The Only Way is Essex told to up game

\'The Only Way is Essex\' stars have been told to "up their game" for the new series.

Georgia Kousoulou - who has been on the programme since 2014 - has promised that the forthcoming instalment of the ITVBe show will be a "really good one" because bosses have got rid of some of the dry cast members, brought in some fresh faces and told the originals that they\'re revamping the schedule to make it more enjoyable.

Speaking to The Sun Online, the 26-year-old beauty said: "I think this series is going to be a really good one. We\'ve got new people on board, new bosses and they\'ve got really high hopes, the schedule\'s changed. Basically TOWIE\'s getting a revamp.

Georgia Kousoulou blasts TOWIE stars for snubbing reunion series

"I would say it is (more competitive). I think now we need to up our game. We need to make \'TOWIE\' what it was, and the whole cast is willing to do that now. I\'m excited."

And the schedule changes have worked out perfectly for Georgia and her boyfriend Tommy Mallet because he\'s able to film and still focus on his blossoming shoe brand.

She explained: "If you\'d have asked me last year I\'d have said it\'s hard to balance it, but the schedule\'s changed I think it\'ll be so much easier for him. We\'ve got set days off filming now which we\'ve never had before so we can plan our lives now."

ITV suspends filming The Only Way Is Essex

However, the blonde beauty is no doubt devastated because her best friend Amber Dowding has been given the axe alongside her boyfriend Chris Clark.

The 24-year-old star said recently: "We had a meeting and it was a mutual feeling that it was time to move on. I\'ve got nothing but respect for the cast and crew.

"Chris and I are in a really good place. We all come to a time in our lives when you\'re looking for what is coming next. I\'ll miss the people on the show, I have genuine friends on \'TOWIE\'. Like Tommy and Georgia - they\'re my genuine friends. I\'ll miss seeing them on screen but I see them all the time anyway. In fact, there\'s nothing I won\'t NOT miss, but I\'m looking forward to what\'s coming next."