TOWIE's Chloe Brockett only announced her departure last month, but if you're already mourning her absence ahead of the new series launching, we have to be the bearer of yet more sad news.
When Closer pulled Chloe, 23, for a chat at the Celebrity Ex on the Beach launch, we got straight down to it: Is the door still open for a TOWIE return? Amy Childs did it, and Lauren Goodger followed suit, but Chloe doesn't envision her repeating such a comeback.
The door is firmly closed on the ITVBe staple, as the 23 year old told us, "It was left open, but I’ve decided that I won’t return. Why would I go back to something I’ve left? It’s like leaving a job: everyone sends you a goodbye card, and then you swan in a month later. It’s embarrassing. You can’t do that."
She didn't say it directly, but there seemed to be a hell of a lot of confidence behind her decision to leave, with Chloe at no point voicing even a hint of regret.
Discussing the cast's latest jaunt abroad, Chloe says, "I looked at Bali and I didn’t feel FOMO [fear of missing out]. That’s the God’s honest truth. But if I was looking at the show three years ago, I’d feel FOMO. Everything’s changed - different producers, different cast. When I first started, I would have felt so much FOMO. I would have been gutted."
She adds, "I’m not saying that TOWIE didn’t make me happy – for five years of my life it did. But as of recently, it wasn’t something that I felt was making me happy so I had to take a step back."
Elsewhere, Chloe revealed that she is "really excited" for the next chapter since leaving the show. She explains, "I'm relaunching a lash business that I already had. [I've] already spoken to department stores that want them, so that’s amazing. I’m just looking to do things that make me happy."
But that hasn't stopped her exit from TOWIE sparking an outcry from loyal fans, with one writing, "Literally don’t think I will be able to watch it now - you make the show!" and a second agreeing, "Gonna miss you on TOWIE - not sure be worth watching without your one-liners and non-fakeness. Been a pleasure watching you grow on this show."
WATCH: Chloe Brockett speaks out on Lauren Goodger returning | TOWIE Secrets
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Closer. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture (especially TOWIE).
Watch the first TWO episodes now of the brand-new series of Celebrity Ex on the Beach on Paramount+, or catch-up weekly on MTV!