Gemma Collins ‘signs RECORD DEAL’ with major label

Could The GC become Essex’s answer to Beyoncé?

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by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

TOWIE icon Gemma Collins has reportedly secured a record deal with major label Universal in a HUGE new career move.

Gemma’s music career was first sparked after meeting record producer Naughty Boy at this year’s Brit Awards. The pair have since become close friends and are thought to have been collaborating in the studio.

According to new reports by The Sun, Gemma’s tunes with Naughty Boy could be released before the end of the year and it looks like she’s taking her career VERY seriously too, with the publication claiming The GC has been having singing lessons three times a week in preparation for her pop career.

It’s thought that Gemma turned down a £250,000 offer to star in the upcoming celebrity version of The X Factor in order to sign with Universal, as Simon Cowell’s Syco record label is part of the Sony Music group – one of Universal’s biggest rivals.

CHECK OUT axed TOWIE stars - where are they now?

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CLOSER - axed Towie cast members where are they now? - slider

Maria Fowler1 of 28

Maria Fowler, series 1 - 3

Maria, on the left with Joey Essex and Chloe Sims in 2011, was in the show from the get-go but her TV career was rocked when it was alleged she'd worked as an escort. She's since said she quit 'by mutual consent' after she refused an on-screen romance with Mick Norcross.

Maria Fowler, 20182 of 28

Maria Fowler, 2018

Maria's now a proud mummy, engaged to be married and a self-proclaimed permanent make-up artist.

Dan Osborne3 of 28

Dan Osborne, series 8 - 14

Dan Osborne, pictured here with James Argent in 2013, managed seven series on the show. He was given the boot after a series of recordings, claiming to show Dan being verbally abusive towards his ex-girlfriend Megan Tomlin, came to light.

Dan Osborne, 20184 of 28

Dan Osborne, 2018

Dan is still in the spotlight due to his relationship with ex-EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa. In May 2018 he described their marriage as "unhappy".

Amber Dowding, series 18 - 215 of 28

Amber Dowding, series 18 - 21

Amber was part of a mega cull of seven Towie characters in January 2018. She claimed that she and her boyfriend Chris Clark were cut because they were happy. They've now split and Chris has reappeared on the show.

Amber Dowding6 of 28

Amber Dowding, 2018

If Amber's social media is anything to go by, she now appears to mostly be on holiday. Pretty goals from where we're sitting.

Mike Hassini7 of 28

Mike Hassini, series 16 - 18 and 21

Mike Hassini brought a hot bod to TOWIE and...not much else. He was cut in January 2018 due to a lack of storylines as he was loved-up outside the telly show.

Mike Hassini8 of 28

Mike Hassini, 2018

Mike is working as a PT, still loved-up, and still has a very hot bod. Blimey.

Jack Rigden, series 20 - 219 of 28

Jack Rigden, series 20 - 21

Jack Rigden tried hard, so hard, to make an impression on Towie but his lack of on-screen romance and agg saw him get very little camera time. He was part of the big cull of January 2018.

Jack Rigden, 202210 of 28
CREDIT: Instagram/ @elliejarvis_makeupartist

Jack Rigden, 2022

Jack now owns a Fish and Chip business called Let's Get Battered. He also has an Instagram page dedicated to his love of cooking and all things food called @rigdensrecipes.

Jordan Brook, series 20 - 2111 of 28

Jordan Brook, series 20 - 21

Jordan and Jack were brought in as friends of Megan McKenna. When she quit, they were left without any storylines.

Jordan Brooks, 201812 of 28

Jordan Brooks, 2018

Jordan is now dating Sofia Filipe of Ex On The Beach fame. Aww.

Ricky Rayment13 of 28

Ricky Rayment, series 4 - 14

We still think very fondly of Ricky. His rocky relationship with Jess Wright was a huge part of the show but when they finally broke up, well... Ricky left the show "by mutual agreement"with Towie bosses.

Ricky Rayment, 201814 of 28

Ricky Rayment, 2018

Ricky now seems to mainly go fishing.

