Chloe Lewis and Myles Barnett have quit ‘The Only Way is Essex’.
The 28-year-old star took to Instagram to confirm she is departing the ITVBe series after four years because her "life isn’t in it anymore", and the 24-year-old hunk revealed he has left the programme because the show has become "very toxic".
Chloe wrote: "After a long 4 years on The only way is Essex, I’m happy to announce that I have decided to leave the show. My life isn’t in it anymore & I feel as if its the right time for me to move on to other things. I’ve had a wonderful time being part of the cast on the show & have made friends for life, I really Couldn’t of got through the last year without my Courtney & Chlo. Absolute true gems!
"Towie has brought me such amazing opportunities & I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s taught me so much & made me who I am today. Thank you for everyone’s amazing support over the years & truly am very grateful. The best thing I’ve learnt in this crazy world, is to be strong & to follow your heart. So here we go (sic)"
Myles also took to social media to confirm his departure, admitting the programme "no longer fulfils" him, and that he wants to concentrate on his relationship with fellow ‘TOWIE’ star Kady McDermott away from the show’s "very toxic" and "negative" environment.
He wrote on Instagram: "After an eventful two years at TOWIE with many highs and lows I have taken the decision upon myself to leave TOWIE.
"When something no longer fulfils you, makes your grow as a person or even just makes you happy it’s best to leave it in the past.
"This year I am solely focusing on my career and my relationship with Kady as they are the most important things to me right now, and the show wasn’t benefiting either of them.
"As most of you will probably know TOWIE brought out a side to me I wasn’t always proud of, as much as I enjoyed my time on it I started to find it very toxic and negative environment for myself.
"I am the happiest I’ve been in a very long time and I would like to keep it that way by removing any negativity in my life.
"I’m going to use my social media so you can all get an insight of my life and the highlights and get to know the real me, and more importantly so I can control how my life is shown instead of it being in the hands of tv editors who are strangers to me.
"Thank you for all your support the last two years, I have grown a lot as a person and I will forever be thankful for the experience and the life lessons it taught me. (sic)"
Kady admitted Myles’ decision is the "best one" for them both.
She wrote: "So so proud and happy to have this one. He’s a true diamond and I’m so glad I get to know the real kind, amazing him. I will always respect his decisions he takes in life, and the one he took most recently is the best one for him/us. No toxicity, negativity or drama. 2019 our year (sic)"
While she didn’t confirm her own departure from the show, Kady has reportedly also left the programme, as have Jon and Chris Clark, Dean Ralph, Jordan Wright, and Adam Oukhellou, but the door is "always open" for them to return.
A source told The Sun Online: "’TOWIE’ bosses have had their biggest ever casting drive so far in the show’s history.
"Casting producers have been hanging out in all the top Essex hotspots like Sheesh to find the next generation of stars.
"As a result there will be some departures. Jon, Chris, Dean, Jordan, Myles and Kady have been told that they won’t be returning next series, although the door is always left open.
"Some of the stars have been told they’re departing before but have then come back."
A ‘TOWIE’ spokesman said: "Every series we review our cast to ensure we’re following the lives of those who are most interesting and willing to share their real lives and relationship highs and lows.
"A number of cast have been notified that they’re not being contracted for the start of series 24 as we look to bring in some fresh new faces, however we’ve always maintained that cast can return as and when the timing is right for them and the show.
"It’s how TOWIE has stayed so fresh and exciting for nearly a decade.
"We remain grateful to every single cast member that has featured in TOWIE and contributed to its huge success."
Chloe Lewis quits TOWIE
