When it was announced that The Only Way Is Essex OG Lauren Goodger was making a comeback we were so bloody excited we weren't sure what to do with ourselves. After practically breaking our fingers writing the news up for Closer online at an inhuman speed, of course.
Mostly, we just sat with it for a while: the Lauren Goodger was returning to TOWIE for series 33.
We naturally assumed that TOWIE royalty like Lauren would only play a fleeting role in series 33 – popping up once or twice at the most. But that assumption soon got shot down when Lauren confirmed on social media that she would be "in it a lot".
She added, "It's baby steps at the minute, but I'm having a real nice time."
Then March arrived and we finally got to see the reality telly queen of queens return to our screens with grace and dignity, and according to Lauren, our little jest about her being TV royalty has some truth to it. Apparently, the TOWIE crew treat Ms Goodger like the queen she is. In fact, she holds a huge amount of power on set this time around...
In an exclusive chat with Closer, Lauren revealed that production speak to her "like royalty". And we're hardly surprised, to be honest, as her monumental return was recently revealed as the most watched launch episode in three years.
Lauren revealed, "Everyone [working on TOWIE] has been lovely – they gave me a big cuddle on set and said hello. I’ve loved filming again and enjoyed every minute of it. Apparently when I came back, everyone was talking about it, and saying ‘Oh my God, Lauren is actually back filming.’
"We hit 1.3 million viewers on my first episode, and they’re over the moon I’m bringing it in. I’m so glad I’ve done I’ve gone back, and it goes to show people who might have something negative to say, that I hold the power. The way production speak to me – they make me feel like royalty. It’s like they’re in awe, it’s a lovely atmosphere."
While Lauren is very much playing it on the fence this series (agony aunt and cast mummy vibes), it's an absolute delight to see her slaying on our screens again.
Now, fair warning, don't any of you TOWIE newbies come for her – you're too young to know, but no one pushes reality stars in to pools quite like our Lauren Goodger, so watch your backs and your tongues.
Despite her upbeat nature, Lauren – who first appeared on TOWIE in 2010, where she famously dated ex-fiancé Mark Wright – has faced a turbulent time in her personal life. In 2022, her ex-boyfriend Jake McLean died in a car crash in Turkey. Then, just days later, she revealed the devastating news that her newborn baby, Lorena, had died minutes after birth when her umbilical cord had caught around her neck.
In the same year, the star also split from Charles Drury, and he was recently cleared in court for assaulting her. After staying away from the limelight for years, Lauren accepts it’ll take “a long time to heal” from her tragedies, but says going back to her “reality TV show roots” has helped.
Bow down if you're not already.
WATCH: Former TOWIE cast - where are they now?
Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media and Closer's resident Real Housewives of Cheshire expert. Throughout his 13-year media career, Ben has interviewed some of the biggest stars in showbiz, including Kristen Stewart, Cara Delevingne, Antonio Banderas, Ian McKellen and Rowan Atkinson. His personal fave interviews, however, will ALWAYS be will Jedward and Ashley Tisdale (SHARPAY EVANS). When he's not writing about his favourite reality shows (or watching them), Ben is working as a drag queen in London under the stage name, Beary Poppins.