Tony Cowell
Demi Sims joined her sister, Chloe, in the cast of TheOnlyWayIsEssex last year. Now she’s back in the new series alongside a brand new face; her younger sister, Frankie Sims. Demi recently hit the headlines following her decision to come out as gay– and a reported brief relationship with former LoveIsland star Megan Barton-Hanson stirred up controversy. Here, Demi opens up to Tony about her love life – and sister Frankie spills the beans on what viewers can expect from the latest series of TOWIE...
Frankie – how do you feel about joining the show. Are you nervous at all?
FRANKIE: I am nervous, but it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do because my sisters are both in the show. I’ve been away at university for four years, but now I’m back and this is a dream job – to go into TOWIE as a family.
Presumably you watched the show before – and know some of the cast?
FRANKIE: Yes, I do. Particularly the ones that are close to Demi and Chloe. But I was still quite nervy going onto the programme for the first time. I was like the new girl at school. Do you have any favourites?
FRANKIE: Yeah, I love Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Mallet. They have a great relationship together and they’re such good fun. I sort of know about half of the cast, but I’ve got to know the rest better as the series goes on.
What’s been the reaction of your family and friends to you joining the show?
FRANKIE: I studied Event Management at Manchester University. Being away up north at uni for so long has given me a new confidence. I think my family and friends thought it was the right time to come back to Essex and join the show. Everyone has been really positive towards me. Nobody has said anything negative at all.
Demi – will you be giving Frankie any advice?
DEMI: Just to be herself, really. She’s the clever girl of the family and I think she’ll quickly find her feet. She doesn’t have to change and become an all Essex girl – she must be true to herself. She just got a first class degree at university, so she may take a few people by surprise.
Demi – are you very protective of Frankie?
DEMI: Yes, I am – but we’re all protective of each other. I’ve missed Frankie being away, but both Chloe and I always have each other’s backs. I think now that the three of us are on the show together we’re going to be like three little pit bulls.
Demi – you had some newbies join the show in series 24. How are you getting on with them?
DEMI: I like most of them, particularly Jayden Beales, Harry Lee and Clare Brockett. I came into the show with all the old cast, so I’m just getting to know all the new faces. It’s going to be so much fun with us three sisters on there – and I’m looking forward to going on the holiday in a few weeks’ time, too.
I hear Gemma Collins may be back in the new series – do you guys get on?
DEMI: I’d love to see her back, she’s really entertaining. I get on with her really well. I used to work in Chloe’s salon, and she used to come in there
all the time, so we struck up a relationship immediately. Gemma is hilarious.
Your sister, Chloe, will be having to confront her ex, Dan Edgar – what’s your thoughts on this?
DEMI: I just hope that Chloe doesn’t get hurt in the process. They’ve been friends for so many years, but she got hurt in the last series. She’s had time away from him, so I wouldn’t want her to come back only to get hurt again. I am being protective over her.
Demi – you caused some major controversy recently on Celebs Go Dating, along with former Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson...
DEMI: It was all just a bit of harmless fun – and some of it got a bit out of hand with all the gossip. The two of us were just trying to have fun.
Demi, you’ve been very honest and open about your sexuality – was coming out a hard decision for you to make?
DEMI: It was hard, simply because I’d kept it all quiet for so long. It all went on for about three years really and there were times when I just wanted the ground to swallow me up. I was keeping it all bottled up. I had a girlfriend at the time, and it got so tense because we were trying to keep it all secret and that’s not healthy. I’m glad I made the decision to come out because nobody blinks an eyelid over it nowadays.
A lot of people in a similar position have reached out to you on social media – do you find that easy to deal with?
Yes, I do. I get messages every day saying I have been an inspiration to them – and that has been heart-warming. They ask for help, so, of course, I will help in any way I can.
Gemma Collins has her own reality TV show now – would you consider doing something like that?
DEMI: I’d love one day to have our own TV show. I think as a family, three sisters together – we could be like the new Kardashians!
‘My family and friends thought it was the right time to return to Essex and join the show’