The Only Way Is Essex hit screens 16 years ago, leading to droves of fans loving insight into the lives of the home county’s glamorous elite.Â
Following the lives of stars including Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger, James Argent and Sam Faiers, TOWIE featured friendship fall-outs, philandering, romantic dramas and the birth of many catchphrases and iconic pop culture moments.Â
However, the drama off-screen has grown ever more intense over the years as many of the stars of the show have faced horrors, including untimely deaths, addiction battles, criminal activity and business failures.Â
On Wednesday, star of the show Jake Hall, who shot to fame in 2015 and starred on TOWIE from series 14 to 18, passed away aged just 35 when he 'smashed his head through a glass door’ at a rented property in Majorca.
His death came a decade after he was stabbed in a nightclub – in one of many assaults befallen on the stars, including Sam and her sister Billie Faiers in 2011 and after Ferne McCann’s boyfriend Arthur Collins committed an acid attack in 2017.
As well as violence, addiction has taken hold of a number of the cast, such as James, known as 'Arg’, who has been open about his addiction to alcohol and cocaine, while Kirk Norcross is now five years sober from the same substances.
Many have considered the ITV show to have 'cursed’ the cast members, thanks to a host of other tragedies and dramas erupting after its 2010 inaugurationÂ
The Only Way Is Essex hit screens 16 years ago, leading to droves of fans loving insight into the life of the home county’s glamorous elite (Pictured: Top L, Mark Wright R, Kirk Norcross. Bottom L-R Lauren Goodger, Amy Childs, Jess Wright, Sam Faiers)Â
 On Wednesday, star of the show Jake Hall, who shot to fame in 2015 and starred on TOWIE from series 14 to 18, passed away aged just 35 when he 'smashed his head through a glass door’ at a rented property in Majorca (pictured in 2016)Â
TRAGIC DEATHSÂ
On Wednesday, Jake had passed away after police found him lying in a pool of blood with fatal head injuries seemingly caused by shards of glass.Â
Spanish detectives are focusing on the theory that he hit his head on the door in a tragic accident. A source claimed that witnesses had informed investigators they had been 'partying all night and decided to carry on the party back at his rented place’.
He is survived by his daughter River, eight, whom he shares with Ladies of London and Real Housewives of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri.
Misse’s representatives said: 'At this time, Misse’s focus is on supporting and protecting their child as they come to terms with this devastating loss. The family are asking for privacy, compassion and respect while they grieve privately.’
On Thursday, it was announced Jake had passed away after police found him lying in a pool of blood with fatal head injuries seemingly caused by shards of glass
Shortly before Jake’s death, former TOWIE star Jordan Wright was found dead after drowning in a drainage canal in Thalang District, Phuket on March 14.
His body was repatriated to his native Essex and a post-mortem examination was carried out at Basildon Hospital. An inquest into his death was opened earlier last month and has been adjourned until September 14.
Jordan, who starred in eight episodes of MTV’s Ex On The Beach in 2017 and 17 episodes of TOWIE the following year, was also seen acting erratically in haunting footage shortly before his death.
CCTV showed him looking over his shoulder as he sprinted back to his hotel on the island of Phuket shortly before midnight on March 12.Â
Police said the circumstances leading up to Wright’s death are 'unclear’ and it is possible 'other people were involved’.
Shortly before Jake’s death, former TOWIE star Jordan Wright was found dead after drowning in a drainage canal in Thalang District, Phuket on March 14
In January 2021, TOWIE star and businessman Mick Norcross died by suicide via hanging at 57. He made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show’s second season. His son Kirk, then 32, was part of the original cast.
Kirk discovered his father dead at his home, leading to a relapse in the CBB star’s cocaine addiction. The businessman was suffering money woes and had taken out a £3.6m bank loan and a bridging loan secured against his main residence.
Last year, Ricky Rayment announced the tragic news that his sister has passed away. His sister, make up artist Lisa Kempley died on July 25 at age the of 56, with the family holding her funeral service. He wrote: 'RIP my beautiful sister. You got the send off you deserved. Love you forever.’
