The Only Way Is Essex

Producers of ITV2's new 'living soap' The Only Way Is Essex have launched an online casting search for the forthcoming programme.

Aspiring TV stars are being invited to upload audition videos on the show's official ITV site in a bid to be part of the project, which launches later this year.

In order to apply for the nationwide search, hopefuls must film themselves answering five set questions, including what makes them unique, why they should be chosen and whether they have a secret they can share.

The 30 best candidates will be invited to a live casting day on September 23, where a winner will be chosen.

The Only Way Is Essex - which was announced in May under the working title Project Essex - is being billed as a crossover between a soap opera, an observational documentary and a reality show.

Running for ten episodes, the programme will follow a cast of colourful characters as they go about their Essex lives. Filming will be taking place close to transmission, meaning that the episode screenings themselves are likely to impact on the drama of the show as the cast discover new things about their loved ones and co-stars simply by tuning in.

The winner of the online casting search will appear on the show at least once and must be available for filming in Essex between October 4 and November 9. Full details are available on the official The Only Way Is Essex website.

A new bar owned by Jack Tweed, set to feature in reality show The Only Way Is Essex, has had its opening postponed after being damaged in a fire.

The blaze happened in the early hours of Saturday morning at Deuces Bar and Lounge in Chigwell, which is co-owned by Mark Wright, one of the stars of the ITV2 show.

Just hours earlier, stars of the show including Kirk Norcross and Amy Childs, had attended a Halloween themed pre-launch party at the venue.

According to reports firefighters were called to the scene at around 05:40 after a brick was thrown through the window.

The bar area is believed to have been damaged as well as some of the lighting, although nobody was injured.

Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and are treating it as "suspicious".

The opening of the bar has now been delayed until next week.

The cast of ITV2's The Only Way Is Essex have reportedly demanded that they are paid to feature in the show's still-unconfirmed second series.

Stars of the show including Mark Wright, Amy Childs, Lauren Goodger and Kirk Norcross signed up for the series for free, according to a report in The Mirror. However, they now want that to change.

"All the cast want to be in the next series," a source told the paper. "But now they've got a bit of notoriety to their names they want to be paid a wage. The people who are in it the most donate a lot of time for filming.

"Mark and Amy are the most vocal about deserving a pay packet."

They continued: "It takes ages to shoot an episode - each scene takes a couple of hours and it all adds up to a full-time job. They think this should be recognised.

"Word is that the cast was banned from doing PAs or having a full-time job during the show, so it also hindered their money-making outside of the show, too. It was obviously great exposure for them all, but now they feel like they need to start charging for their time."

An ITV spokesperson commented that none of the cast are "throwing their toys out of the pram".

A glamour model and a boxing champion are to appear in the first series of 'The Only Way Is Liverpool'.

Bosses of the ITV2 reality show - which is to build on the popularity of 'The Only Way Is Essex' - are hoping the introduction of a host of outrageous characters will make the series an even bigger hit than its Southern rival.

On the search for "real Scousers", producers have already met with former British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith Jnr and are keen to sign him up for a role as the show's "alpha male".

Meanwhile, it is thought 29-year-old Amanda Harrington - who has been linked to Premiership footballers Joey Barton and Jose Baxter - could be Liverpool's answer to Essex's glamour girls Amy Childs, Sam Faiers and Lauren Goodger.

An insider told The Sun newspaper: "Amanda loves the spotlight and it would be her dream come true to become one of the faces of the show. She impressed producers when she met them and they think she'd be a good asset considering she's already got a huge following in the glamour model industry."

Bosses of 'The Only Way Is Liverpool' also believe Paul would be a hit with female viewers, and have asked the cast they have already recruited to find "over the top" friends who are also willing to appear in the show.

The source added: "Producers think Paul would be very popular with female viewers who like a bit of brawn. They have been asked to find pals who are willing to appear on the show.

