THE Only Way is Essex star Kirk Norcross has admitted his famous relationship with Amy Childs was totally FAKE.
The 36-year-old claims bosses made the whole thing up – and they both had secret lovers off-screen.
Original cast member Kirk told The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast: “You would think that I went out with [Amy] in series one that I ‘cheated on her’ with Lauren Pope who was my girlfriend.
“Everyone thought [me and Amy] were in a relationship in series one.
“We were never in a relationship. The whole of series one Amy had a boyfriend that didn’t want to be on TV but they [the producers] love relationships and they loved that me and Amy were very friendly and had a connection.”
He continued: “It was all manipulated. The whole of series one, me and Amy looked like a couple but I’m single and I get introduced to Lauren. We start dating and I really start to like her.
“I told the producers, ‘I don’t know how you’re going to go about this but I’m single and I’ve met Lauren and she’s my girlfriend’.
“[They said] ‘We’re going to have to bring her on the show Kirk.'”
Producers then set up a storyline for Kirk and Lauren to “meet” on-screen.
Lauren – who was a DJ at the time – was booked in for a meeting with Kirk who was interested in hiring her.
He claims Towie bosses set up the scene to “catch him cheating” on Amy with Lauren – despite her being his girlfriend at the time.
Kirk explained: “So all I know, Lauren is coming on and we’ve got to make out that we don’t know each other. This how f***ed up it is and listen, I don’t have any reason to lie about any of this.
“So me and Lauren met up at a restaurant for a coffee, purely to talk about booking her as a DJ – it was completely fabricated, she was my girlfriend at this time – so we’re filming talking about her doing a trial at the nightclub
“They said they’d cut the cameras – [but] they never cut when they say cut – so me and Lauren weren’t allowed to be boyfriend/girlfriend when they’re filming, but the minute they cut I gave her a little kiss and held her hand.
“…When I watched that episode back, they didn’t cut the cameras, they put romantic music [on top], they had Sam [Faiers] and Billie [Faiers] walk in and it cuts to a close up of me and Lauren holding hands. Then they’re ringing Amy, ‘We’ve just seen Kirk cheating on you with Lauren.’
“I got f**king slated on social media.”
Towie began back in 2010 with original members Kirk and Amy joining the likes of Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger and James ‘Arg’ Argent.