The Only Way Is Essex and The Sun have today announced a brand new partnership to co-produce a digital series to accompany the next series.

Hosted by TOWIE legend Bobby Norris, who today announces that he’s stepping back from the main show to focus on presenting, this brand new digital series will be available exclusively on The Sun Online. Each week Bobby and cast members will discuss new episodes of TOWIE after they air on ITVBe.

The spin-off episodes will see Bobby scoop all the insider gossip from the set of TOWIE and interview cast members each week to get reactions to the latest storylines unfolding in Essex.

Bobby Norris said: “It’s no secret that presenting is my passion but what has been a big secret is that I’m fronting this new show for The Sun readers and I’m so excited about it. This was an opportunity to be a professional gossip and something I couldn’t refuse! With some big changes on the next series of TOWIE happening, I’m also ready to embrace change this year.

“I decided that now felt like the right time to take a step back from being a regular cast member to focus on presenting. It’s going to be so much fun catching up with TOWIE cast on set and hanging out in the studio together. After 10 years of TOWIE the show and the fans have been such a huge part of my life, but you haven’t seen the last of me and this is the start of a new chapter! Stay tuned!”

The digital show ‘TOWIE: The Official After Party’ is a co-production between Towie’s Lime Pictures Digital and The Sun, with Lime Pictures producing BAFTA-winning Towie since 2010.

TOWIE, produced by Lime Pictures since 2010, is the BAFTA-winning ITVBe entertainment show that has graced TV screens with Essex sparkle for over 10 years since celebrating a decade on television last year.

TOWIE is set to return for its 29th series on ITVBe next month for an 11 episode run with episodes of the new digital series to follow each week.