ITV is shutting one of its major channels and moving The Only Way Is Essex to ITV2 after the success of shows like Love Island.
Towie currently airs on ITVBe, which launched in 2014, and the channel was previously home to the likes of Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps and Ferne McCann: My Family and Me.
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But now bosses are making ITV2 the home of reality TV, with all future series broadcasting from there.
An insider said: “ITV has seen incredible success and record breaking numbers of viewers on ITV2, so following that success they’ll be shutting ITVBe and moving Towie onto ITV2, which will now be the home of reality.
“ITVBe shuts in June, then the new series of Towie will debut on ITV2 in Autumn.”
Earlier this year The Sun revealed Sam and Billie Faiers are reuniting for a new series, which will focus on them and how they juggle their busy careers.
Originally expected to air on ITVBe, the sisters’ new series will also move to ITV2 now.
As will Georgia, 33, and 32-year-old Tommy’s upcoming fly-on-the-wall series.
Love Island is arguably one of the biggest shows on ITV, with the 2024 series launch attracting 2.2million viewers.
Towie is ITV’s longest-running reality show, having launched in 2010.
The final of the first series drew in 737,000 viewers but last year it was reported less than 50,000 were tuning into the iconic show.
No doubt bosses are hoping a fresh channel will give the Essex show the audience it deserves.
Other shows that currently call ITVBe home are The Real Housewives of Cheshire and The Bardsley Bunch, which follows the lives of Tanya and Phil Bardsley.
