That's it, even though it's at least 40 per cent of our jobs, we're done second-guessing TOWIE stars. Truly anything could happen on this show at any time – but particularly, it would seem, at Christmas. Are you sitting down? Because this is festive tea that even we are having trouble swallowing.
A little build-up for dramatic effect, first – remember how Harry Derbidge had beef with his alleged former friend Freddie Bentley and former fave girly girl Ella Rae Wise long before all that Junaid Ahmed x Joe Blackman drama? Well...
Woah, not us suddenly realising how much Harry has been through it on this show. If our workplace put us through even a fraction of this stress, we'd be having serious words with HR.
Anyway, at the end of series 34, the aforementioned TOWIE stars were very much not friends with Harry; in fact, they had been substituted for Girl Band, Sophie Kasaei and Jordan Brook (and, of course Amy Childs, but she's always been a constant for Harry).
So can someone please explain to us what series of events transpired for Harry, Freddie and Ella to all be on very public speaking terms all of a sudden? In our minds the answer is simple – the Christmas special, which wrapped filming last week.
For context, this is the equivalent of Amber Turner ringing Ella to persuade her to come to the cinema and watch Wicked with her – and dress up as Elphaba, so she can go as Glinda. Unlikely, hun.
But somehow it's happened, and they all seem to be healing and bonding over Harry's legendary creamy chicken pasta.
On the evening of Tuesday 26 November, besties Freddie and Ella told the world – via their Instagram stories – that they were cooking Harry's 'famous creamy chicken pasta' and the world clutched its pearls.
Sharing a video of their creation, Freddie wrote, 'Harry's famous creamy chicken pasta. Thank you babe @harryderbidge', to which Harry responded, 'Glad you loved it Fred'.
Meanwhile, Ella shared a similar scrumptious vid, writing, '@mrharryderbidge long time since i've been over for dinner', to which Harry replied, 'Reunited with the creamy chicken pasta.'
Sorry, but what the heck happened in Essex during this festive filming period, please? We've got the unlikeliest of reunions, the return of stars who swore they were done with TOWIE, on-set illnesses and yet more friendship fallouts. DING DONG.
Harry breaking bread – or dishing up pasta – with Freddie and Ella was certainly not on our 2024 bingo card, and given the history, can you blame our pessimistic attitudes? Seriously, these friendship fallouts could have their own spin-off biopics. Here's everything you need to know about Harry's feud history with Freddie and everything you need to know about Harry's feud history with Ella...
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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 💅.