Georgia Harrison has given an insight into what it was really like being part of hit ITV show The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) and how the unpredictable nature of filming left her and co-stars constantly on edge about being sacked.
The 28-year-old recently hit headlines after successfully taking ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear to court for revenge porn.
Bear, 33, was jailed earlier this month for sharing a private recording of them having sex on OnlyFans without her consent.
Prior to this, she had a short-lived stint on reality TV show TOWIE during its eleventh series back in 2014 during which time she ruffled a few feathers, flirting with both Lewis Boor and Tom Pearce.
The Essex native - who went on to make a name for herself on ITV2 dating show Love Island three years later in 2017 - reflected on her time on TOWIE while sitting down with presenter Emma Conybeare and journalist Sarah Morton for a new episode of Slingo’s brand new gossip show Getting Lippy and admitted she found the experience “intense”.
She said: “The reason there is so much drama and it is so intense is because of the dynamic of the show. If you’re filming, it’s because you’re having some form of drama, and if you’re not filming, then you’re worried that you’re going to get the sack.
“Say it’s been like three weeks of filming and you’ve only been invited to the group things and you haven’t had much of a storyline, you think, one I’m not getting paid as much because I’m not filming as much and two, I’m just a bit of a spare part, maybe I should be doing more - and I think that’s what causes so much drama because you’re left with a group of people who, to get ahead in their career, need to be in the thick of the drama.”
She also admitted that despite the demanding schedule, the gig wasn’t as lucrative as some might think, saying: “I didn’t [ever go to the producers with a storyline], but if I had I might have lasted a bit longer. I don’t know if it’s different now, but when I used to be on there, we would get paid per day that we film.
“Everyone would film on a Sunday or a Wednesday because it was a big birthday at Nanny Pat’s or something like that. You were guaranteed that money, then all the other days would just be if you’re filming, say you’re going on a date or you happen to be filming that day, you’d get more money,” she continued.
“Also, you get told if and when you’re filming the night before, so you can’t have another job really unless they’re extremely flexible. My mum was saying the other day that I’d be sitting there, get a text at like 11.30pm like you need to be at this party tomorrow, it’s Diwali themed go and get yourself the appropriate attire and you’d be like, ‘How am I going to do that? I’m skint at the moment and it’s tomorrow?!’
“Because there’s a lot to film you have to start early and I have had times where I’m in a bodycon dress and heels in Sugar Hut at like 11am and been like, ‘this just doesn’t feel right.’ It feels like I got here last night and just never left.”
