One of the famous faces from The Only Way Is Essex is shunning the spotlight after revealing a surprising new career path after setting up a business in January
14:08, 04 Feb 2026Updated 14:08, 04 Feb 2026
A huge TOWIE star has decided to ditch fame after years in the spotlight(Image: Grab)
A huge TOWIE star has decided to ditch fame after years in the spotlight on the smash-hit show.
The ITV2 series made stars out of the likes of Gemma Collins and Mark Wright, who have carved out lucrative careers for themselves in showbiz land. However, one of the show’s famous faces has decided to leave the limelight and become a rubbish collector in a move which is world’s away from the bright lights of Brentwood.
Kirk Norcross shot to fame as one of the original cast members of TOWIE in 2011, but left the programme after two years. He went on to appear in Celebrity Big Brother and the 2015 series of MTV‘s Ex On The Beach but has kept a relatively low profile since.
Kirk Norcross shot to fame as one of the original cast members of TOWIE in 2011(Image: ITV)
He’s now a rubbish collector(Image: Instagram)
READ MORE: Jesy Nelson missed the birth of her ‘tiny’ twins – ‘Everything has been taken from me’READ MORE: Kim Kardashian’s cheeky nickname for Lewis Hamilton amid concern for his ‘mean streak’
Now, he has ditched fame completely and is working as a rubbish collector. Kirk is running the company, County Clear Waste, a same-day collection waste service based in both Norfolk and Suffolk.
The company appears to have been set up recently with its Instagram page active from early January. However, the account already has more than 1,500 followers.
It’s not the first business Kirk has set up since leaving TOWIE. He previously operated his his own jet-washing business, KN Jet Services in Essex, which was his first move into a normal job after the glitz and glamour of showbiz.
Kirk previously told The Sun that he was “happier” working normal roles and branded the former celebrity lifestyle as “toxic”.
The Only Way Is Essex stars have had varied fortunes since leaving the show(Image: ITV)
He said in 2020: “I realise working up a ladder clearing drains and jet-washing driveways isn’t as glamorous as being on the telly.
“But I wouldn’t swap things for the world. I am so glad. I am away from that life now. When I was on Towie I was known everywhere I went.
“I used to buy Ferarris, expensive watches and designer jeans — now I’m happy with a £20 pair from Topman. There is so much bulls*** going on when you live your life in the public eye. It can be toxic and you get surrounded by people who are fake and just hangers-on.”
Kirk says he’s much happier away from fame(Image: Instagram)
In 2024, he admitted he had ‘nothing left’ after a sex tape involving him was leaked online(Image: ITV)
In 2024, Kirk admitted he had “nothing left” after a sex tape involving him was leaked online. Images of the reality star and former Big Brother contestant naked in a compromising position hit the internet back in 2013. Recalling how he felt, he told podcaster Liam Tuffs: “I didn’t want to be around anymore.”
Kirk stressed that sharing naked photos with a partner is common in the modern age and continued: “Most of the people listening to this have probably sent or received a naked picture with someone they’re either dating texting seeing or flirting with. We’ve all done it. I’m just the only one that got caught.”
* Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.