- The Only Way Is Essex
-
The Only Way Is Essex Genre Reality television
Drama[1]Starring Samantha Faiers
Jessica Wright
Lauren Goodger
James Argent
Lydia Rose Bright
Harry Derbidge
Joey Essex
Kirk Norcross
Lucy Mecklenburgh
Chloe Sims
Billie Faiers
Maria Fowler
Lauren Pope
Gemma CollinsOpening theme "The Only Way Is Up" by Yazz Country of origin United Kingdom Language(s) English No. of series 3 No. of episodes 39 (List of episodes) Production Running time 30–60 mins (Series 1)
45–60 mins (Series 2 – present)Broadcast Original channel ITV2 (and ITV2 HD) Original run 10 October 2010 – PresentExternal links Website The Only Way Is Essex (often abbreviated as TOWIE)[2][3] is a British BAFTA award-winning semi-reality show based in Essex, England. It shows "real people in modified situations, saying unscripted lines but in a structured way."[4]
It debuted on 10 October 2010.[5] It follows the lives of young adults: Kirk Norcross, Mark Wright, Jessica Wright, Lauren Goodger, Samantha Faiers, James Argent, Lydia Rose Bright, Harry Derbidge and their friends, family and acquaintances. The show is primarily filmed in Brentwood, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell, near London.[5]
The show is filmed just a few days in advance. Series 1 ran initially for four weeks, airing every Wednesday and Sunday. It is narrated by Denise Van Outen, who is from Basildon, Essex. The show has been described by the Daily Mirror as Britain's answer to The Hills and Jersey Shore.[6]
Series 2 returned on 20 March 2011, once again airing every Wednesday and Sunday, but with longer episodes than Series 1. Series 2 also saw the departure of long running star Amy Childs. The second series consisted of 14 episodes, ending on 4 May 2011. Series 3 returned on 25 September 2011[7] and ended on 9 November. It also marked the final episode to feature Mark Wright after announcing he had quit the show. James Argent, Samantha Faiers and Harry Deridge have all stated in recent interviews that they may not return for the fourth series in 2012.
A Christmas Special of 'The Only Way Is Essex' will follow in December 2011. A Fourth series will be due to follow in 2012. Digital Spy confirmed on 13 November that the show had been recommissioned for four more series. The plan is to air fourteen-episode series in 2012 - beginning in January and followed by a fifth series in mid April, at the end of August and early October.
Contents
Cast
Starring
Cast member[8] Age Years credited Job Title Series(s) Mark Wright 24 2010 – 2011 Nightclub promoter, ex semi-pro footballer Lead Role 1 – 3 Lauren Goodger 25 2010 – Model Lead Role 1 – Present Amy Childs 21 2010 – 2011 Beautician, model Lead Role 1 – 2 Kirk Norcross 23 2010 – Nightclub manager Lead Role 1 – Present Sam Faiers 20 2010 – Glamour Model, fashion store owner Lead Role 1 – Present Harry Derbidge 17 2010 – Student Lead Role 1 – Present James 'Arg' Argent 22 2010 – Radio DJ Lead Role 1 – Present Lydia Rose Bright[9] 20 2010 – Fashion worker, bakery owner Lead Role 1 – Present Jessica Wright 26 2010 – Lingerie store owner, promoter Lead Role 1 – Present Lucy Mecklenburgh 20 2010 – Fashion worker Lead Role 1 – Present Lauren Pope 28 2010 – Model, entrepreneur, DJ [10] Lead Role 1 – Present Maria Fowler 25 2010 – Model Lead Role 1 – Present Michael Woods 27 2010 Bar worker[11] Lead Role 1 Candy Jacobs 27 2010 Bar worker[12] Lead Role 1 Joey Essex 21 2011 – Nightclub promoter[13] Lead Role 2 – Present Gemma Collins 30 2011 – Car sales assistant[14] Lead Role 2 – Present Billie Faiers 21 2010 – Fashion store owner Lead Role 2 – Present Chloe Sims 30 2011 – Model[15] Lead Role 2 – Present Supporting
Cast Member Age Years credited Job Series(s) Patricia 'Nanny Pat' Brooker, Mark and Jessica's maternal grandmother 73 2010 – Pensioner[16][17] 1 – Present Carol Wright, Mark and Jessica's mother 50 2011 – Exhibitions organiser[17] 2 – Present Nicola Goodger, Lauren's sister 26 2011 – 2 – Present Debbie Bright, Lydia's mother 50 2011 - 2 - Present Mark Wright Sr., Mark and Jessica's father 2011 – 3 – Present Peri Sinclair, Mario's ex girlfriend 19 2011 – 3 – Present Mario Falcone, Lucy's ex-boyfriend (as of season3 episode 10)[18] 23 2011 – Bespoke tailor 3 – Present Frankie Essex, Joey's sister 24 2011 - Model 3 – Present Dino Georgiades 24 2011 - Model, personal trainer 3 – Present Georgio Georgiades 24 2011 - Model, personal trainer 3 – Present Kurt Evans, Harry's boyfriend 25 2011 – Makeup artist 3 – Present Linzi Peel 28 2010 Former 'Lola' singer[19][20] 1 Amba-Hollie Wood 19 2010 'Lola' singer[21] 1 Lauren Lindsay 20 2010 'Lola' singer[21] 1 Episodes
Main article: List of The Only Way Is Essex episodesDVD releases