A statement to Lisa’s business page, posted last month said: 'We are saddened to announce that our lovely Lisa passed away on Friday 25th July.Â
’We know she was truly loved by friends and clients alike and therefore want to extend an open invitation to attend her funeral service.’
In January 2021, TOWIE star and businessman Mick Norcross died by suicide via hanging at 57. He made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show’s second season. His son Kirk, then 32, was part of the original cast (Kirk, left, Mick, right in 2011)
ADDICTIONÂ
Since being thrust into the spotlight, James 'Arg’ Argent was left fighting drug and alcohol addictions as well as severe problems with his weight and mental health.Â
He has spoken openly about his battles with drink and drug addiction since finding fame on TOWIE and in 2014 he was suspended from the show after he failed a routine drugs test.
The TV star then spent three months in a facility in Thailand over the festive season in 2016 in order to get the 'ongoing support’ he needed.
But in 2019, following a split with then girlfriend and fellow TOWIE cast member Gemma Collins, Argent relapsed and was hospitalised twice after overdosing on drugs at his home.
At the height of his addiction to cocaine, Argent previously recalled how he suffered with psychosis which left him convinced the walls in his house were caving in.
Speaking on the Cabin Recovery Podcast in 2023, the reality star revealed how his drug use went from being 'recreational’ at the height of his TOWIE fame to something much darker.
Since being thrust into the spotlight, James 'Arg’ Argent was left fighting drug and alcohol addictions as well as severe problems with his weight and mental health (pictured in 2019)
He candidly detailed suffering with paranoia and psychosis in the midst of his cocaine addiction, telling how he would lock himself in his room for days on end. Argent recalled one incident where he 'barricaded’ himself in his room and suffered with psychosis on a four-day cocaine bender.
Argent said he would take cocaine alone in his home at the height of his habit as he bravely reflected on his struggles with psychosis and the dark moments of his addiction. He fought to get sober after hitting rock bottom in 2019.
But as his body struggled to overcome his addiction to alcohol and drugs, Argent found himself also enduring an eating disorder and unhealthy relationship with food.
Argent, who weighed 27 stone at his heaviest but has since lost 14-stone, underwent gastric sleeve surgery in 2021 and later had a tummy tuck to remove the excess skin around his stomach.
Despite being on the up, last year Arg faced further dramas when he admitted to pushing his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson in a violent row during a romantic getaway in Spain.
He shoved the Swedish beauty queen when trying to force her out of the front door of her apartment in the Costa del Sol, reported The Sun.
It caused the 32-year-old to tumble down two steps outside the home with her screams alerting neighbours who called the police. Artursson is understood to have needed hospital treatment but the extent of her injuries are currently not known.
He was handed a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year restraining order.Â
Despite being on the up, last year Arg faced further dramas when he admitted to pushing his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson in a violent row during a romantic getaway in Spain (the couple pictured in May lasÂ
NIGHTCLUB HORRORSÂ Â
In 2011, Sam and Billie fell victim to a girl gang attack inside a nightclub, leading to the former suffering two black eyes, a split nose, lumps and bruises and scratches.
After the attack, she said: 'I really thought I was going to die. They just came at me like a herd of elephants. It’s just a blur. I was being so violently attacked by so many girls there was nothing I could do but curl up into a ball. Then I passed out.’
Billie was then beaten to the ground while her handbag was stolen. They were later lured to have the items returned before being attacked again.Â
Sam said: 'She said they would give me back Billie’s things if I met them in Repton Park. Within seconds of getting out of the cab I saw at least nine girls running towards me across the grass.
’It was the same girls but they had changed into tracksuits and trainers — I can only assume to make sure they could run faster than me. I was smashed to the ground and just beaten. I was punched in the face and kicked in the head.’
In 2011, Sam and Billie Faiers fell victim to a girl gang attack inside a nightclub, leading to the former suffering two black eyes, a split nose, lumps and bruises and scratches
In 2016, Jake hit headlines when he nearly 'lost a kidney’ when he was stabbed with a glass bottle at Aqwa Mist club in Puerto Banus, Marbella.
Then-24, the late star was allegedly
