The Only Way Is Essex stars have been pictured palling up with their rival reality TV stars from Made In Chelsea rather a lot recently.

TOWIE's Lauren Goodger and Lauren Pope, in particular, have been spotted hanging out with their posher counterparts in nightclubs across central London. But now bosses of the Essex-based show have banned them from seeing their new friends, reports The Sun.

Furious producers are said to have texted the whole TOWIE cast, warning them about being pictured enjoying nights out with the Made In Chelsea cast.

Lydia Bright's mum Debbie told the paper: "We all had a text message saying we can't be in a picture with anyone from the other show.

"The Made in Chelsea lot are lovely, I've met them a few times, but we just can't."

The producers are said to have enforced the ban after rival show MIC poached one of their producers in a bid to boost ratings.

Made In Chelsea's Cheska Hull said: "It's such a shame really because the two casts all get on really well.

"Lauren Goodger and I have become friends and we used to have a really good laugh when we went out to a club in town.

"But now they're supposed to act like they don't know us. I think it's because one of their production team moved over to Made In Chelsea and they didn't like it."