List of The Only Way Is Essex cast members

Current cast

This is a list of the current cast members appearing in the show in order of their first appearance.

Former cast

This is a list of the former cast members appearing in the show in order of their last appearance.

Cast departures

Amy Childs left the show after the second series so that she could enter Celebrity Big Brother 8. She then starred in her own reality show It's All About Amy on Channel 5 until it was axed after one series.

Mark Wright announced that he would be leaving the show to take part in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! He made his final appearance during the final episode of series 3, which aired on 9 November 2011. Wright later went on to present Take Me Out: The Gossip on ITV2 for two series in 2012. Like Childs, Wright went on to star in his own reality series Mark Wright's Hollywood Nights on ITV2 in June 2012, which ran for five episodes before being cancelled due to lack of interest and low ratings. Wright made a cameo appearance in series 6 as well as appearing during the Christmas episode at the end of series 7. In 2014, Wright's latest reality series launched, entitled Party Wright Around the World. He also made a brief appearance during the tenth episode of the eleventh series to support his cousin Elliott Wright in his fight with Lewis Bloor.

On 13 December 2011, Kirk Norcross confirmed he would not be returning to the show saying: "I reached my peak. I also felt I was becoming known as the fiery guy who would flare up, which isn't me. It's just weird how it got, with so many characters fighting for storylines. TOWIE is a great show, but I couldn't see what storyline I was going to end up with - I think I've quit while I was ahead". He later went on to appear on Celebrity Big Brother 9. Norcross returned to the show in the first episode of series 7, but left once again in series 8 after claiming the show had changed too much.

On 9 January 2012, Maria Fowler and Harry Derbidge confirmed their exits from the show on Twitter, with both of them hinting that they have different projects lined up for the future. Fowler thanked her fans for their support, and revealed that she had agreed to leave the show following a meeting with producers. Meanwhile, Derbidge wrote that he was "moving on to different things."

On 22 August 2012, just a few hours before the final episode of series 6, it was officially confirmed that Lauren Goodger would make her exit during this episode. Goodger "mutually agreed" a deal to leave the series with ITV, although producers have stated that she could return in the future. On 19 December 2012, Lydia Bright departed in the 2012 Christmas Special following series 7.

On 19 February 2013, it was announced that Cara Kilbey had left the show after a mutual agreement. This followed the departure of her brother Tom and a guilty drink driving plea.

On 8 March 2013, during series 8, Mick Norcross announced he had left the show. He said, "My club is an upmarket venue where people come to drink champagne and feel spoiled, All these rows they keep filming don't show the club in a good light and I'm worried it's putting people off coming, which is the last thing I want. Allowing the Sugar Hut Honeys to be called slags is the final straw. I would never allow that to happen in my venue. I've had enough. I'm out." Norkross also banned producers from filming in his club "Sugar Hut" following his departure. Two weeks later, his son, Kirk Norcross, announced on Twitter that he had left the show for a second time, claiming it had changed too much. During the same series, Debbie Douglas also announced her departure from the show on Twitter, saying "For everyone who has been asking me where I have been on recent episodes of TOWIE, I have made the decision to leave the show." On 24 May 2013, it was announced Danni Park-Dempsey, Billi Mucklow and Darrell Privett would all leave the series. Though no formal statements were made, neither Danny Walia or Jack Bennewith were seen during series 9.

On 9 September 2013, Charlie King announced that he had left the show, before thanking everyone for the support via Twitter.

Four days later, before the series 10 finale, it was confirmed that Joey Essex had left the show and would not be returning for the next series. He later went on to compete in the thirteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Like Amy and Mark, Joey went on to having his own reality show Educating Joey Essex, which began airing in 2014. During the 2013 Christmas Special at the end of series 10, Lucy Mecklenburgh made her final appearance. She then thanked everyone on Twitter for their support and said that she's excited for new projects in 2014.

On 25 January 2014, Little Chris announced his departure from the show on Twitter thanking his fans. Abi Clarke was not seen during series 11 or 12, despite no official word about her departure. She was, however, ill during early 2014.

On 16 December 2015, it was confirmed that Nanny Pat had died following a short illness, aged 80.

Cast returns

On 30 September 2012, Kirk Norcross returned to the show in the first episode of the seventh series. Norcross had a stint on Celebrity Big Brother 9 earlier in the year. He continued on the cast during series 8 but then announced he would be leaving the show again.

On 16 December 2012, Mark Wright confirmed he would be returning for a one-off appearance in the 2012 Christmas Special after the seventh series, after originally appearing in the show from series 1–3. He also had a non-speaking cameo appearance during the sixth series.

On 16 June 2013, it was revealed in the "next time" montage of the episode that Lydia Bright would be returning. She then took to her Twitter account to confirm this but said it was only for one episode. During this episode she met with Lucy Mecklenburgh to help her through her relationship issues. She made her second return to the show during the final episode of the eleventh series.

Lydia's mother, Debbie Douglas, also returned for a one-off episode in the tenth series, where she met up with Lucy to advise her on her relationship with ex-boyfriend Mario Falcone, before making another return in the twelfth series to join Lydia once again. On 2 June 2014, Amy Childs announced that her cousin Harry Derbidge would be making a return to the show during the twelfth series of the show to join his current boyfriend Bobby-Cole Norris in Marbella.

On 3 August 2016, during an appearance on Loose Women, Lauren Goodger confirmed her return to the show.