TOWIE finally returned to our screens earlier this month after filming was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but boy has it been worth the wait.
We’re only five episodes in but there’s already been SO much drama, from Chloe Sims and Pete Wicks’ fiery fallout to Amy Childs finally settling her six-year feud with Bobby Norris.
Chloe Brockett has also found herself at the centre of some major scandals after explosive rows with Ella Rae Wise and Olivia Attwood, who branded the 19-year-old a “poisonous little creature”.
Chloe later confronted Olivia and her friends Nicole Bass and Clelia Theodorou over comments they had made about her in controversial scenes which resulted in almost 200 Ofcom complaints accusing the former Love Island star of bullying.
Now, in an exclusive chat with Closer online, Chloe’s former BFFs Ella Rae Wise and Kelsey Stratford have now spoken out about the furore to defend Olivia but they admitted that Chloe “shouldn’t have been put in that position”.
Ahead of the launch of her clothing edit with Walking Wardrobe, Ella told us, “It's going to look like [bullying] because it looked like it was three against one and that is TOWIE's fault, like they should never put her in that position.
“If they were going to do that they shouldn't have had Yaz [Oukhellou] with her, they should have had Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows or Amber Turner with her. They could have like stuck up for her because Yaz is in the middle because she is friends with Olivia, Nicole and Clelia, as well as Chloe.
“A lot of that scene got cut and what Chloe was saying to them was vile.”
CHECK OUT TOWIE's most iconic moments
CLOSER: TOWIE's most iconic moments - SLIDER
![Amy gives Sam a vajazzle](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/337d/cf37/179e/338a/5a36/amy-sam-vajazzle.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Amy gives Sam a vajazzle
There's no better place to start than the birth of the 'vajazzle', a crystal encrusted pattern that can be applied to a woman's nether regions to make their bits looks fancy and elegant. Beaut babe. After Amy Childs and Sam Faiers filmed this scene and it had aired, this was the only thing the nation was talking about, with salons across the country starting to offer the beauty treatment so fans of the show could replicate their idols and be a true Essex women.
![Kirk calls Maria an extra](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/33f4/cf37/173b/598a/5a4e/kirk-maria-extra.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Kirk calls Maria an extra
Cast your minds back to when Kirk Norcross and Lauren Pope were a thing (dig deep guys) and Kirk fell out with Lauren's friend Maria Fowler. Obviously, the pair were fighting over literally nothing, but that didn't stop them, as they came head to head in a bar and Kirk ended up calling Maria an "extra". Savage. Things then soured further as Maria started to date Kirk's DAD Mick Norcross, joking that she was Kirk's step-mum.
![Arg buys Lydia a pig](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/342c/cf37/1776/e68a/5a54/arg-lydia-pig.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Arg buys Lydia a pig
When James 'Arg' Argent and Lydia Bright joined series 2 of the reality show, they instantly became fan favourites, with their romantic love story wooing the nation. So when Arg bought Lydia a micro pig named Mr Darcy to declare his love for her, they both made us think, 'Would our partner do that for us?'. However, it turned out Mr Darcy wasn't a micro pig and was in fact a normal pig, outgrowing Lydia's back garden and having to be sent to a farm to live.
![Lauren and Mark get engaged](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/346a/cf37/17df/a08a/5a62/mark-lauren-engaged.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lauren and Mark get engaged
How could we forget the first ever engagement of TOWIE, with Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger looking loved up and ready to take on the world. They'd been together nearly ten years before they joined the show and their love seemed to blossom as Mark popped the question, confirming his love for the Essex beauty. There was just one thing, they got engaged in a car park. Classy.
![Sam declares her love for Mark](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/34ad/cf37/1719/a28a/5a69/sam-mark-love.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Sam declares her love for Mark
But there was drama just around the corner, as Sam decided she was in love with the hunk and admitted it to his face, making him question whether he wanted to be engaged to Lauren anymore.
![Lauren pushes Mark into a swimming pool](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/350b/cf37/1794/f48a/5a7a/lauren-mark-pool.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lauren pushes Mark into a swimming pool
Literally, the most iconic moment. Having been questioning his relationship and engagement to Lauren, Mark was having doubts, as was Lauren, after rumours of cheating began to surface and cracks started to show. As Mark headed to a pool party with the rest of the cast, leaving Lauren at home, she was having none of it and decided to unexpectedly turn up. Mark was so surprised and Lauren kicked off, following Mark's comments that she should go back home. She ended up pushing him in the pool and the pair split.
![Lucy and Mario get engaged](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/406a/cf37/172a/e78a/5c64/lucy-mario-engaged.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lucy and Mario get engaged
TOWIE has seen many of these but Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone's engagement was the most romantic, extra TOWIE scene to air. Away on holiday, sunbathing on a yacht, Mario pulls out a whopper of a diamond and asks Lucy to be his wife. Despite the ups and downs in their relationship, it seemed like the pair were finally settled....
![Lucy swilling Mario with red wine at a white party](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/406d/cf37/170a/888a/5c66/lucy-mario-red-wine.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lucy swilling Mario with red wine at a white party
Cue the drama. Lucy and Mario's relationship becomes plagued with cheating rumours, breaks down and they eventually call it quits. Will there ever be a happy ever after on this show? Probably not.
