Life on Marbs? Marbella-based TOWIE spin-off rumoured

TOWIE loves Marbella, but can Marbella match TOWIE by going it alone?

The Sun newspaper has reported that the producers of smash scripted reality TV show The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) are planning a Marbella-based spin-off of the franchise…

Given the working title Life on Marbs, the proposed show would feature a whole new cast of stars, drawn from those who currently live glamorous lives in the region. The premise of the show would be similar to TOWIE, but with the sun-dappled Mediterannean as the backdrop, rather than small town Essex.

Fans of TOWIE are expected to flock to such a show, believe producers, particularly if the rumours are true that many of TOWIE’s famous faces from past and present are booked to appear over the course of season one.

“The show will follow the glamorous lives of some of Marbella’s most fabulous residents,” said The Sun, adding: “The series will reveal what life is really like in Marbella.”

Set for broadcast on ITVBe, the show’s producers hope to build on the incredible popularity of TOWIE’s annual The Only Way is Marbella specials.

“Viewers of Life on Marbs may also get to glimpse some of their ITVBe favourites soaking up the sun and maybe making cameo appearances,” suggested The Sun.

Whether the rumours are true or not, a permanent Marbella-based scripted reality TV show would appear to make perfect sense, and could work as a crossover between the glitz of TOWIE and the high-end allure of Made in Chelsea.

TV execs have dabbled with Marbella’s rising fame in recent years, most notably with the shortlived series Marbella Belles – which ran for just one season in 2007 – and the resort was also featured regularly in Gangster Wives, a documentary that lifted the lid on why some British women are drawn to the gangster lifestyles of London’s criminal underworld.