A FORMER TOWIE star has signed up for a rival reality TV show eight years after quitting fame.
The cast of the MTV reality show are currently filming the 26th edition of the long-running party programme in Lisbon, Portugal with a number of stars from yesteryear making a comeback - including Gaz Beadle and Aaron Chalmers.
But there will be a new face among the cast after MTV execs brought on board the forgotten TV star.
The Sun can exclusively reveal that former TOWIE star and boyfriend of cast member Abbie Holborn, Jack Rigden is set to make his TV comeback on the show.
Jack will be jetting out to Lisbon in the coming days to film scenes for the ending of the current series.
He rose to fame on TOWIE back in 2017 but was dropped from the show in the same year and has remained largely out of the spotlight ever since.
But his newfound romance with Abbie has reignited interest and has propelled him to a TV return.
A source told The Sun: “MTV bosses were over the moon when Jack agreed to fly out to Lisbon.
"He will be filming for a few days alongside the cast for series 26 in Portugal.
"It has been eight years since he last appeared on TV but since his romance with Abbie has gotten serious, show execs are hoping to follow their love story on the show.
"Abbie is desperate to see Jack and with many of the cast having their partners already with them, she felt she was missing out with not having him by her side.
"It will be the first time Abbie has put a serious boyfriend on TV but it feels right.
“Plus, Jack will be in good company as his best pal Jordan Brook is already out there with Sophie Kasaei so he will feel right at home in the Geordie house."
The Sun has contacted MTV for comment.
Abbie and Jack connected thanks to their pals Sophie and Jordan - who have been dating for almost three years.
Having started off as friends, Abbie and Jack began romancing one another at the end of last year and went public in February of this year.
Abbie confirmed the romance to The Sun earlier this year when she lifted the lid on hers and Jack's connection.
She told us: "Things are going really good and I'm finally really happy.
"So we actually met, obviously, when Sophie [Kaseai] and Jordan [Brook] got together because he's Jordan's best friend. So we've actually known each other for about two years.
"We've just been friends. And then it kind of at the back end of last year, really just grew into something more.
"I think I really like the fact that we're friends first as well.
"He's always said he's had a bit of a soft spot for me and he would always compliment me, but I always just thought like, you know, he's just being nice."
The Geordies are currently out in Lisbon filming with show OG Gaz Beadle having returned to the show for the first time in eight years.
Aaron Chalmers has also made a comeback to the programme.
Fellow show stars Holly Hagan, Marnie Simpson, Chantelle Connelly, Chloe Ferry, Kyle Christie and Ricci Guarnaccio are also filming for the programme.
