Lauren Goodger on TOWIE drama: 'I’m the mother - the first day was a shock'

ok.co.uk:

Since leaving her full-time role on The Only Way is Essex in 2015 after five years on the show, Lauren Goodger has become a mother, and she's a "calmer, more humble" person today.The 37 year old has been back to filming with a couple of old faces including mum of four Amy Childs, and a host of newer, younger reality stars.

Speaking to OK! about her comeback, Lauren revealed she felt like the "mother" when she went back on the Essex set. "I wasn’t nervous because TOWIE’s sort of my home, but I’ve been in a mum bubble so the first day of filming was a complete shock,” she says. “It’s like driving a car though.

You might not do it for 10 years, but then you get back in the driver’s seat and pick it straight back up." In the decade that's passed since Lauren left TOWIE as a full-time cast member, she she says she's become a sort of Lauren’s become somewhat of a voice of reason for her younger castmates and even jokes she’s becoming the TOWIE mother. “I’m calm and humble now – I don’t think they expected that,” she says. “They’re seeing the softer, more maternal side to me now.

I’m not out partying, I haven’t had alcohol for over six months, but I’m still socialising. I’m like the big sister, a sort of mother of the show.” While TOWIE is known for its explosive storylines - with many an iconic moment between Gemma Collins and her ex James 'Arg' Argent, and the more recent fallout from Amber Turner and Dan Edgar's relationship breakdown - Lauren says show producers now really look after the cast's wellbeing.