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The Only Way Is Essex

  • TV Series
  • 2010–
  • TV-MA
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
3.2/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
Amy Childs and Lauren Goodger in The Only Way Is Essex (2010)
The Only Way Is Essex: Season 5
Play trailer2:47
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Docusoap Reality TVReality TV

The Only Way Is Essex is a reality series which follows some people living in Essex, including a club promoter, a would-be model, a member of a girl band, and two bar workers. Each episode f... Read allThe Only Way Is Essex is a reality series which follows some people living in Essex, including a club promoter, a would-be model, a member of a girl band, and two bar workers. Each episode features action filmed just a few days previously.The Only Way Is Essex is a reality series which follows some people living in Essex, including a club promoter, a would-be model, a member of a girl band, and two bar workers. Each episode features action filmed just a few days previously.

  • Creators
    • Tony Wood
    • Ruth Wrigley
  • Stars
    • Denise Van Outen
    • James Bennewith
    • Chloe Sims
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    3.2/10
    2.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Creators
      • Tony Wood
      • Ruth Wrigley
    • Stars
      • Denise Van Outen
      • James Bennewith
      • Chloe Sims
    • 28User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 4 wins & 4 nominations total

    Episodes434

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos2

    The Only Way Is Essex: Intro
    Clip 0:35
    The Only Way Is Essex: Intro
    The Only Way Is Essex: Season 5
    Trailer 2:47
    The Only Way Is Essex: Season 5
    The Only Way Is Essex: Season 5
    Trailer 2:47
    The Only Way Is Essex: Season 5

    Photos182

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    + 176
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    Top Cast99+

    Edit
    Denise Van Outen
    Denise Van Outen
    • Self - Voiceover…
    • 2010–2025
    James Bennewith
    James Bennewith
    • Self
    • 2011–2025
    Chloe Sims
    Chloe Sims
    • Self
    • 2011–2021
    Bobby Cole Norris
    Bobby Cole Norris
    • Self
    • 2012–2021
    Dan Edgar
    • Self
    • 2015–2025
    James Lock
    James Lock
    • Self
    • 2013–2023
    Gemma Collins
    Gemma Collins
    • Self
    • 2011–2020
    Arg
    Arg
    • Self
    • 2010–2024
    Chloe Meadows
    Chloe Meadows
    • Self
    • 2016–2025
    Courtney Green
    • Self
    • 2016–2025
    Georgia Kousoulou
    • Self
    • 2014–2021
    Lauren Pope
    Lauren Pope
    • Self
    • 2010–2018
    Jessica Wright
    Jessica Wright
    • Self
    • 2010–2021
    Lydia Bright
    Lydia Bright
    • Self
    • 2010–2020
    Tommy Mallet
    • Self
    • 2014–2023
    Peter Wicks
    Peter Wicks
    • Self
    • 2015–2022
    Billie Faiers
    Billie Faiers
    • Self
    • 2010–2020
    Amber Turner
    • Self
    • 2016–2025
    • Creators
      • Tony Wood
      • Ruth Wrigley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    3.22.3K
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    Featured reviews

    1jonathonjjr

    No. No, no, no.

    I literally do not know where to start.

    The fact that this travesty of a "show"(?) is called "entertainment" makes my stomach turn. I certainly got no entertainment out of watching the pitifully inane lives of these imbeciles, it just got me so mad I wanted to destroy every TV in existence. The supposed hook of this series is that it is funny because these people are so stupid. No. This level of idiocy just makes me lose faith in humanity and the media. And any sentient being in the universe. There should be a 0/10 marking made, JUST for this show, because "awful" doesn't do The Only Way Is Essex justice. To be honest, I can't think of word to describe it. The most intelligent thing you will see on The Only Way Is Essex is the opening sequence. Beyond that, it is a wasteland.

    Ironically, "The Only Way Is Up" is used as the theme song. Oh, the irony. Up is way north of where this show is headed.