![Harry's 18th birthday party](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/406d/cf37/179e/d48a/5c65/harry-lady-gaga.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Harry's 18th birthday party
A favourite party moment of ours was when Harry Derbridge hosted a fancy dress themed party for his 18th, with many of the cast member going over the top (of course). Harry turned up as Lady Gaga, wowing his attendees but let's not forget the late Nanny Pat who turned up as the actual Queen. Icon.
![Gemma telling Arg, "You ain't ever gong to get this candy](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/4249/cf37/1709/0e8a/5cc4/gemma-arg-candy.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Gemma telling Arg, "You ain't ever gong to get this candy
After Arg and Lydia broke up then got back together then broke up then got back together then finally ended their relationship, Arg moved on with Gemma Collins, otherwise known as the GC. Yet again, it looked like the pair were made for each other but things soon spiralled out of control and the relationship catastrophically ended, with Gemma turning up in front of everyone at a pool party, whacking off her caftan and shouting "You ain't ever going to get this candy". James just stood in the middle of the pool, mouth opened, shocked. We still haven't recovered.
![Sam and Joey have their first date](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/424b/cf37/1770/698a/5cc6/sam-joey-date.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Sam and Joey have their first date
Sam and Joey Essex were an unlikely match on TOWIE, seen as though Joey was a few years younger than Sam. However, the pair seemed to get on like a house on fire and decided to see whether their friendship would work as a relationship and Joey took Sam on their first date. But he took her to a dump. His reasoning was that it would be "different" and "cool", but it ended up being stinky and gut wrenching instead.
![Gemma leaving Mick a pie, and him pieing her off](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/424f/cf37/17e5/278a/5ccb/gemma-mick-pie.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Gemma leaving Mick a pie, and him pieing her off
Kirk's dad Mick was a catch back in the day, owning the legendary club Sugar Hut, where all the cast members would party on and off screen. One cast member who wanted a bit of Mick was Gemma, who lovingly made him a pie and left it on his doorstep to win his affections. However, it didn't seem to work as Mick said he didn't like Gemma in that way and pied her off with her pie. Ouch.
![When Gemma held an exorcism](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/4444/cf37/17ea/e38a/5d11/gemma-gc-exorcism.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
When Gemma held an exorcism
Gemma is known for her "GC" persona - the larger than life, savage and diva princess. But in one episode, Gemma decided enough was enough and wanted to show the real her. Therefore, the took the logical conclusion to having an exorcism to get "the GC" persona out of her body. You cannot write this stuff.
![Joey and Ricky fight in a shop](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/4439/cf37/17f3/178a/5d0c/joey-ricky-fight.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Joey and Ricky fight in a shop
After Ricky Rayment joined the show, there wasn't an instant connection between him and Joey, after the pair were talking about each other behind each others backs. It all came to a head at the re-opening of Lauren Goodger's beauty salon, with the pair scrapping inside and outside the shop, knocking products over as they fought onto the high street. The fight was seen as so bad, Essex Police were called to stop the pair from fighting. They later apologised to each other and made up.
![Gemma and Ferne's diva fight](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d9f/4446/cf37/1778/478a/5d12/gemma-ferne-diva.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Gemma and Ferne's diva fight
The fight of all fights. In a quiet, suburban town sit three women as they watch Gemma and Ferne McCann have a war with words over who has "earned their divaship". Nothing else needs to be said, except from TV gold.
![Bobby and Harry's thong schlongs](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5da0/8c0e/234f/2e85/3cc3/5d89/bobby-harry-schlong.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Bobby and Harry's thong schlongs
When Bobby Norris joined TOWIE, he brought all the sass that the show needed. However, he also showed a lot of ass when he, and boyfriend at the time Harry, decided to wear a unique form of swimwear, which we're fondly calling 'Shlong Thong'. It really covered nothing and sent viewers at home wild, leading to some viewers putting in formal complaints.
![Megan kicks off at Pete](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5da0/8ce7/234f/2e02/02c3/5db0/megan-pete-fight.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Megan kicks off at Pete
After Megan McKenna's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, TOWIE bosses were quick to sign up the TV babe, and it just so happened she'd started dating Pete Wicks, which meant she had the perfect storyline when joining the show. Their love seemed to blossom, with the pair becoming 'Head Couple' on the show for nearly two years. However, the cracks soon started to show after it was revealed Pete had been sexting other girls, leaving Megan extremely angry. This led to her epic outburst on the beach in Marbella, blowing her other TV tantrums out of the water. "Go be single!" she screamed. We can still hear it echoing around the world now.
Kelsey, who is set to release a shoe collection with Gal Next Door, added, “I definitely don’t think they were bullying her.
“Chloe can give it and she can take it as well. They’re definitely not bullies though.”
WATCH Ferne McCann teases TOWIE 10 year reunion 😱
READ MORE TOWIE news
TOWIE's Chloe Sims and Pete Wicks 'crossed the line from friendship to romance'
TOWIE's Amy Childs reveals results of non surgical face lift
Ella found herself in a slanging match of her with Chloe earlier in the series after finding out that she slept with her ex-boyfriend “at a Premier Inn in Dagenham” (iconique) but revealed that part of the scene wasn’t aired and it sounds like a major game changer.
“It’s a shame because they cut it out but Chloe’s ex-boyfriend asked to take me out on a date when they were together, and this is after what she had done to me with my ex, and it still didn’t even go through my head to go because I’m not that kind of girl.”
Erm, why didn’t we get to see this please, TOWIE bosses? We would have paid good money to see Chloe’s reaction.
TOWIE airs Wednesdays and Sundays at 9pm on ITVBe