The Only Way Is Essex is beefing up its cast - by drafting in a former reality show star.
Freddie Bentley has been parachuted in to help boost the line up of the upcoming 33rd season of ITVBe’s long-running reality show. The 26-year-old star was a contestant on Channel 4’s The Circle back in 2024 where he attempted to lie his way to a cash prize. Viewers watched as Freddie tried to fool his castmates by pretending to be four years older than he actually was and claiming to be straight.
But now fans will be able to learn even more about Freddie and his approach to life as he is joining the cast of Towie. He is friends with existing cast member Ella Rae Wise, 23, who joined the show in 2019 when the series began its 24th season. And Freddie’s addition will help fill out the cast of Towie as two stars quit the show at the end of season 31.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Freddie shared the news by posting a snap of himself sitting beside Ella on a sofa. He sat with a shocked expression and pointed to his own face while Ella covered her own mouth in shock surprise while sporting an eye-grabbing animal-print dress.
Freddie announced his inclusion in the show, writing: “The only way is… FREDDIE BABY!! I’m buzzing to have joined the cast of @towie series 33 along side my bestfriend @ellaraewisex doing what we do best together ... coming soon to ITVBE #theonlywayisessex." Ella reacted to the news, writing in reply: “We are going to have a blast. I am so proud of you Fred.”
And Freddie in turn responded to her, writing: “thank you ERW for taking me on the crazy ride with you. Love you with my whole heart.” Fans of the reality show were also encouraged by the news, expressing hope that Freddie’s casting could breathe new life into the show.
One fan wrote: “Omg, towie is about to get a whole lot better.” Another typed: “omg!!! i can’t wait - so glad to see you back on tv!!!” The inclusion of Freddie comes after a number of Towie stars exited the series after the 2023 seasons.
Towie fans were sad to see Tommy Mallet and Chloe Brockett both quit the show last year. Chloe revealed last month that she wouldn’t be returning to the long-running series. In an online post she revealed: “I have made the decision to take a step back from Towie, it's been my life since I was 18 and I feel like it's best for me at this point in my life to step away. I'm forever grateful to Towie for giving me the platform they have. Love you all."
And Tommy also quit the show - having initially appeared in season 13 back in 2014, quit in 2021 and returned in 2023. He has since been focusing on his business affairs - having quit his lucrative shoe making company in order to invest in shares in the business.
He said in a podcast last November: "I've got nothing financially at the moment. I basically made an acquisition in January, it was quite a big one and it was to buy some shares back for Mallet. I put money into Mallet to get my shares back up thinking that I was going to go and basically build the next year, just full force.
"And obviously, after seeing you, I lost the baby. That turned my whole world around and I was like, something needs to change. I basically started from scratch. I've got the biggest tax bill ever."
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