We find ourselves in a constant back and forth as to whether we would enjoy taking part in a reality TV show; be it TOWIE , MAFS, or Love Island.
On the one hand there is the potential for brand deals, (did someone say #spon?) hot co-stars, fun nights out, and free holidays, but on the other end of the spectrum it’s a MAJOR invasion of privacy, there's a possibility you will be misrepresented and apparently you will find yourself competing with EVERYONE, even your best pal.
Former TOWIE star James ‘Lockie’ Lock recently quit the structured reality TV show to pursue a career in acting and has even been receiving lesson from EastEnders legend Jack Ryan so we know he means business.
As a guest on the Suddenly Single podcast Lockie was chatting to ex-Blue Peter presenter Tim Vincent - what a blast from the past - and magazine editor Siobhan Wykes about his ten-year stint on the show.
“You are competing, I know it sounds mad, you are in competition,” Lockie revealed. “Say, me and Pete [Wicks], we are best friends on camera but you're still [in] competition, we're still going for the same jobs.”
Not the ‘on camera’ remark about his apparent bestie Pete...
Fret not, James confirmed that the duo are very much BFFs in real life as well and it’s not just for show.
“He’s my friend, but we're still going for the same jobs, even the girls,” he went on.
Lockie also admitted that he often prefers spending time with his TOWIE girlies over the lads because “it's always a little bit peacock-y, a little bit showboat-y" over on Team Boy.
“Like, say the TOWIE girls, I spend a lot of time with them,” he explained. “Being away from the boys is nice. You can sit there and have a laugh, its more relaxed."
But it turns out that as much as TOWIE’s answer to Tarzan is close to the likes of Chloe Meadows and Saffron Lempriere, even the girlies are competition.
“I might go for Big Brother but one of the girls might go for Big Brother,” he admitted. “And they want one TOWIE person.”
What we are taking away from that comment is that we may well be seeing a TOWIE star on the next series of Celebrity Big Brother and if it's not Lockie, is it one of the girls? Chloe Brockett, perhaps? Now THAT would make for an entertaining series.
WATCH: So THIS is why Ayo would talk in riddles in the villa 😂
Emily Vierke is a digital writer who has dabbled in the world of celeb, beauty and fashion. She has watched TOWIE since Lydia Bright had her micro-pig, her favourite scene is when Gemma Collins asks James Lock, “What’s up? You ill?”