Last week, Real Housewives of Cheshire icons Tanya Bardsley and Lauren Simon exclusively told Closer online that filming for series 18 - the show's hotly-anticipated ten year anniversary series - is set to start in January 2025, which most likely means we won't be getting new episodes until around March.
That's the bad news – cause by that point we'll have already watched I'm a Celeb, Big Brother, Strictly, Love Island: All Stars 2, and maybe even the return of the TOWIE Christmas special.
The good news is, all of our Cheshire ladies have active social media platforms so we can keep on top of all their goings-on when they're not filming – and keep a close eye on all the underlying drama.
For example...
The last time we caught up with the ladies on screen a cast divide like no other had rattled the show to its core, and had downright severed the cast right down the middle come the series 17 reunion.
The divide is between Rachel Lugo, Nicole Sealey, Lauren, Seema Malhotra, and newer (ish) cast members, Lystra Adams, Sheena Lynch, Paige Chohan and newest Housewife Eleanor Egar on the other.
This divide has been a long time coming and has grown as a result of multiple factors; primarily, a raging feud between Lauren and Paige, and some, erm, recent on-screen frostiness between Eleanor and Rachel x Nicole.
That reunion was filmed earlier this summer, and months down the line it appears that it's still just as rife as ever.
In fact, a recent off-camera girls trip - organised by Rachel - involving Nicole, Lauren and ex Housewife Hanna Kinsella is dominating some of the girls' socials right now, and - surprise surprise - the likes of Lystra, Sheena, Paige and Eleanor are nowhere to be seen.
While these scenes may not be being filmed for the upcoming series, it's making it very clear who's friends off camera (and who isn't), and unless a dramatic reconciliation occurs soon, the divide will most likely kick-start the series 18 drama early next year.
Rachel, Nicole, Lauren and Hanna are currently sunning it up Fethiye in Turkey, and just like your bog standard 'girls trip' on The RHOCheshire, the trip has been organised by one of the girls (Rachel) and she has gone ALL OUT.
Seriously, they've posted all the cliches: lavish rooms, beautiful scenery, private jacuzzis, breakfast in bed, sartorial slays, free-flowing champagne and the kind of sushi that you take pictures of for Instagram rather than eat.
WATCH: Tanya Bardsley and Lauren Simon spill the tea on RHOCheshire's 10th anniversary
Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big Brother, Love Island and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