TOWIE’s new leading man

Ricky Rayment will be TOWIE’s leading man…

but he’s no Mark Wright

He’s tall, dark and handsome with a pearly white smile and a deep Essex drawl – sound familiar?

Ricky Rayment is hoping to fill Mark Wright’s shoes as the leading man in town during the new season of The Only Way Is Essex.

But producers say he’s nothing like the lothario.

The 21-year-old joins 12 newcomers in series four of the reality show, which starts on Sunday.

The first batch were used in a teaser television advert last night to promote the ITV2 show.

TOWIE bosses have described Ricky – known as The Captain by his mates – as ‘a pretty boy who is a real Essex cheeky chappy with a great smile’.

They add that he’s ‘confident but not cocky, loves a flirt and always friendly with everyone’.

Ricky is currently dating a girl he’s just met, but there may be hope for single ladies, as the relationship is described as ‘nothing serious….as yet’.

Although his Facebook status confirms he is in a relationship with a girl named Jade Hart from Woodbrige, Suffolk.

Joining Ricky is Joey Essex’ best friend James Bennewith.

The pair have been friends for eight years and are apparently like the cast of The Inbetweeners when they get together.

James is described as ‘a true joker and is always getting in trouble’.

Bosses added: ‘He’s been Joey’s wing man and best friend since they were 13 years old.

‘Reem is the tip of the iceberg with these two, they have their own language nobody understands!’