EXCLUSIVE: TOWIE bosses ‘axe 10 cast members from show in biggest cull ever’ as producers confirm they want to focus on ‘smaller group’… so who is getting the chop?
- MailOnline can exclusively reveal Courtney Green, 26, and best friend Chloe Meadows, 28, have both been axed from the reality series
- Kelsey Stratford, 20, and Clelia Theodorou, 26, have also been told by bosses they will not be returning to the ITVBe show, as well as Harry Lee, 26
- However, TOWIE veteran James Lock, 34, and Amber Turner, 28, will remain on the series, alongside Chloe Sims, 38, and her sisters, Frankie, 26, and Demi, 24
- On Wednesday night, TOWIE bosses confirmed ‘the next instalment of the show returns to Essex to follow a smaller group of cast members’
- In a statement, producers said: ‘This change allows our cast more time to film their real lives, showing more of their personal passions and professions’
TOWIE stars Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows are the biggest casualties in the ITVBe show’s mass cull, MailOnline can reveal.
The best pals, who joined the series in 2015, have been axed in a huge bid to breathe new life into the long-running reality show after a ratings slump.
Harry Lee, 26, Kelsey Stratford, 20, and Clelia Theodorou, 26, are also tipped to leave, while Chloe Brockett, 20, is still yet to learn her fate.
Axed: TOWIE stars Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows are the biggest casualties in the ITVBe show’s mass cull, MailOnline can reveal
But MailOnline can confirm Amber Turner, 28, a divisive figure among fans, is safe, as well as TOWIE veteran James Lock, 34, who first joined the series in 2013.
A source said: ‘Courtney and Chloe are gutted, they thought they were part of the furniture. But bosses feel the ruthless cull was needed to shake up the show.
‘Many of the stars are yet to be told, preparing themselves for the worst. It will be devastating for so many of them.’
The axing of Courtney and Chloe comes after TOWIE bosses confirmed the next series of the reality show will focus on a ‘smaller group of cast members.’
‘Devastating’: The best pals, who joined the series in 2015, have been axed in a huge bid to breathe new life into the long-running reality show after a ratings slump
Change: A statement released on the official TOWIE social media accounts confirmed the cull, saying they wanted the show to focus on a ‘smaller group’
A statement read: ‘As it looks ahead to future series’ to come, the next instalment of our BAFTA award winning show returns to Essex to follow a smaller group of cast members’
The most recent series of the reality show had as many as 47 cast members in varying roles.
In a statement, bosses confirmed the stars leaving the programme will be giving support from the behind the scenes team should they need it.
They said: ‘After more than ten fabulous years following the lives of our ever-growing cast, TOWIE will be evolving with some changes.
‘As it looks ahead to future series’ to come, the next instalment of our BAFTA award winning show returns to Essex to follow a smaller group of cast members.
Staying put: Show veteran Chloe Sims and her sisters Demi and Frankie along with Liam ‘Gatsby’ Blackwell all thought to have survived the cull (Chloe, left, pictured with Demi, right)
‘This change allows our cast more time to film their real lives, showing more of their personal passions and professions, alongside their strong bonds and dynamics with family and friends.
‘Those who won’t appear regularly on-screen next series will always be part of the TOWIE family and we wholeheartedly thank them for sharing their lives with us in recent years.
‘As always, their wellbeing is of paramount importance to us and we will continue to offer welfare support if needed to all past and present TOWIE cast.
‘We ask and urge all our viewers to think before commenting below, and remember that #thesepeopleareallreal.
‘Thank you to our audience for your continued support. TOWIE will be back soon for it’s 29th series on ITVBe, stay tuned for further announcements.’
(pictured L-R Chloe Meadows, Amber Turner, Courtney Green and Clelia Theodorou in 2019)
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