This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21944093
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Towie fans meet their idols on programme tour | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| It's a Saturday lunchtime and outside Brentwood railway station a coach is filling up with eager passengers setting off on an excursion. | It's a Saturday lunchtime and outside Brentwood railway station a coach is filling up with eager passengers setting off on an excursion. |
| But their destination is not Southend seafront or ancient Epping Forest; it's the beauty salons, boutiques and bars of suburban Essex. | But their destination is not Southend seafront or ancient Epping Forest; it's the beauty salons, boutiques and bars of suburban Essex. |
| They're booked on a tour of locations from The Only Way is Essex (Towie), the reality TV show that introduced us to the "vajazzle", the adjective "reem" and the catchphrase "Shutuuup!". | |
| About to start its ninth series, Towie is a television phenomenon. It features not actors but ordinary people, appearing in modified situations based on their actual lives. | |
| Many run their own businesses, including shops, salons and nightclubs, which feature in the show. | Many run their own businesses, including shops, salons and nightclubs, which feature in the show. |
| There are DJs, beauticians, hairdressers, nightclub promoters and boutique owners, and we see their friendships, feuds and romantic entanglements. | There are DJs, beauticians, hairdressers, nightclub promoters and boutique owners, and we see their friendships, feuds and romantic entanglements. |
| The show has made stars of the likes of Amy Childs, Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger and Joey Essex. Some are said to have become millionaires. | The show has made stars of the likes of Amy Childs, Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger and Joey Essex. Some are said to have become millionaires. |
| 'Shutuuup!' | 'Shutuuup!' |
| The 30 people on this special Towie trip, run by Brit Movie Tours, are hoping to observe the show's famous names in their natural habitat. | |
| They're welcomed aboard by guide Louise Stanton. | They're welcomed aboard by guide Louise Stanton. |
| "I'm going to take you round the shops. Have you brought your purses and your shopping shoes?" she asks. | "I'm going to take you round the shops. Have you brought your purses and your shopping shoes?" she asks. |
| But first there's an unconventional roll call, invoking the show's famous catchphrase. | But first there's an unconventional roll call, invoking the show's famous catchphrase. |
| "I will call your name and I want a nice 'Shutuuup!'" says Louise. | "I will call your name and I want a nice 'Shutuuup!'" says Louise. |
| "Come on girls, say it loud and proud - you are in Brentwood now!" | "Come on girls, say it loud and proud - you are in Brentwood now!" |
| Roll call concluded, it's time for a safety briefing. | Roll call concluded, it's time for a safety briefing. |
| "Now, this is Essex, and obviously there is a lot of fake tan around," warns Louise. | "Now, this is Essex, and obviously there is a lot of fake tan around," warns Louise. |
| 'Great for business' | 'Great for business' |
| "It might drip in people's eyes, so be careful of the roads, be careful of pedestrians and watch out for people who are just a little bit dizzy. Stay close to me at all times!" | "It might drip in people's eyes, so be careful of the roads, be careful of pedestrians and watch out for people who are just a little bit dizzy. Stay close to me at all times!" |
| An early stop on the tour is Ropers Yard where we meet Dino Georgiades, one of the show's bodybuilding twins. Their shop, GX2, sells fitness supplements. | An early stop on the tour is Ropers Yard where we meet Dino Georgiades, one of the show's bodybuilding twins. Their shop, GX2, sells fitness supplements. |
| "You bring more and more every week!" he calls to Louise as he poses for photos. | "You bring more and more every week!" he calls to Louise as he poses for photos. |
| Close by is Minnies, the boutique run by sisters Sam and Billie Faiers. | Close by is Minnies, the boutique run by sisters Sam and Billie Faiers. |
| Soon the shop is full of customers and Sam is signing autographs and posing for photographs. | Soon the shop is full of customers and Sam is signing autographs and posing for photographs. |
| "It's great for business and great for us," says Sam. | "It's great for business and great for us," says Sam. |
