The Only Way Is Essex has announced plans to streamline the show with the biggest cull in the show’s history.
The ITVBe series, which has been on air since 2010, has confirmed plans to focus on a smaller group of cast members to ‘show more of their personal passions and professions’.
It’s not been confirmed which fan favourites will remain on the show and who will be leaving, with more announcements to be made in due course.
In statements released on the programme’s official social media pages, the show wrote: “After more than 10 fabulous years following the lives of our ever-growing cast, TOWIE will be evolving with some changes.
“As it looks ahead to future series, the next instalment of our BAFTA award winning show returns to Essex to follow a smaller group of cast members.”
“This change allows our cast more time to film their real lives, showing more of their personal passions and professions, alongside their strong bonds and dynamics with family and friends,” the team continued.
“Those who won’t appear regularly on screen next series will always be part of the TOWIE family and we wholeheartedly thank them for sharing their lives with us in recent years.”
“As always, their wellbeing is of paramount importance to us and we will continue to offer welfare support if needed to all past and present TOWIE cast,” they concluded. “We ask and urge all our viewers to think before commenting below, and remember that #ThesePeopleAreAllReal.
“Thank you to our audience for your continued support. [TOWIE] will be back soon for it’s 29th series on [ITVBe], stay tuned for further announcement.”
On Instagram, Tommy Mallett - who has been a regular on the show since 2014 - simply commented on the post: “Hope everyone’s ok.”
Meanwhile, Liam Gatsby appeared to confirm his return by stating: “Let’s go.”
Chloe Sims, one of the longest-serving members of the series having joined in 2011, liked the post but didn’t comment further.
Mallett, who has been seen getting together and having a child with Georgia Kousoulou over the course of the show’s run, recently worried fans by disappearing on social media.
He returned yesterday to explain that he “wanted time away from the negativity” as he adjusts to life as a new dad while also juggling a business.
In a photo cradling his two-month-old son Brody, around the same time the show’s statement was released, he wrote: “Everyone thought something was wrong with me because I took some time off social media, it’s mad how we now think if someone’s not posting they ain’t living!
“I've still been doing business in 5 different time zones, on the best organic diet I’ve ever been on training twice a day & having fun with Georg & Brody!
“Life’s good people try hit the reset button. Work hard in silence let the results do the talking.”
The Only Way Is Essex will return later this year on ITVBe.
