The Only Way Is Essex’s new series to swap Marbella for Barcelona

The Only Way Is Essex will swap Marbella for Barcelona when its new series begins.

TOWIE will return on ITVBe later this month (March) for what will be its 22nd season.

But there will be some changes.

The Sun reports that the show will snub its trademark holiday destination of Marbs in favour of a city break to Barcelona.

In another rumoured switch up to the show, episodes will now only air once a week rather than the usual double-bill. However, the running time will increase from the current 50 minutes to an hour.

And in further updates, the cast of The Only Way Is Essex is set to look rather different this year.

Fresh from the festive Christmas special in December, the New Year is bringing some bad news for a lot of TOWIE stars.

Those said to be “not pulling their weight” face the axe, The Sun reports.

Chris Clark, Amber Dowding, and Mike Hassini are among those leaving.

Jack Rigden, Jordan Brook, Maddie Hooper and Ruby Lacey will also not be returning this year.

A spokesperson for TOWIE told the tabloid: “There are a number of cast who have mutually agreed their time on the show has come to a natural end for now.

“We wish them well and look forward to another exciting year ahead for Towie.”

Last year, an insider explained of the changes: “The cast of the show is huge, and bosses are thinking they’ve got some people adding nothing to the show, while the rest of the cast bring huge storylines and loads of emotional, drama-packed scenes.”

TOWIE can prove a lucrative gig for those who appear regularly.

Apparently even minor stars of the ITVBe series can make as much as £10,000 a month outside of the show thanks to advertising and sponsorship deals.