| Season Number: | 17 |
| Bgcolour: |
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| Num Episodes: | 14 |
| Network: | ITVBe |
The seventeenth series of the British semi-reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex was confirmed on 3 June 2015 when it was announced that it had renewed for at least a further six series, taking it up to 21 series.[1] It is the second series to be included in its current contract. The series will launch on 28 February 2016.[2] Ahead of the series it was announced that cast member Jess Wright had quit the show having appeared since the first series in 2010.[3] Ferne McCann also confirmed that she would be taking a break from the show but would be back.[4] It will be the first series to include new cast members Chloe Meadows, Courtney Green,[5] and Chris and Jon Clark. Jon previously appeared on ITV2's Love Island.[6]
This series also featured the show's 200th episode.[7] On 9 March 2016, it was announced that former Ex on the Beach star and Celebrity Big Brother housemate Megan McKenna has joined the cast and would be making her debut during the 200th episode. However, Megan previously made a brief appearance on the first Essexmas special in 2010 where she originally auditioned for Jess Wright's new girl group.[8] On 13 March 2016, ahead of the show's milestone 200th episode, a special episode titled "The Power of TOWIE" aired hosted by Mark Wright, where cast past and present united to discuss the show's history.[9]
See also: List of The Only Way Is Essex episodes.
| Series no. | Episode no. | Title | Original air date | Duration | UK viewers |
|---|
| Episode | Date | Official ITVBe rating | ITVBe weekly rank[10] | ITVBe+1 viewers | Total ITVBe viewers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | 28 February 2016 | 951,000 | 1 | 33,000 | 982,000 | |
| Episode 2 | 2 March 2016 | 884,000 | 2 | 27,000 | 911,000 | |
| Episode 3 | 6 March 2016 | 1,075,000 | 1 | 32,000 | 1,107,000 | |
| Episode 4 | 9 March 2016 | 1,118,000 | 1 | 40,000 | 1,158,000 | |
| The Power of TOWIE | 13 March 2016 | 452,000 | 3 | 30,000 | 482,000 | |
| 13 March 2016 | 1,063,000 | 2 | 58,000 | 1,121,000 | ||
| Episode 6 | 16 March 2016 | 1,104,000 | 1 | 31,000 | 1,135,000 | |
| Episode 7 | 20 March 2016 | 1,064,000 | 2 | 51,000 | 1,115,000 | |
| Episode 8 | 23 March 2016 | 996,000 | 2 | 74,000 | 1,070,000 | |
| Episode 9 | 27 March 2016 | 1,019,000 | 1 | 76,000 | 1,095,000 | |
| Episode 10 | 30 March 2016 | 978,000 | 2 | 55,000 | 1,033,000 | |
| Episode 11 | 3 April 2016 | 1,143,000 | 1 | 99,000 | 1,242,000 | |
| Episode 12 | 6 April 2016 | 1,150,000 | 2 | 47,000 | 1,197,000 | |
| Episode 13 | 10 April 2016 | 1,199,000 | 1 | 62,000 | 1,261,000 | |
| Episode 14 | 13 April 2016 | 1,232,000 | 1 | 60,000 | 1,292,000 | |
| Series average | 1,070,000 | 1 | 53,000 | 1,123,000 | ||