The TOWIE cast touched down at Malaga Airport in sunny Spain on their way to Marbella on Wednesday.TOWIE favourites Joey Essex, Sam Faiers, Bobby Cole-Norris along with Lucy Mecklenburgh, Jessica Wright and co headed to the Spanish resort, nicknamed Marbs by the cast, to kickstart the ninth series of the reality show. The group – who have already named themselves the 'elite' of TOWIE – went straight into holiday mode when they landed in the Costa del Sol.
Loved-up couple Jessica and Ricky Rayment enjoyed a romantic embrace as they waited for a taxi. Jess showed off her already impressive golden suntan in a short white lace dress and flip flops while her boyfriend Ricky was ready for the Spanish sun, sporting a giant sombrero hat.
Sam and Joey – who got engaged on the last series of TOWIE in Dubai and threw a huge engagement party at Woolston Manor Country Club in Chigwell in April – also shared a tender kiss at the airport, looking relaxed and in love. Fans of the ITV2 reality show will remember last year's Marbs special, which included Mario Falcone popping the question to Lucy Mecklenburgh onboard a luxury yacht, champagne parties and a showdown between Gemma and James 'Arg' Argent.
It's all change this season, though, as Lucy and her boyfriend Mario Falcone have since gone through a public break-up- A short promotional film for The Only Way Is Marbs sets up the scene for the two-part special: "Lucy returns as a single girl, Mario is unleashed on the ladies, Arg and the boys unveil their buffed up beach bods and we get to the bottom of all the TOWIE rumours. "But the cast of the reality TV show seem oblivious of the camera crews and are ready to lap up the sun on the beach break in the exclusive hotspot. Jessica tweeted from the airport: 'Woohoo #towieelite @rickyrayment @bobbycnorris @missgemcollins @joeyessex_ @realjamesargent @samanthafaiers.'Arg added: 'TOWIE Elite team at the airport...VIP dinner Tonight!!! So excited...MARBELLA MARBELLA.'As the group settle into marvelous Marbs, we wonder what surprises the second part of the Marbella special holds for the crew. The Only Way Is Marbs will hit screens on 2 June.