Sam Faiers has managed to avoid the axe from The Only Way is Essex, by convincing her boyfriend TJ to join the show.

Insiders say bosses were on the brink of cutting the boutique owner from the fourth series of the ITV2 reality TV show, until; they realised that Sam and TJ could become the new Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger in the latest run.

It is reported that all cast members being considered for the axe, were told that they may be allowed to keep their place, if they brought another interesting character to producers.Next thing you know, Sam had come up with hunky TJ and the rest if history.

She told The Sun: “The producers really liked him, and it’s really just a matter of fitting him into the storyline. I’m excited about the new characters coming in to the show — it will brighten it up a bit.

“Even better my boyfriend may feature. He’ll have all the girls after him and I’ll get well jel!”

Maria Fowler and Harry Derbidge were sacked from The Only Way Is Essex last week. Fowler announced the news on Twitter, telling fans:

“I Would like to be the first to announce… After a rollercoaster year and after meeting with producers today we have decided that my time on TOWIE has come to an end (sic).

However there will be some new faces when the show returns for it’s fourth series and it has been reported that one of them will be Rochelle Wiseman’s best friend Georgina Dorsett.