Series Episodes Discs DVD release date Region 2 1 11 2 28 March 2011 All episodes from the first series including the 2010 Christmas special.[22] 2 14 2 26 September 2011 All episodes from the second series Ghosthunting with... The Only Way Is Essex 1 1 12 December 2011 Features the 90 Minute special. Music
In August 2011 Joey Essex released a single "Reem" that became a popular catchphrase during the second series after Essex constantly used the word. In was announced in November that the current cast of the show would release a cover of the Wham! classic Last Christmas to be released on 18 December. Cast members have also recorded their own unique version of the show's theme song 'The Only Way Is Up', which will serve as the single's B-side
Controversy
Ivan Godfrey was once quoted as saying the show is "the worst thing on television". The show has been criticised for its negative representation of Essex, and there have been a number of complaints to ITV2.[23] Some Essex residents felt it was not a true representation of the area and the people that live there.[23] [24][25][26][27][28] Kirk Norcross responded to this criticism by saying, "We are all from Essex, so this is Essex. It's not acting. It's not like they've got people from America and said 'Right, act like you think Essex is.' We are Essex people so what you're watching is Essex".[29]
In April 2011, it was reported that Big Brother 2007 winner Brian Belo plans on suing the makers of The Only Way Is Essex – claiming they "stole his idea".[30] Belo was in the original pilot of the show – provisionally titled Totally Essex[31] – alongside current stars Mark Wright, Sam Faiers, Kirk Norcross and Amy Childs.[30] Belo plans on suing his former manager and Lime Productions, which makes the show, for lost earnings of up to £100,000 a series.[30] The Sun reported that Belo had spent the previous two years working on an idea for a United Kingdom version of The Hills, with his manager successfully pitching the pilot to Lime Productions.[30] After not making the cast list, Belo believed he might be involved in producing the show, but was "cut" from the production entirely.[30]
Series 1 title card with ex original cast members "Amy Childs and Mark Wright (2010)Departures
Amy Childs left the show after the second series so that she could enter the Celebrity Big Brother house where she came fourth and starred in her own reality show "All About Amy" on Channel 5. On 24 September 2011 it was rumoured that Harry Derbidge announced plans to quit the show due to lack of air time and wanting to branch out on his own, although no offical statement has been released. Mark Wright announced that he would be leaving the show to enter the jungle to take part in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Wrights final episode was in the series finale of series 3 on 9 November 2011.
On 12 November another original cast member James 'Arg' Argent revealed that he may quit the show. "Everyone on TOWIE wants their own show and I'd love to do one," he confessed to The Sun. "I can't say too much at the moment, but let's just say I'm in talks. "He added: "My lips are sealed but I promise you're going to see a lot more of Arg, don't you worry. I'm not going anywhere fast."
Nominations
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are awarded annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). The Only Way Is Essex received its first British Academy Television Awards nominatigood Award against Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, Downton Abbey, Miranda, Sherlock and The Killing on 22 April 2011.[32]
Year Category Nominee(s) Result 2011 YouTube Audience Award[33] The Only Way Is Essex (cast and production team)[32] Won See also
- Living on the Edge (MTV UK reality series)
- Made in Chelsea
References
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/theonlywayisessex?sk=info
- ^ "TOWIE stars Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger engaged". Now Magazine. 15 March 2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1346644/The-Only-Way-Is-Essex-star-Sam-Faiers-bikinis-holiday-Harry-Derbridge-Tenerife.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "TOWIE's Lauren Goodger says Mark Wright engagement 'isn't fake'". Metro. 24 March 2011. http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/858995-towies-lauren-goodger-says-mark-wright-engagement-isnt-fake. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "The Guardian" review, 23 October 2010
- ^ a b "The Only Way Is Essex". ITV. 10 October 2010. http://www.itv.com/presscentre/theonlywayisessex/week41/default.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ Polly Huddson (10 December 2010). "The Only Way Is Essex: Our guide to the jaw-dropping new TV show". The Daily Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/10/12/do-ya-think-i-m-essexy-115875-22627873.
