'I like getting involved in drama'

TOWIE newbie Junaid Ahmed on his first weeks on the show and how he deals with life's hardships

- ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES

We’ve been hooked on the drama unfolding on TOWIE since the show returned to our screens for its 30th series earlier this month. But while cast newbie Junaid Ahmed has been busy making his mark during his first stint on the programme, he tells new that viewers have only seen a “taste” of what’s to come from him.

The former bank manager reveals there is “more to him than meets the eye”, confessing that he wants fans to see his “softer side” behind the drama.

“I’m new to the show. People are still kind of getting to know me. They’ll get to know me more as the show goes on. I think people think of me as an argumentative b***h, but I own it,” he laughs.

While the former Lovestruck High student, 27, admits he’s “living his best life” at the moment, things couldn’t have been more different for Junaid at the age of 18. The actor was kicked out of his family home when he came out as gay.

“A lot of things in life can either make you or break you,” he candidly tells us. “And that definitely made me the person I am today.”

Junaid – who is pals with Yazmin Oukhellou, 28, Ella Rae Wise, 22, and 24-year-old Dani Imbert – says it’s a dream come true to be a part of the TOWIE family after watching them grow on the show and being a fan of Essex royalty Gemma Collins, 41, and Joey Essex, 32.

“I loved her then and I love her today,” he says of The GC. “She was absolute TV gold.”

Here, Junaid talks to new about his first few weeks the show, his mission to help others and why he won’t be losing sleep over trolls…