"The producers want it as over the top as possible with as many wannabe WAGs, models and flashy posers as they can get. They think it can be even bigger than 'The Only Way Is Essex'.

(C) BANG Media International

Jade Goody's widow Jack Tweed has reportedly signed up to the new series of The Only Way Is Essex, after starting up a relationship with best friend Mark Wright's sister Jessica.

Tweed has been involved in a string of assault offences.

And keen to introduce some fresh blood to the new series of The Only Way Is Essex, ITV2 bosses have apparently taken the opportunity to involve Jack in the show, joining his girlfriend and her brother Mark, who is also Jack's best friend.

The new series is due to begin in September, when it will go head-to-head with rival reality series Made In Chelsea.

The Only Way Is Essex bosses have lined up Jodie Marsh for its third series, a report claims.

Following Amy Childs's defection to Celebrity Big Brother, producers are weighing up whether to offer the 32-year-old former glamour model a deal, according to the Daily Star.

Meanwhile, a source told the newspaper that Marsh has been attempting to woo businessman Kirk Norcross.

However, other sources have alleged that Norcross is involved with glamour model Casey Batchelor, after news spread of his split from Lauren Pope.

"Since Kirk split up with Lauren Pope he has been hanging out with Jodie. She would definitely spice it up a bit," the insider claimed.

The video for the Only Way Is Essex cast's cover of Wham's 'Last Christmas' has premiered online.

The song, which will raise money for ITV charity initiative Text SANTA, will be officially released on December 18 in order to compete for the Christmas number one slot. Proceeds from the single will support nine social care, health and children's charities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=8HTr8ygb-gQ

The video mixes clips from the ITV2 structured reality show with footage of the band recording the track in the studio.

The song has been given odds of 6/1 to top the Christmas chart, with the X Factor winner's single the favourite at odds of 3/1.

The single's B-side is a cover of Yazz and the Plastic Population's 1988 hit 'The Only Way Is Up', which serves as the theme tune for The Only Way Is Essex.

Cast member James 'Arg' Argent recently claimed that their version of 'Last Christmas' would entertain George Michael as he recovers from a bout of pneumonia in a Vienna hospital, saying that the former Wham singer would "either love or hate" their take on his famous Christmas song.

I LOVE ESSEX!!!
After watching The Only Way Is Essex..I've been to Essex 5 times, i just love the people, the accent, the way they look, they have so much money, everyone is so friendly. I have been to minnies boutique and brought loads of things..I even have the Pug jumper that Amy Childs has woooo!!
I just wish i could have an essex make over and a vajazzle and look like an essex girl. I want the orange tan and the long nails, with the hair extentions- because the boys love ittttttt
Cant wait for the next series..!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
:heart: :heart:

i love amy childs ...xxxx

The Only Way Is Essex stars Maria Fowler and Harry Derbidge have confirmed their exit from the show.

The pair revealed their exits on Twitter, with both of them hinting that they have different projects lined up for the future.

Fowler thanked her fans for their support, and revealed that she had agreed to leave the show following a meeting with producers.

"I Would like to be the first to announce... After a rollercoaster year and after meeting with producers today we have decided that my time on TOWIE has come to an end (sic)," she wrote.

"I am happy to be leaving the show on a high after 3 series and feel I am embarking on a new chapter in my life with exciting projects both personal and professional. Thank you for all your support during my time on the show and I hope to continue to keep you all entertained throughout 2012!!"

Meanwhile, Derbidge wrote: "Hiya! I really did not want you to all find out so soon but its out there, I am not in TOWIE anymore as I am moving onto different things."

Derbidge was rumoured to be facing the axe in December along with other stars in order to make way for new cast members.

Fowler's involvement in the show had been cast into doubt following allegations that she worked as an escort.

Former star Kirk Norcross recently revealed that he left the show because he became "fed up" with it, while Amy Childs explained that quitting was the "best decision" of her life.