| On the tour are Lauren Bristoll, Kelsey Croft and Hannah Potter, all 16, from Redditch, Worcestershire. | On the tour are Lauren Bristoll, Kelsey Croft and Hannah Potter, all 16, from Redditch, Worcestershire. |
| They're accompanied by Kelsey's mother Kerry Croft. She approves of the show and its influence on the girls. | They're accompanied by Kelsey's mother Kerry Croft. She approves of the show and its influence on the girls. |
| "All the characters are working and it shows if you go to work, you get money. You can have a nice lifestyle and have fun with your friends," she says. | "All the characters are working and it shows if you go to work, you get money. You can have a nice lifestyle and have fun with your friends," she says. |
| Oompa-Loompa tan | Oompa-Loompa tan |
| Maxine Mason, 39, and Nicky Elmer, 36, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, are also big Towie fans. | |
| "We're mums with responsible jobs during the week. We text each other when it's on," says Maxine. | "We're mums with responsible jobs during the week. We text each other when it's on," says Maxine. |
| Nicky says: "We like everything about it. It's great entertainment. We find it fascinating." | Nicky says: "We like everything about it. It's great entertainment. We find it fascinating." |
| Next stop is Amy Childs' Salon in Ingrave Road, whose owner also had her own spin-off series, It's All About Amy. | Next stop is Amy Childs' Salon in Ingrave Road, whose owner also had her own spin-off series, It's All About Amy. |
| It's a good place to get an "Oompa-Loompa fake tan", Louise tells us. | It's a good place to get an "Oompa-Loompa fake tan", Louise tells us. |
| Amy's white Range Rover, with its personalised number plates "WEll JEL"- another show catchphrase - is parked outside. | Amy's white Range Rover, with its personalised number plates "WEll JEL"- another show catchphrase - is parked outside. |
| Amy herself is at her boutique nearby. She also says the show and tours have been great for business. | Amy herself is at her boutique nearby. She also says the show and tours have been great for business. |
| "We let everyone in and it's great. I have to pinch myself. It's not really work - you have so much fun." | "We let everyone in and it's great. I have to pinch myself. It's not really work - you have so much fun." |
| Her mother, Julie Childs, says: "It's phenomenal for us. Louise brings them in every week. | Her mother, Julie Childs, says: "It's phenomenal for us. Louise brings them in every week. |
| "All the hotels are packed and the restaurants are busy. All these young kids with these shops are doing fantastic. The more, the better!" | "All the hotels are packed and the restaurants are busy. All these young kids with these shops are doing fantastic. The more, the better!" |
| 'Grannies on scooters' | 'Grannies on scooters' |
| Amy's cousin Harry Derbidge, from the first three series of Towie, also has his own shop, Harry's World, selling jewellery and accessories. | |
| "Before the show, Brentwood was named as one of the most boring towns in the UK. It's now one of the best," he says. | "Before the show, Brentwood was named as one of the most boring towns in the UK. It's now one of the best," he says. |
| "It was just grannies going round on mobility scooters 24/7. Now it's all vajazzled, sparkling, over the top." | "It was just grannies going round on mobility scooters 24/7. Now it's all vajazzled, sparkling, over the top." |
| After a drive through the Essex countryside, there's a quick refreshment stop at the King William IV pub in Chigwell, and a trip along Queens Road in Buckhurst Hill, which Louise calls the Rodeo Drive of Essex. | After a drive through the Essex countryside, there's a quick refreshment stop at the King William IV pub in Chigwell, and a trip along Queens Road in Buckhurst Hill, which Louise calls the Rodeo Drive of Essex. |
| The tour finishes in Loughton, home of the Bella Sorella boutique, co-owned by Lydia Bright. | The tour finishes in Loughton, home of the Bella Sorella boutique, co-owned by Lydia Bright. |
| "People want to come and get a picture and a signed souvenir," says Lydia. | "People want to come and get a picture and a signed souvenir," says Lydia. |
| "We can't all fit in sometimes, so it's one in, one out. But it's so much fun. Everybody's excited to be here." | "We can't all fit in sometimes, so it's one in, one out. But it's so much fun. Everybody's excited to be here." |