    In short, watching The Only Way Is Essex will: fill you with insatiable rage, make you want to purge the world of TV's to save the world from it, make you give up on life, then lower your IQ.

    You have been warned.
    1geezerdave

    The worst TV show ever aired!

    Never thought I'd waste my time watching rubbish like this,but after having taken a look at "Jersey Shore" and seeing how bad it was I thought there could be nothing worse than that!I was wrong.A friend mentioned it can get worse and told me about this show.

    The Only Way is Essex has got to be the most retarded TV series ever made and that is why you gotta take a look if only for five minutes and then never go back.I don't know why MTV waste their time,but I suppose if you can't be the best you might as well be the worst!Its obviously their angle in television.

    There is one thing they got right?Everyones a moron!
    1bigredphenom

    More boring mindless idiocy shoved down our throats

    As a 23 year old, I guess the whole partying night in and out clubbing shtick is supposed to appeal to my demographic, but that's impossible when these lame (some well into their 30s) tools try desperately hard to act like wild college frats. If that isn't bad enough, this show is a snooze fest. I didn't laugh once, and you know you have gem when these grown adults drag through cheesy one liners that will cure insomnia. Congrats England, you have found yourself your own Jersey Shore.

    If you can choke down mindless dribble, then this show is for you. If you enjoy a bunch of egotistical narcissists in a never ending game of try-to-be-witty, all of whom fail, then this is for you.
    2Foux_du_Fafa

    Bad, I'll agree, but what more do you expect?

    Following the mould of MTV reality shows like "Jersey Shore" and "The Hills", "The Only Way is Essex" follows the supposed lives of a group of nouveau-riche twenty-somethings in Essex, adhering to the common stereotypes of the respective county - big yet tasteless houses, huge nightclubs and wild parties, tarty blondes coated in fake tan (with a token gay friend at their side), manly men who enjoy doing manly things, and of course, a no-nonsense grandmother who's fiercer than an RAF division. In a departure from a good number of British reality shows, the scenes are almost all evidently staged and cut, with a perfect level of soap-opera histrionics and bad acting thrown in for good measure. As such, the show comes across as a parade of cardboard cutouts devoid of any personality against a set of sterile backdrops.

    It's little more than a piece of trash that makes everyone in Essex out to be superficial and stupid, but I have to question whether anyone thought it was going to be good in the first place. This type of programme hooks the viewer in its knowing awfulness; it's so appalling that it becomes morbidly engaging. To TV executives, this means good ratings and the chance to make money off a cheap franchise. Yes, it's depressing that shows such as "The Only Way is Essex" exist, but it's ultimately simply worth just ignoring.
    3bluepink

    Just end the show & rebrand.

    I've occasionally watched over the years & each season's getting worse. I've stopped watching now. Main issues are:

    1. The Cast.

    The longer serving cast members are repeatedly going through the same storylines & convo's e.g. Amber & Dan, Lockie & Yaz.

    One of these types is apparently "over the drama" - in which case, they should be on a spin-off show so that people can specifically opt to watch their mellow conversations, and or they can stay but take a supporting role. Focus should turn to newer cast e.g. Ella, Joey, Chloe B & her mum etc.

    2. There's barely any drama. If they need ideas, they should watch MIC on Channel 4.

    3. Dull filming locations.

    They mainly film in the same 4 places: park or garden / someone's house / the gym / a dark empty club.

    If Essex as a location allows, they would benefit from finding a nice, brightly lit bar or restaurant - or somewhere glamorous / enticing.

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    Reality TV

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Siblings Joey and Frankie Essex are cousins to with Chloe Sims. Siblings Mark and Jessica Wright are cousins to Elliott Wright, who dated Chloe Sims.
    • Connections
      Featured in Screenwipe: 2010 Wipe (2010)

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    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does The Only Way Is Essex have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 10, 2010 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • TOWIE
    • Filming locations
      • Essex, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Lime Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 45m
    • Color
      • Color

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