However, heat has been given one-off exclusive access to go behind the scenes on TOWIE’s set for an average day’s filming, to see what life behind the lens is really like. In between quickly moving from one location to the other (including a gossip in Jess’s clothing boutique, Gemma’s lounge for a spot of pampering, and a night out in The Sugar Hut) we grabbed the opportunity to quiz the cast about how TOWIE has changed their lives. "We are just normal people who earn a normal living, but in the public eye", Jess starts off. “That’s why so many of us have our own business ventures; yes we have used our fame from the show to help boost sales but we need additional income to the show. Admittedly we were chucked in at the deep-end not knowing that it is impossible to earn a sustainable living solely from being a reality TV star. If any young person looks at us and thinks, ‘I want to be a reality TV star too’, they need to reevaluate. To open businesses you also need degrees and experience, not just fame- all you need for that is a big mouth and a bronzed completion [laughs].” You are not alone in thinking that these people actually have common sense and are intelligent- completely trashing all of the stereotypes of reality TV stars and Essex just in one day.
Lydia then responded to Jess and said “well you don’t need to be tanned because they give that to you once you have been cast!” What did Lydia mean by this? “Well we are from Essex so of course we’re going to spend time and effort to make sure we look good to some extent” says Gemma, "but we are definitely pressured to look a certain way". “It is made very clear to us that a lot of people watch TOWIE because they aspire to the glamorized versions of ourselves, besides the humor factor. The truth is we aspire to the way we are portrayed on screen too. The expensive labels we are seen to wear, drive and carry are either given to us by businesses wanting celebrity endorsement and media coverage, or stuff we have to give back to the wardrobe department after filming. It sucks really".
As the day progressed, heat started to witness what they meant by this for ourselves. One minute Jess and Ferne (McCann) were having an explosive argument in front of the camera, but as soon as the cameras turned away they were laughing and joking together. Surely this wasn’t true? But it seems we as a nation have been lured in and tricked by ITV’s clever marketing ploy because it didn’t stop there. Next stop was the wardrobe department where the cast claim to borrow up to 90% of their clothes from on a typical day filming.
"We feel largely to blame for the consumer culture amongst young people nowadays”, says Ferne. “They are so image conscious because we emphasise the importance of having all the latest material goods, and being labeled ‘reality stars’ this sways their aims and goals for their own lives; when in reality these things matter the least and will get you nowhere as a person. It is a shame we don’t have a chance to communicate this to our fans.”
Chloe finishes by adding, “when we do appearances we particularly try to show the other side of us- our nice, friendly and unpretentious side. We don't want to encourage a generation of materialistic, personality-less brats [laughs]".
It is fair for heat to conclude that after a day behind the scenes of TOWIE it doesn’t give a real representation of them. The cast is aware that they are very influential over today’s society and whether they like it or not they are role models for a lot of people. So next time you tune in to watch TOWIE, take its introduction “some of what they do has been given a rocket remix for your entertainment” literally. ▪ LILLI BRANT
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