Is anyone else more excited for the return of the TOWIE Christmas special – The Only Way Is Essexmas – more than actual Christmas itself? Because the TOWIE Christmas special won't leave us penniless in January and February for one; that ITVX subscription is only £5.99. Bargain.
Okay, that comparison lacked a little punch, but you get what we're trying to say; the return of the TOWIE Christmas special can't come quick enough because honestly, after the way series 34 ended and the mad way some cast members are moving on social media right now, our bodies and souls are ready for some festive dramz and some closure.
Obviously, we're DYING to know what the heck went down between Junaid Ahmed and Joe Blackman after their, erm, telly breakup because those boys are very much together in the here and now. In fact, Junaid told us in person that he's having LOADS of sex, so it's safe to say they're back together despite where we are in the confusing TOWIE timeline.
But we're also DYING to know just where things stand with TOWIE lovers Dan Edgar and Ella Rae Wise. Last time they were on our screens they were all for giving things a real go, then they split off camera and now we're seeing snaps of them looking all festive and cozy while filming the Christmas special.
Naturally, when we caught up with Dan about all things Essexmas we assumed we'd be getting a little bit of clarity on this, but to be honest, we're just as confused. FFS, these TOWIE stars really are going to make us 'wait and see', aren't they?
To be fair to Dan, he didn't shy away from he topic of Ella, but it's safe to say things are still rather complicated.
He exclusively told Closer, 'It is hard. It is a bit frustrating after last series. Everyone had this perception of me; same old Dan doesn't want to settle down. But this (filming TOWIE Christmas special) is the first time I have seen [Ella] in a while.
'We never fell out and we've still been speaking but she has been away for a month in Dubai, we speak often still, even when we weren't seeing each other there was still a close friendship.'
When asked whether he was a single man this Christmas, he replied, 'I am not seeing anyone at the moment. I have spoken to a couple of people but nothing has really come of anything. And, of course, I have missed [Ella]. It seems like there is unfinished business.'
The TOWIE hunk continued, 'We do get on really well. There are some things we need to sort out. There is stuff from previous stuff in the past which is not helping us move it on and make it work but we are always drawn back together so we are trying to work out and navigate where we go from here.'
The TOWIE Christmas special will air on Sunday 15 December at 9pm on ITVBE/ITVX and if we don't start getting some clarity from these aforementioned TOWIE stars we're going to start throwing festive objects; snowballs, baubles or shade, most likely.
WATCH: TOWIE’s Junaid Ahmed has opened up about being ‘happier than ever’ with Joe Blackman after the ‘roller coaster’ start to their relationship ahead of the Christmas special, which airs on Sunday 15 December on ITVBe and ITVX
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 💅.