Most people imagine a TOWIE Christmas is full of over-the-top drama, big hairstyles, and lavish spending – just like a Christmas pudding doused in brandy, it’s a recipe for excitement!
It’s been 15 years since the original show became a hit, and this holiday special feels surprisingly different. The familiar faces are older and more mature, the atmosphere is more realistic than glamorous, and when the cast talks about ‘family,’ they’re referring to the spouses and kids they’ve built lives with since finding fame – not just their fellow contestants.
The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) is still incredibly popular, consistently ranking among ITVX’s most-watched shows with 66 million views in the last year. The show has also had a real impact on popular culture – many people wouldn’t have even heard of a ‘vajazzle’ if it weren’t for Amy Childs!
The personalities on this show – like Gemma Collins and Joey Essex – are so big and flamboyant that it’s easy to see them as characters rather than real people. That’s why it’s so impactful to hear Lauren Goodger discuss the tragic loss of her baby, to listen to Amy talk about constant online harassment, and to hear Dan Edgar admit his relationships would have been simpler if they hadn’t played out on television.
The three are relaxing on a sofa, surrounded by a professional TV crew, even though all they’re doing today is enjoying champagne and exchanging gifts. It’s fascinating to listen to them discuss their close relationships away from the cameras – the genuine connections they’ve formed as the stars of a show that essentially created ‘scripted reality,’ blending real-life moments with the drama of a soap opera.
Lauren, age 39, made a comeback to the reality show TOWIE in 2024 after being away for twelve years. She’s well-known for her dramatic romances – including a turbulent relationship with Mark Wright, who is now married to Michelle Keegan – and for having had several cosmetic procedures. She also has a complicated relationship with the media. Even a simple outing, like going shopping in a new tracksuit and flip-flops, can generate a lot of attention from the press.
But all that faded to nothing when her new baby daughter Lorena died in July 2022.
Now, she often brings her four-year-old daughter, Larose, with her when she films TOWIE. Having Larose there represents everything she’s worked so hard to achieve – a fresh start and the consistent, comforting routine she needed after the heartbreaking loss of a child.
Lauren admits she’s skilled at hiding her feelings. Having worked in her profession for a long time, she’s developed a tough exterior and learned to process her emotions privately, without letting many people get close.
Christmas feels different now. It’s less about decorations and more about making sure my daughter experiences joy, without feeling the sadness of losing her sister, Lorena, who she never got to know. I don’t dwell on the loss of Lorena, because I don’t want my daughter to grieve for something she can’t fully understand.
The most emotionally impactful moment was remembering Lorena on the anniversary of her death. The cast came together to release balloons in her honor. Lauren recalls staying strong throughout the day because she was focused on taking care of her daughter, Larose. Later, when she talked about the tragedy with her TOWIE castmates, her grief finally came out. She says the experience was very emotional, and they understood her well enough for her to be vulnerable. Having the cast put aside their differences to support her was a key part of her healing process.
Last year, I spent my anniversary alone with Larose in the garden. This year, the whole cast wanted to be involved, so they planned a picnic where we all celebrated together. It meant a lot to me that Joe Blackman, Junaid Ahmed, and Amy were able to put aside their disagreements and share the moment with me, sitting together as a group. It really made me feel loved, and that’s exactly what I needed.
Lauren has been finding support through therapy and hypnotherapy. Initially, she was just going through the motions, focusing on taking care of her children as a way to cope. Now, she’s actively addressing her anxiety with a therapist and prioritizing her own well-being, believing she needs to focus on herself to be the best mother she can be.
Lauren appears to have a perfect life as a celebrity, but she’s actually struggled with anxiety since 2011. This may be why she felt pressured to change her appearance with cosmetic procedures, something she now regrets. She’s planning a fresh start in the new year with a different look, which her fans, who are used to her curvy figure, might find surprising.
You know, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about authenticity and feeling comfortable in your own skin, and I’ve made some big decisions. I’m actually scheduled to have my breast implants removed early next year. I’m opting for a lift instead – I really want to embrace a more natural look and feel like me again. It’s been four years since I last had fillers, and I’m finally going to dissolve what’s still left. Honestly, looking back, having surgery is my biggest regret. I truly believe I should never have gone under the knife. It’s about rediscovering who I am and letting go of trying to be someone I’m not.
Interestingly, she returned to The Only Way is Essex for the very same reason as before. She explains, ‘I needed to rediscover who I am, and this show is just what I’m familiar with.’
Creating a show that truly captures the spirit of the moment, like TOWIE did when it first began, requires a special combination of factors – the right cast, compelling relationships, and a fitting setting (in this case, Essex). At first, it provided a welcome escape after the 2008 financial crisis and the difficult years that followed. Then, with its fresh, authentic stars constantly in the news, the show took on a life of its own. The ‘Essex’ style was easy for viewers to copy, and the storylines about friendships, romance, and family drama were themes everyone could connect with. Fans enjoyed watching people who seemed like ordinary individuals achieve wealth and fame just by sharing their lives on television.
Lauren and Amy Childs are both original stars of TOWIE, practically royalty on the show. Amy, like Lauren, has been with the series since it started – that’s fifteen years of bright nails, a vibrant personality, and a genuinely kind heart.
