The Only Way Is Essex
| The Only Way Is Essex | |
|---|---|
Title card from series 28 onwards. | |
| Also known as | TOWIE |
| Genre | Reality television |
| Created by | Ruth Wrigley Tony Wood |
| Starring | Current and former cast |
| Narrated by | Denise van Outen |
| Opening theme | "The Only Way Is Up" by Yazz |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 34 |
| No. of episodes | 418 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
| Running time | 30-35 mins (1–20) 60 mins (specials, series 22–present) |
| Production company | Lime Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV2 (2010–2014, 2025–) ITVBe (2014–2025) |
| Release | 10 October 2010 – present |
The Only Way Is Essex (often abbreviated as TOWIE /ˈtaʊi/) is a British reality television series based in Brentwood, Essex, England. It shows "real people in modified situations, saying unscripted lines but in a structured way." Broadcast on ITV2 from 2010, the series was moved to ITVBe in October 2014 and set to move back to ITV2 in autumn 2025. The first series consisted of 10 episodes and ran for 30 minutes, with a Christmas special following later in the year. Due to popularity, the runtime was extended to 45-minute episodes and renewed for a year's airing. On 22 May 2011, the series won the Audience Award at the 2011 BAFTA Awards.
On 13 March 2016, ITVBe aired a one-off documentary hosted by former cast member Mark Wright, discussing the history of the series. On 28 February 2017, with the announcement of the cast for the show's twentieth series, it was confirmed that instead of the usual three series per year, ITVBe would only be airing two series, but with more episodes.
On 16 April 2025, ITV confirmed that the show would move back to ITV2 from Autumn 2025 as it was closing ITVBe in June of that year.