Ed Gleave’s VIP visit to set
STARS of The Only Way Is Essex caused a stir when they rocked up in Sandbanks.
They booked a trip to the exclusive Dorset enclave to film the new series which hits our screens tonight.
Sandbanks is one of the most expensive places to live on the planet and is home to a host of millionaires.
So when a bunch of raucous reality stars turned up, it’s no surprise they turned a few heads.
Chatting in between filming scenes on the beach, show favourite Dani Imbert, 23, said: “More people have been watching us filming than I expected.
“I didn’t think anyone around
here watched
the show. But we’ve had a lot of people coming up to us and asking for pictures.” Co-star Amy Childs, 31, added: “The locals are loving us. They’re not used to seeing us film, so it’s new for them.
“People keep asking us for selfies. It’s like we’re Mariah Carey.”
At times so many fans turned up to get a glimpse of the ITV stars, filming had to be delayed.
Dani said: “People have been walking into shots. It’s really busy here.
“They’re going along the beach and don’t realise. When it happens we have to stop filming, take a break and then start again.”
Usually the Towie gang jet off to Ibiza or Marbella to have some fun in the sun.
But the scenery in Sandbanks – close to Bournemouth and Poole – is so amazing the cast said they could imagine they were abroad.
Dani said: “It’s nice to go to a new place. This is the break we all needed. It’s just like being in another country.
“I actually keep forgetting I’m still in the UK.”
Show veteran Chloe Sims, 39, added: “It’s so lovely and luxurious here.” Just one filming session on the beach needed a team of more than 30 crew to make sure everything went to plan.
A gazebo was set up to protect all the filming equipment and there were cameras everywhere.
So even though Towie might not seem that advanced, the production looks just like the set of a major TV drama.
Filming even starts with someone shouting: “Action!” And the production team are never far away to make sure the stars are happy.
During one scene Chloe Brockett, 20, had a blazing row with Liam “Gatsby” Blackwell, 33. Once the cameras stopped rolling, staff were on hand to check on them. Dani said: “The support around the show is so strong.
“As soon as you finish a scene, they check you’re OK and what your thoughts are.
“They just want us to be OK and check if we need anything.” When they finished work on the beach, the stars retired to luxury mansions rented for the trip.
And they had no complaints. Dani said: “The sun has put everyone in a really good mood. It’s the best way to film.”