She credits the reality show TOWIE with helping her cope – the show’s schedule and the connections she’s made have been a welcome constant while raising four children with different fathers. For her, Christmas is a huge family affair. She’s planning a lovely Christmas Day meal at a restaurant in Essex, and on Boxing Day, she’s hosting a large gathering of 38 family members at her house, which she jokes is ‘the whole clan’.
This year has been incredibly challenging for her, pushing her to her limits. She’s faced online harassment about everything from how she looks to how she raises her children. She acknowledges that public figures are often targeted, saying, ‘You can’t please everyone.’ While she used to respond to the negativity, she now chooses to ignore it, dismissing the harassers as ‘trolls’ and ‘keyboard warriors,’ and emphasizing the importance of inner strength.
Everyone struggles sometimes, and Amy is open about seeking help when she needed it. She quietly shares that she went to therapy, finding it a helpful and relieving experience. She’s not at all ashamed of being vulnerable, and actually embraces it. Amy is comfortable saying she’s benefited from therapy and would seek it out again without hesitation if she ever felt the need.
Amy’s significant weight loss has been a major topic of conversation this year. Some fans expressed concern that she had lost too much weight, after she dropped around two stone. She revealed she briefly tried a weight-loss injection about a year and a half ago, but stopped using it because it made her very sick.
I’ve started following a nutrition plan and working out three times a week, doing padel and Pilates. The only thing I’m not thrilled with is some loose skin on my stomach. After losing a lot of weight, my skin became quite saggy, so I’ve been getting 3D Refirm treatments weekly – I’m on my tenth session now. While my stomach still bothers me, this treatment is amazing. I used to avoid bikinis, but I’m planning to wear one on my vacation next year!
Despite appearing delicate in photoshoots, she’s a remarkably strong woman, both on and off screen. She skillfully balances motherhood, her many businesses, and constant public attention, all while prioritizing her health and family. She credits her family and their strong work ethic for helping her manage it all.
My dad is a real workaholic. Even at 63, he still works every day of the year, including Christmas. He always taught us that you have to work incredibly hard to achieve anything. I learned that lesson early – when I was 14, I was already working at a beauty salon, doing cleaning jobs like scrubbing toilets and floors, because I knew I wanted a career in the beauty industry.
She originally only wanted to open a salon in her hometown of Brentwood; she never imagined a career in television. ‘I did manage to open the salon, and it was very successful. I’ve always been a hard worker,’ she says, dismissing the notion that reality TV is easy or anyone can do it.
The truth is that it can’t – old hands like Lauren and Amy just make it look easy.
Dan Edgar, who is now 35 years old, first appeared on TOWIE in 2015, meaning he’s been a public figure on the show for ten years. This year, he’s in a rather unusual holiday situation: he’ll be sharing Christmas dinner with two of his ex-girlfriends, Amber Turner and Ella Rae Wise.
He chuckled and shook his head. “Having two ex-girlfriends at the same Christmas dinner is… unusual for work,” he admitted. “Amber and I don’t really talk anymore – it was a difficult split. Ella and I are on good terms and can chat normally. I’m usually pretty laid-back, but dealing with breakups while filming is incredibly tough. There’s nowhere to hide, and this situation has really pushed me to my limits.”
It’s rare for viewers to fully understand how emotionally draining it is to have your relationships play out in public. As Dan explains, ‘Everything you see is genuine,’ and he admits, ‘I wish it hadn’t been, because it’s been really tough on me.’
He’s become a strong advocate for men’s mental health, a topic that doesn’t often get discussed on the show. He believes it’s incredibly important to talk about feelings, explaining that keeping things bottled up can create problems. Simply sharing your thoughts and talking things through can really make a difference.
Honestly, it’s amazing to see how much he’s changed! He used to be all about the nightlife, but now? He’s totally traded those crazy club nights for hitting the gym and getting his life together. He says he still loves a good party, but can’t handle feeling rough the next day. He needs to be on top of his game, you know? It’s like, he’s always been incredible, but now he’s focused and driven, and it’s just…wow. I’m so proud of him for prioritizing his well-being and work!
He strongly disagrees with the criticism that The Only Way Is Essex encourages toxic masculinity or excessive partying. He thinks this idea comes from viewers seeing arguments and assuming that drug use is common when the cast goes out. However, he insists that’s not the reality of the show’s culture. He doesn’t witness or experience those things himself, as he spends a lot of time with the cast on a daily basis.
He says Christmas always reminds him of what’s truly important. Looking around at the cast and the festive set of the TOWIE special, he smiles. He’s grateful for the ten wonderful years he’s had on the show, especially the friendships he’s made, and says he wouldn’t change a thing.
Once the cameras stop rolling and everyone comes together, the atmosphere on TOWIE changes. Any tension disappears, replaced by a warm, festive feeling. Despite all the drama, the cast feels like a family – a bit unconventional and definitely having been through a lot, but a family nonetheless. As Lauren puts it, ‘There’s much more love than anything else.’ And that’s the most important thing, especially at Christmas, both in Essex and everywhere else.
- TOWIE’s Christmas Special, The Only Way Is Essexmas, is on December 8 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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2025-11-28 14:07