The Only Way Is Essex cast struggle to make ends meet on £50 a day wage

By Daily Mail Reporter


High life: Amy Childs, Billy Faiers, Lucy Mecklenburgh and Sam Faiers celebrating their ITV2 show at Sugar Hut in Brentwood, Essex, despite their low wages


They might look to be living the high life on The Only Way Is Essex, but the reality TV show’s cast members are only earning £50 per day.

Soon they might not be able to keep up their regular spray tans if their wages don’t increase, as they’re only making 32p more than the National Minimum wage hourly rate of £5.93, if their wage is split over an eight hour day.

Despite the ITV2 show pulling in 1.1million viewers when the second series aired on Sunday night, Amy Childs, Mark Wright and Sam Faiers won’t be quitting their other jobs any time soon.


The first series didn’t even pay them a wage, but after having a stand-off with producers and threatening to quit, they agreed to settle on an appearance fee.

The Only Way Is Essex playboy Mark Wright, 24, told the Daily Mirror: ‘They argued that without the show, we wouldn’t be where we are.

‘Our argument was that we helped make the show what it was. We both had a point but we just wanted some acknowledgement for what we were doing.

‘Now, we are getting paid, yes. I’m not expecting to become a millionaire off of my wages but it leads to other things.

‘PAs, my fragrance… It’s not all about my wages from the show.’

Harsh times: Mark Wright admits he won't become a millionaire off his wages but says it leads to other projects, such as his fragrance

Show time: Mark, Lucy and Lauren face an awkward moment at a bar during filming The Only Way Is Essex


A source told the tabloid though that it has been impossible to keep their other full time jobs while filming and the stars weren’t prepared for the impact it would have on their lives.

Meanwhile, Mark’s sister Jessica Wright, Nanny Pat and Sam Faiers have teamed up to raise awareness of the risks that drivers face in their cars.

The women took part in a photo shoot for Confused.com car insurance after finding out that Brits are some of the muckiest motorists around, with almost a fifth of the driving population having been involved in an accident caused by a cluttered car.

Sam, Jessica and Nanny Pat posed in provocative outfits while dangling out of a filthy convertible sports car for the campaign.

While on the shoot, Nanny Pat said that everyone in Essex has been very nice to her since starring on the show and said: ‘I think everyone loves the show.

Cluttered car: Sam Faiers, Jessica Wright and Nanny Pat pose for the Confused.com car insurance campaign photo shoot

Finishing touches: Sam sits in the make-up chair before the glamorous shoot


‘They always come up to me at the shops shouting ‘Nanny Pat, Nanny Pat, can I get a photo.’

And when asked how she’d define an ‘Essex girl’, she said: ‘Well, they like to dress all nice and take care of their appearance.

‘Do their hair up and make up and that. They are lovely girls. Jess and her friends are always looking lovely.’

And Lucy Mecklenburgh has tried to raise her profile with a racy lingerie shoot for lad’s magazine Zoo.

The 19-year-old former girlfriend of lothario Mark stripped down to smalls to pose in the provocative shoot.

While being photographed, she told the magazine she was shocked that 23-year-old Wright got together with her old school friend Sam Faiers, 20, so soon after their split.

Moonlighting: Lucy Mecklenburgh recently posed for Zoo magazine to expand her career, here she is seen taking place in a military style No. 1 Boot Camp


After splitting from Mecklenburgh and telling his other ex Lauren Goodger they couldn’t be together, Wright was seen kissing Faiers in a taxi during the Christmas special.

And after dumping Faiers in the first episode of the second series, Wright is now rumoured to be engaged to his long-term ex Goodger, 24.

Lucy told the publication: ‘I’m not stupid. We weren’t that serious and, to be honest, I wasn’t particularly shocked to see him hooking up with other women.

‘It’s what being Mark Wright is all about. Although the show does make you do things you wouldn’t normally do.’


Source:dailymail