When you think of banter, perfectly white teeth and maybe a suitable candidate for Disney's live-action Tarzan, you think of TOWIE star James 'Lockie' Lock. He's been livening up our screens since he first joined the show way back in 2013, but he was notably absent during series 32 this year – without any concrete explanation from, well, anyone.
Now, James has publicly opened up about his show departure for the first time with friend and cast mate, Jordan Brook, on his new podcast, Into the Barbershop, and we'll be honest - this is the most we have every heard James talk about anything ever and luckily for you lot, he doesn't hold back.
While chin-wagging about the whopping million dollar prize pot for the winner of The Challenge (which James was filming in the USA while the rest of the cast were filming series 32), a wide-eyed Jordan joked, "I'm on the wrong show, aren't I?", which led to the former TOWIE star opening up about his decision to walk away from the ITVBe series, "Well, exactly. My thoughts exactly. Hence why I took the break from TOWIE."
He continued, "As much as I love TOWIE, at the minute I'm at the point where I'm at my peak; I'm at the best I've ever felt and looked. You know, I feel like I'm the best i am in every possible way. And still, having said that, I'm at a crossroads where I either go and take risks now and make something of myself – if you like – or I can just stagnate.
"I felt like I was stagnating on TOWIE. There was nothing really on there for me – at this present time."
To be fair, James spent the majority of series 31 just standing around with his shirt off not really saying anything – not that we're complaining, but we can sort of see how Lockie had gone from part of the TOWIE furniture to just, well, furniture by the end of his ten-year stint.
James added, "I've been on TOWIE ten years. I've had every single story line. I've had multiple girlfriends on there, multiple romances, agg with multiple friends... there's been a lot of drama around me. Different things. I've given a lot to TOWIE. I felt like I'd come to a point where I'd just become a bit part. There's a lot more to me that being a bit-part character or a part-time player. And like I said, there's different sides to me that people haven't seen.
"I like to compete, I like sports – I'm very well-rounded. And with The Challenge, I think it shows me as a person. It shows more of me; it shows more of myself and what I actually enjoy doing. Arguing with girls isn't my forte."
He then opened up about how the producers of the show could tell he was getting 'frustrated' with the reality series, adding, "What people forget is TOWIE is real, TOWIE is a reality show, but it's scripted reality. Obviously, it's not a fly on the wall documentary – they don't follow us around – they're not there 24/7 to catch every argument, so you have to relive that argument and you don't always feel the same, so you are semi-acting. Sometimes you have to speak about things you don't necessarily care about or are passionate about, because we're all part of the same bubble on that show.
"I was getting frustrated. I think the producers could see that I was getting frustrated. To be honest with you, I was just overdue a bit of time out. And like I said, for me, there's other directions I want to go in."
Live your best life and do you, Lockie. We're just glad this new venture also walks hand in hand with the shirtless life.
Sadly, this means it's safe to say we won't be seeing Lockie on the next 'tropical' series of TOWIE...