- ^ http://www.itv.com/channels/itv2/itv2shows/theonlywayisessex/storysofar/exclusive/mark-wright-towie-tease/
- ^ "The Only Way Is Essex – Birds and Blokes". ITV. http://www.itv.com/channels/itv2/itv2shows/theonlywayisessex/birdsandblokes/. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ "Lydia Bright reveals glamorous new makeover". Daily Mail Online. 2011-04-06. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2021402/The-Only-Way-Is-Essex-Lydia-Bright-reveals-glamorous-new-makeover.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "DJ Lauren Pope – Welcome". DJLaurenPope.com. http://www.djlaurenpope.com/. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- ^ "Michael Woods". ITV. 2010-10-11. http://www.itv.com/channels/itv2/itv2shows/theonlywayisessex/birdsandblokes/michaelwoods/. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "Meet The Cast : The Only Way Is Essex – Candy Jacobs". Female First. 2010-10-11. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1327643/The-Only-Way-Is-Essex-Mark-Wright-KOs-Kirk-Norcross-final-episode-boxing-match.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "Sam looks coy after Joey snog". The Sun. 2011-04-06. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3512722/Sam-Faiers-looks-coy-after-Joey-snog.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "Essex Chloe does a Jordan". The Sun. 2011-03-30. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3500087/Essex-Chloe-Simms-does-a-Jordan.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "Chloe Sims - Characters - The Only Way Is Essex - ITV2". ITV.com. 2011-09-26. http://www.itv.com/channels/itv2/itv2shows/theonlywayisessex/birdsandblokes/chloesims/. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ^ "Barbara Windsor and Nanny Pat to have Comic Relief showdown". Yahoo News. 2011-02-18. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/35/20110218/ttv-barbara-windsor-and-nanny-pat-to-hav-7f3be95.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ a b "Mum's the word as Essex stars Jessica and Carol Wright join Nanny Pat at the spa for Mother's Day treat". Daily Mail. 2011-04-04. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1373019/The-Only-Way-Is-Essex-stars-Jessica-Carol-Wright-join-Nanny-Pat-spa-Mothers-Day-treat.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "TOWIE's Mario Falcone dumps Lucy Mecklenburgh after she confesses Mark Wright rumours WERE true". The Daily Mail. 2011-11-06. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2058019/TOWIEs-Mario-Falcone-dumps-Lucy-Mecklenburgh-confesses-Mark-Wright-rumours-WERE-true.html. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
- ^ "The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright KOs Kirk Norcross in bloody boxing match finale... as ex Lauren is in his corner". Daily Mail. 2010-11-08. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1327643/The-Only-Way-Is-Essex-Mark-Wright-KOs-Kirk-Norcross-final-episode-boxing-match.html. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "Linzi Peel hits out at 'fabricated' The Only Way Is Essex". Metro. 2011-04-10. http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/860445-linzi-peel-hits-out-at-fabricated-the-only-way-is-essex. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ a b "Picture – 'The Only Way Is Essex' Stars, Girl Band Lola". Contact Music. 2011-02-18. http://www.contactmusic.com/photos.nsf/main/essex_movida17_wenn3136112. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ "It's The Lauren Show". Sky Living. 2011-04-05. http://skyliving.sky.com/news-gossip/its-the-lauren-show. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ a b "Sam Faiers defends The Only Way Is Essex". Music Rooms. 2010-10-19. http://www.musicrooms.net/tv/18151-sam-faiers-defends-the-only-way-is-essex.html. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ "The Only Way is Essex: the worst address in England?". The Telegraph. 2010-10-17. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8068349/The-Only-Way-is-Essex-the-worst-address-in-England.html. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ "TV's The Only Way Is Essex slammed as ‘offensive’". Ilford Recorder. 2010-10-11. http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/home/tv_s_the_only_way_is_essex_slammed_as_offensive_1_677073. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "ESSEX: ITV2 show The Only Way is Essex could set us back 20 years". This Is Total Essex. 2010-10-14. http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/set-20-years/article-2754688-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "The Only Way Is Essex was insultingly bad". Metro. 2010-10-20. http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/844643-the-only-way-is-essex-was-insultingly-bad. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ "The Only Way is Essex...?". Alexandra's Complaints of the Day. 2010-10-12. http://alexandrascomplaintsoftheday.blogspot.com/. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ "Only Way is Essex stars: We really do represent our area". London 24. 2011-03-11. http://www.london24.com/news/only_way_is_essex_stars_we_really_do_represent_our_area_1_847911. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ a b c d e "Brian Belo: Essex was my idea, I’m suing". The Sun. 2011-04-15. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3528570/BB-winner-Brian-Belo-is-suing-Only-Way-Is-Essex-makers-saying-they-stole-his-idea.html. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ "Brian Belo 'suing Only Way Is Essex makers'". Digital Spy. 2011-04-15. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s143/the-only-way-is-essex/news/a314712/brian-belo-suing-only-way-is-essex-makers.html. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ a b "Perma-tans, vajazzles and huge meringue dresses: TOWIE and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding up against Downton Abbey for BAFTA award". Daily Mail. 2011-04-19. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1378435/Only-Way-Is-Essex-nominated-Bafta-audience-award-2011-Downton-Abbey.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- ^ "YouTube Audience Award". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/youtube-audience-award,1099,BA.html. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
External links
Categories:- 2010s British television series
- 2010 British television programme debuts
- British reality television series
- Culture in Essex
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.