Tom Pearce, series 5 - 1315 of 28

Tom Pearce, series 5 - 13

Remember when Tom Pearce dated Lauren Goodger following her split from Mark Wright? That was an odd time. He was quietly shown the back doorof the show in 2014.

Tom Pearce, 201816 of 28

Tom Pearce, 2018

Honestly? We're not 100% sure what Tom is actually doing these days. He used to work in the City, and his holidays certainly look pretty epic, so maybe that.

Grace Andrews17 of 28

Grace Andrews, series 11 - 12

Grace almost had a romantic relationship with Lewis Bloor (shudder) and that was the beginning and end of her time on Towie.

Grace Andrews, 201818 of 28

Grace Andrews, 2018

Grace is now involved in a semi-permanent make-up company. Those Towie stars must really hate cleanser.

Fran Parman19 of 28

Fran Parman, series 11 - 16

Fran's original romantic interest was Tom Pearce but he stepped aside to allow Diags to woo her. Bad luck. Their relationship was turbulent but apparently not turbulent enough for show producers. Diags stayed, she went.

Fran Parman, 201820 of 28

Fran Parman, 2018

Fran and Diags split and she now hangs out in clothing that does not look very practical.

Jasmin Walia, series 1 and 7 -1721 of 28

Jasmin Walia, series 1 and 7-17

Jasmin managed eight series until she was given the boot. In 2015 her agent stated: "TOWIE is very storyline dependent and Jasmin did not have much going on that we could show on screen."Ouch. She went on to audition for The X Factor. It did not go well. She also took part in reality show Desi Rascals, that lasted for one series.

Jasmin Walia, 201822 of 28

Jasmin Walia, 2018

Jasmin is still being papped, which is more than can be said for some of the other ex-Towie stars.

Harry Derbridge, 201123 of 28
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Harry Derbridge, series 1- 3 and 12

Harry Derbridge was a Towie original and still holds a very special place in our hearts. He made a welcome return to the show as Bobby Norris's love interest but, allegedly, cheated on him.

Harry Derbridge, 201824 of 28
CREDIT: Instagram

Harry Derbridge, 2018

Harry now works it as a make-up artist. Is it us, or does he look like he might have had a little help with lip fillers?

Lauren Goodger25 of 28
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Lauren Goodger, series one - six, 16 and 19

Remember when Lauren looked like this? She was a TOWIE OG and her on / off relationship with Mark Wright, including getting engaged in a car park, was the stuff of reality TV dreams.

Lauren Goodger, 201826 of 28
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Lauren Goodger, 2018

Lauren is still much loved by the public although her recent porn admission made some fans' jaws drop.

Pascal Craymer27 of 28
CREDIT: ITV

Pascal Craymer, 2013

Pascal Cramer walked into TOWIE series ten as the new squeeze of Mario Falcone. Sadly, Mario still had the hots for his former flame Lucy Mecklenburgh. Pascal found out when she watched the episode in which Mario admitted his feelings for Lucy. AWKWARD.

Pascal Craymer28 of 28
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Pascal Craymer, 2018

Pascal recently dated king of the jungle trouser snake Nick Knowles although they split before he entered I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! We do not believe that is a real guitar.

Gemma Collins
©Getty

Gemma has a had a passion for music since a young age, once revealing that she even got in trouble at school for singing in class.

In her 2013 autobiography, she wrote: “I would sing all the time and developed a good voice. I have always dreamed of being a star.”

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It looks like Gemma has a good chance of fulfilling her dreams of musical superstardom too, with Naughty Boy claiming she has a massive career ahead of her.

"I think Gemma is going to have one of the biggest songs of the year, I can say that with my hand on my heart,” he told The Sun back in March.

“It’s definitely a romantic song and Gemma’s got such a big heart, it makes a lot of sense of her whole life right now. She’s still working things out with Arg but they make such a good couple and when they’re good, they’re good.”

The music producer, who has worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Sam Smith and Emeli Sandé, added: “She was born to sing… when people hear the music and hear her voice, I think it’s going to take her up a notch."

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