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Sophie Kasaei has confirmed she’s stepping back from filming The Only Way is Essex, but fans of the ITV2 series needn’t panic, as it’s only temporary.
The Geordie Shore icon, who joined TOWIE in early 2023 alongside her boyfriend Jordan Brook, filmed what she called “the final scenes” of the current series last night. Her emotional social media post sparked concern from followers, who feared she may be leaving the Essex reality hit for good.
However, Sophie has since reassured fans that she’s not quitting the show, and fully intends to return after the show’s break in filming.
“I’m just taking a little step back from the chaos,” Sophie said. “I’ve got something really important coming up and I need to give it my full attention.”
That “something important” is a deeply personal journey: fertility treatment. Sophie revealed she’ll be travelling to Athens, Greece to begin the next phase of her fertility plans, calling it a “new chapter” in her life.
“It’s something I’ve thought long and hard about,” she told followers. “And it’s time to put myself first for a bit.”
The break from TOWIE filming comes just months after she officially left Geordie Shore, the MTV series that made her a household name in the early 2010s. In May, it was announced that Sophie had bowed out of the show permanently, a major decision that left fans wondering if TOWIE might go the same way.
Thankfully, that’s not the cas, and Sophie is still part of the Essex family.
Sophie is using her break from filming to travel to Athens for fertility treatment -Credit: instagram/@jordanbrook11
A special year for TOWIE
Sophie’s break coincides with a big moment for the TOWIE cast and crew. The show is gearing up to celebrate its 15th anniversary, and filming for the new series will kick off with a cast getaway to Portugal, a familiar and glamorous destination for the show’s trademark summer drama.
While it’s not yet clear whether Sophie will be joining the cast abroad, her return to the series later in the year has been all but confirmed.
ITV2 insiders say the door remains wide open for Kasaei, and that producers are “fully supportive” of her decision to prioritise her health and future.
“Sophie has been a brilliant addition to the cast,” said a source close to the show. “Everyone’s rooting for her and can’t wait to have her back.”
