"She was always my best friend, my sister" as Bobby Norris reconnects with Gemma Collins
Bobby Norris, legendary reality star and former TOWIE favourite, is back in the headlines for all the right reasons. From cosmetic transformations in Turkey to patching things up with Gemma Collins after years of estrangement, his life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. So, what's behind the new Bobby — and has he really turned a page?
There’s never a dull moment with Bobby Norris. At 40, the original TOWIE trailblazer caught up with OK! Magazine at the buzzing This Is ICON event during London Fashion Week, full of energy and unfiltered honesty. After nearly a decade on the show (2012–2021), Bobby’s still captivating fans, this time candid about his recent cosmetic surgery and a much-talked-about reunion with Gemma Collins.
He isn’t shy about his choices. Following a recent trip to Turkey, Bobby underwent a face lift, neck lift, rhinoplasty and lower blepharoplasty. “I’m good as gold after the surgery. You know me, I’m an open book. I’m not one of those people that hide or lie, or makes out it’s all honey and oatmeal scrub from The Body Shop.” His recovery is ongoing, with Bobby sharing, “They say nine to 12 months to really see your true results, so I’m still very much in the healing phase.” Even as scrutiny rises, Bobby’s upfront: “Never say never, babe! I’m not going to say no, then have it bite me on the arse in six months time.” Surgery chat isn’t rare among his circle; he references Katie Price, who’s also in the spotlight for tweaks and a recent split from Lee Andrews, reminding people, “I’m a big believer in if there’s something you can do to improve yourself and make you happy and you’re doing it for you, then why not?”
Burying the hatchet after seven years apart
If you followed TOWIE, you know all about Bobby and Gemma’s unpredictable friendship. Their infamous seven-year fallout was headline fuel, with much of it linked to drama with ex-boyfriend Harry Derbidge. But what finally brought the two back in the same room was heartbreak — the passing of Gemma’s mum, Joan. Bobby’s words are heartfelt: “I loved Joan, I had a lot of time for her. It broke my heart when I found out. Gemma and I weren’t speaking at the time. We hadn’t seen each other for six or seven years, but it broke my heart to hear that.”
Bobby didn’t just reach out in private; he also posted a photo of himself, Gemma and Joan on Instagram. Reflecting on their reconnection, he shares, “It's so sad that we're back in touch now off the back of Joan passing – but what’s beautiful is that I went to the screening of Gemma’s documentary the other week. It was lovely to go and see her, for the first time in so many years.” The moment wasn’t right for a proper heart-to-heart, but Bobby’s feelings are clear: “It wasn’t the time to have a heart to heart, but I was there. It was like time had never passed. She was always my best friend, my sister.”
The present is full of change, too. Bobby’s starting a new podcast, Reality Royalty. Who better to host it than someone with his telly credentials? “I’m really excited about [Reality Royalty]. I should have a PhD in the subject – I live and breathe it. I’ve been in the business for 15 years now, so there isn’t much I don’t know about the industry and the genre.” Meanwhile, in his downtime, Bobby’s adopted a puppy: “I’m also in full-on daddy mode at the minute. I just got a little puppy called Mr Bentley, who's gorgeous. He’s the new man in my life!”
Unfiltered and still evolving
Critics? Bobby has a message: “Oh, my skin’s like a rhino. People feel that they can have a pop at me, and that’s fine. That’s the lovely thing about opinions.” He admits to battling with the pressure of fillers in the past. “I got to the point where, even when I had them dissolved, I’d lost the elasticity because my skin was all stretched out.” He jokes about his surgeon’s limits: “I didn’t think the surgeon was going to make me look 16 again – he isn’t a magician! I just wanted to correct my errors from my stupid phase of abusing fillers.”
Bobby Norris is owning his choices and mistakes. Embracing new projects, mending old friendships, and not afraid to poke fun at himself — he might just be showing us all how to keep it real, even when reality TV is in the rear-view mirror.
Sources used:
TOWIE's Bobby Norris reveals he and Gemma Collins have buried hatchet after seven-year 'feud'
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