The Only Way is Essex (often abbreviated as TOWIE) is a British reality television show based in Essex.  It shows real people in modified situations, saying unscripted lines but in a structured way.

It debuted on ITV2 on the 10th October 201 and became an overnight success.  It follows the lives of young adults: Mark Wright, Jessica Wright, Joey Essex, Kirk Norcross, Amy Childs, Lauren Goodger, Sam Faiers, James ‘Arg’ Argent, Lydia Bright, Harry Derbridge and their friends.  The show is primarily filmed in Brentwood, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton and Chigwell - close to London - and shows their lives as young, rich Essex boys and girls!

The show is filmed only a few days in advance and series 1 ran initially for four weeks with 2 episodes a week.  It is narrated by Denise Van Outen, who is from Basildon, Essex.  The show has been descirbed as Great Britain's answer to The Hills and Jersey Shore.

Series 2 returned on 20th March 2011, airing every Wednesday and Sunday.  The second series consisted of 14 episodes ending on 4th May 2011.   Series 3 will be screened in September 2011.