up and down relationship. The only steady relationship the two have is with each other.

Mark’s sister Jessica is also featured in TOWIE in the main cast and their Mum and Nanna Pat (who is awesome) also are regulars, this season was the first time that we had seen their Dad.

Another bromance! Kirk Norcross and Joey Essex are inseparable too but not as bad as the above two! Kirk’s Dad Mick is another main cast member of the show and owns Sugar Hut, a nightclub that Kirk promotes for. Joey comes out with silly stuff and he’s the one who came up with the phrase ‘reem’ who use it to describe his hair. He also likes to buy his shoes two sizes too small…

Kirk had been due to marry Lauren P, they both had undergone nose jobs but later the wedding and their relationship was called off. Joey has recently finished with Sam Faiers.

The two Lauren’s. Lauren Pope and Lauren Goodger are now single after their splits from Kirk and Mark respectively. Lauren Pope is one of London’s hottest DJ’s and now with TOWIE she’s branched out into press bookings for store openings (as have most of the cast now). Lauren G has her own merchandise company with the main product being the TOWIE necessity of fake tan!

The Faiers sisters. Billie and Sam Faiers are the fun happy go lucky girls on TOWIE and they too are going down the shop lark with House of Fraser. They already have their own shop but House of Fraser will showcase their new fashion line too.They have both done a lot of glamour model work and they will be showcasing their bodies with TOWIE star Lydia for a new workout DVD.

So yes I am totally addicted to TOWIE. It’s clear that we haven’t seen the last of this lot from Essex and I for one LOVE IT!

Are you a TOWIE addict? Or do you watch Made in Chelsea?