In an exclusive interview, Ella Rae Wise has opened up about the challenges of filming The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) following her split from co-star Dan Edgar. The 25-year-old reality star admitted that dealing with a public breakup while cameras roll has been intensely difficult.
Heartbreak on Camera
"Obviously I've had situationships on the show, where it's only ever been talking terms with someone," Wise reflected. "It's been nothing more than a couple of messages and a date every now and then. Whereas with me and Dan… we were actually in a full-blown relationship." She added, "It has never been as intense as it was to have a proper ex-boyfriend on a TV show that you work on. It's very hard, you literally can't get away from each other."
In the second episode of TOWIE's 37th series, Ella and Dan discussed their post-relationship friendship, concluding that its flirty nature wasn't "respectful" to his new girlfriend Chloe Lewis.
Single and Content
While Dan has moved on, Ella remains a "single pringle" and is happy with that. "I'm quite happy and content," she said. "It's time for me to take time out for what I want, focus on myself and whatever comes along is a bonus. They say good things come to those who wait, so I'm waiting."
However, she wouldn't say no to finding love on Love Island. "I would absolutely love to do Love Island!" she exclaimed. "I'm 25 now. I know I'm still young to be worried about love, but I've obviously not found my forever. So, I look at people that have gone on there and there's some people that find their forever and they continue to have babies, get engaged and stay together."
Strictly Dreams and Pete Wicks
Ella also expressed a desire to take part in Strictly Come Dancing, following in the footsteps of former co-star Pete Wicks. "I'd like to tick Strictly off my bucket list because my nan absolutely loves it. She'd die to see me there, so I'd love to dedicate it to her really. She loved seeing Pete on it." According to Ella, her grandmother's only comment on Pete's iconic cha-cha in pink PVC trousers was, "Oh God, doesn't he look good?"
Despite her grandmother's admiration, Ella doesn't speak to Pete. "There's no bad blood, but I don't speak to him," she said. "If I was to see him out, obviously we'd say hello. We're friends. I hope he's all well and good. And from what I can see, he's smashing it."
Coping with Public Scrutiny
Ella admits that negative public comments can be upsetting. "There are a lot of words I could use to describe what it's like when the public comments nasty things about you! It's upsetting. It can make you angry because people don't actually know you. They think they do, but they don't." She emphasized that she has a private life away from the show. "I have a whole different life separate from TOWIE. I have a very private life that I keep away from the public eye, with friends outside of the TV industry. I keep things to myself."
To lift her spirits, Ella turns to shopping and family. "If I wake up one morning and I feel a little bit down in the dumps, I just take myself shopping!" She has developed a thick skin over eight years on TOWIE, but acknowledges, "I think it's something that I'm used to, which is quite sad, in a way."
Despite the challenges, she loves her job. "I look back and I've done so much in the space of eight years in the industry. Everything has sort of fallen into place at the right time. And I've enjoyed every moment of it. I hope it continues!"
The Only Way Is Essex airs on ITV2 at 9pm on Sundays and Mondays.
