Okay, disclaimer time: we are TOWIE super fans here at Closer HQ. We love the reality series more than most of the human beings in our lives and a small part of our souls will inevitably decay if ITV ever decided to cancel it. However, social media has – without a doubt – changed the way fans watch and interact with the show over the years. In fact, in some ways, it's ruined it altogether.
We live in a time when our favourite reality stars are sharing the unfiltered realities of their lives on their TikToks and Instagram stories, so – if we choose – we can get an update on their personal lives in real time any time we wish. Reality shows like TOWIE, however, are filmed weeks, if not months, in advance – so much so that a good proportion of the #dramz has expired by the time we get round to viewing it.
Take the latest drama brewing between TOWIE stars Harry Derbidge and Junaid Ahmed on-screen.
TOWIE SPOILERS ahead and all that.
During the cast's mid-season trip to Thailand, during a moment of weakness, Junaid went to kiss bestie Harry on a night out. Harry pulled away and was left feeling stunned by the spontaneous move. Since then, Harry and Junaid have been questioning their feelings for one another – Harry even spoke to his mum about it in the laundrette over a cheeky Prosecco in the most recent episode.
Producers are clearly brewing a juicy 'will they?/won't they?' storyline here and we're here for it. Or we were...
However, just hours after the episode aired on ITVBe, Harry dropped a major storyline spoiler by revealing in an Instagram Q&A that he was, in fact, single. It's May 2023 and the Thailand content was filmed earlier this year, so it's safe to say nothing concrete comes from this blossoming romantic storyline – which has been left on a serious clifhanger (on the telly). Thanks, social media.
An Instagram follower flat out asked Harry if he was in a new relationship on Instagram (clearly referring to his on-screen scenes with Junaid), to which Harry responded (also flat out), "Nope I'm single 🥳."
And this isn't the first time this has happened this series. The very last scene fans witnessed showed Roman Hackett begging Dani Imbert to forgive him for kissing Chloe Brockett and lying about it. She accepted the apology and agreed to go out with him, which was then teased in a preview for next week's episode. But as with the Junaid and Harry drama, this has all been made totally redundant as Dani recently revealed that her and Roman were done for good in an interview which has been doing the rounds on socials.
Perhaps another TOWIE live, ITVBe producers? No spoiling those. Just saying.
Of course, there's a chance Harry and Junaid made a brief go of it and it just didn't last very long. Back in March – around the same time these episodes were filmed – Harry shared a Sunday lunch with his mum and Junaid and, of course, shared it on social media. Now if Junaid was meeting the in-laws, surely SOMETHING was going well at some point?
Harry shared a snap of his mum with Junaid with the caption, “Jan and mum! @junaidahmedx.”
Jan? They even had nicknames for each other.
Junaid added a photo to his grid of the duo smiling together and looking very couple-y indeed and, although the caption was simple but sweet, “Sunday lunching💙,” fans and followers of both think that romance is bubbling.
“So cute,” and “Gorgeous,” were just a few of people’s thoughts with others asking, “Together?” and another commenting, “Love💕.”
Since he joined TOWIE in 2022, Junaid may have had his fill of drink-throwing, plus arguing with Amber Turner at every opportunity, but the beauty queen is yet to have an on-screen romance, whereas Harry, who has been part of the reality show for much longer, has had a few.
Just last year he was dating Jackson Lonergan, who featured in a few episodes, and Harry infamously had a tumultuous relationship with now former TOWIE star Bobby Norris before the couple split amid rumours Harry hadn't been faithful.
