TOWIE legend Lauren Pope has quit the show – after nine years onscreen.
The reality star, 36, won’t appear in the rest of the series after making the decision to take a break from filming the ITVBe show.
Lauren, who didn’t travel to Thailand with the rest of the cast and hasn’t appeared in the series so far, made the tough choice after meeting new boyfriend Tony Keterman and wanting to focus on her Hair Rehab extensions business.
Lauren tells The Sun Online: “After an amazing nine years on The Only Way Is Essex I have decided that now is the natural time for me to leave.
“I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities that the show has brought my way and have loved being part of the cast.
“On top of that, Lime [Pictures, who make the show] have become an extended family to me and I’ll be forever grateful for their guidance and support over the years.
“Nonetheless, I feel now is the time for me to move on so I can focus my attention wholeheartedly on my business ventures and personal relationship.”
Insiders added that Lauren met up with the cast at the show’s titles shoot recently, and the door is always open for her to pop back for cameo appearances.
“She’s always travelling and her business is hugely successful, so she doesn’t have enough time to appear on Towie full time,” says a source.
“It doesn’t mean she won’t pop back occasionally – with Chloe dating her ex Dan now, I’m sure she’d have some advice for Chloe!”
A Towie spokesperson says: “We wish Lauren all the best as she focuses on her new relationship and growing business ventures.
“She’s been such a big part of TOWIE’s success and will always be part of our TOWIE family. We hope to see her back in Essex soon!”
Lauren was part of the original show cast when it launched back in 2010, alongside Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger and Amy Childs.
She went on to form a close bond with Chloe Sims, Diags and Dan Edgar – who she also dated – and romanced Sam Mucklow, Kirk Norcross, Jon Clark and Lewis Bloor.
Lauren is now head over heels in love with businessman boyfriend Tony Keterman, who The Sun Online revealed she’d been secretly dating since late last year.
The millionaire met Lauren – who runs award-winning hair extension business Hair Rehab and also DJs in top-level clubs – after sliding into her DMs, and the loved up pair have been dating ever since.
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