The Only Way Is Essex is returning for its 34th season – and that’s just days away.
The cast have swapped the grey skies of the UK for the vibrant beaches of Cyprus, where confrontations, romances and surprising newcomers are on the agenda.
The new series will air on Sunday 25 August at 9pm, as usual, on ITVBe and ITVX.
Rebecca Kenny-Smith, Programming Director of Unscripted at Lime Pictures, said: “We are thrilled that The Only Way Is Essex is returning for its 34th season, which kicks off with sunny, drama-packed episodes in Cyprus.
‘Get ready for an unforgettable journey filled with sizzling suspense, romance, juicy gossip and all the glamour fans love! This is one series you don’t want to miss!’
The Only Way Is Essex returns for its 34th season – and it’s just days away
This follows reports that filming for TOWIE’s closing party in April was thrown into chaos when a huge row broke out between two of the show’s leading actors.
According to insiders, Ella Rae Wise and Harry Derbidge, one of the last remaining original stars of the series who has been on screen for 14 years, were involved in a huge row in front of their stunned co-stars.
Ella was central to the series’ story because of her previous romance with Dan Edgar, after he split from Harry’s girlfriend Amber Turner.
Sources at the time claimed the root of the problem lay in Harry’s growing friendship with the ‘Girl Band’ – the self-styled name for Amber and her longtime friends Chloe, Courtney Green and Elma Pazar.
A source told The Sun: ‘Ella and Harry’s relationship has been strained since he became friends with the girl group and she started dating Dan. The feud had been brewing for a while and after an argument about it, things ended badly.’
Ella’s romance with Dan began in Bali after Amber accused the pair of flirting with each other during the final stages of her relationship with Dan, which ended last year.
The cast have swapped the grey skies of the UK for the vibrant beaches of Cyprus, where confrontations, romances and surprise arrivals are on the agenda
The new series launches on Sunday 25 August at the usual time of 9pm on ITVBe and ITVX
This series is already promising to bring drama Dan Edgar and Ella Rae Wise confirmed their on-again, off-again relationship is back in full force during a steamy PDA session on the beach
The pair protested accusations of hostility at the time, but the pair were plagued by accusations of cheating and tensions continued to run high.
Elsewhere, it was announced that Love Island winner Sammy Root has joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex.
Last month, he was first spotted on set with Elma Pazar, Livvy Jay and Becks Bloomberg for a dinner.
After being introduced to the single ladies of Essex by Roman Hackett, Sammy was spotted flirting during a meal at Aura Bar & Grill in Loughton.
He is looking for a new love after splitting from his ex-girlfriend Jess two months after leaving the villa.
The former couple won the £50,000 top prize in 2023, but split after Jess broke up with them over the phone while they were partying with friends in Ibiza.
Sammy’s luck seems to be turning, as Elma is seen holding his hand during filming for the latest installment of season 34.
The Love Island winner was first spotted on set with Elma Pazar, Livvy Jay and Becks Bloomberg for a dinner
Speaking to MailOnline about his love life in January, he said: ‘At the moment I’m just trying to focus on myself. I’m trying to get to where I really want to be before I worry too much about relationships and stuff like that.
“At the same time, I’m not the type to go looking for love, you know? When I meet the right person, you know, you know.”
The last time he sparked romance rumours with Samantha Kenny was when they were spotted making a very cosy couple at the White Fox party in London in June.
The two started talking passionately and leaned toward each other, whereupon the handsome guy wrapped his arm, which was in a cast, around the handsome guy’s waist.
They appeared in separate series of the ITV2 show, which saw Samantha, 26, evicted from the villa last month.
Samantha was ousted from the show after TOWIE star Joey Essex, 33, got back together with his ex Grace Jackson just days after she entered the villa in Mallorca.