Ex-Love Island star and fellow Channel swimmer Wes Nelson says weight has 'fallen off' his friend
Earlier this year James Argent revealed he was taking up boxing to tackle his weight gain after a weight loss professional claimed he could be on 'death row'.
Now the former TOWIE star has shown off his huge weight loss transformation in a topless snap alongside Wes Nelson, Simon Webbe and Ross Edgley - the first person to swim around Great Britain.
Check out: axed TOWIE cast members - where are they now?
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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, 2018
Maria's now a proud mummy, engaged to be married and a self-proclaimed permanent make-up artist.
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, 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 - 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 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 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 Hassini, 2018
Mike is working as a PT, still loved-up, and still has a very hot bod. Blimey.
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, 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 - 21
Jordan and Jack were brought in as friends of Megan McKenna. When she quit, they were left without any storylines.
Jordan Brooks, 2018
Jordan is now dating Sofia Filipe of Ex On The Beach fame. Aww.
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, 2018
Ricky now seems to mainly go fishing.
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, 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 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, 2018
Grace is now involved in a semi-permanent make-up company. Those Towie stars must really hate cleanser.
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, 2018
Fran and Diags split and she now hangs out in clothing that does not look very practical.
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, 2018
Jasmin is still being papped, which is more than can be said for some of the other ex-Towie stars.
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, 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 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, 2018
Lauren is still much loved by the public although her recent porn admission made some fans' jaws drop.
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 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.
He explained alongside the snap: "In just over 3 weeks we will be swimming across the English Chanel & heading all the way to France in aid of @su2cuk @su2c 🏊♂️.
"Some of us could not even swim a few meters when we first started but due to hard work & dedication we have gone from the swimming pool to the lake & now to sea swimming!
"We have lost people along the way but we are still a team through to the bitter end of this mammoth challenge!"
He added: "I’m losing weight & training twice a day to hopefully pass the assessment in order to take part! I’m giving it 110% ❤️ @channel4 #SinkOrSwim".
Go Arg!
Love Island 2018 star Wes Nelson recently praised his pal for his body transformation, posting a snap on social media he gushed: "Honestly so proud of @real_arg the weight is falling off 4 weeks out from our big swim across the for stand up to cancer! Let’s get it 💪🏾😅".
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TOWIE girls 'turn on Shelby Tribble' following massive Clelia Theodorou bust up
In this week's Closer magazine sources have revealed Gemma Collins has been warned about including her relationship with Arg on her show Diva Forever.
The insider explained: "Gemma insisted reality TV is where she and Arg met, and it’s what they’re used to, so she was happy to let the cameras in.
"But pals warned Gemma about putting her romance onscreen. Things between them can be turbulent at the best of times, and to now have viewers lashing out and giving their opinions on that only makes things harder.
"But while Gemma doesn’t like her relationship being slated, she says there’s no such thing as bad press, and she’ll do what it takes to be the celebrity that everyone’s talking about. Even if it’s for all the wrong reasons."