ITV have issued an emotional statement paying tribute to The Only Way Is Essex star Mick Norcross.
Posting to their official ITVBe Instagram page, ITV said: “Everyone at TOWIE is shocked and deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Mick’s death.
“He was hugely popular with cast, crew and the audience alike.
“Charming, generous and host to many of Essex’s most glamorous events, Mick will be missed by us all. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.”
The businessman was the father of Kirk Norcross and owner of Essex nightclub the Sugar Hut.
Essex Police said in a statement: “We were called to an address in Brentwood Road, Bulphan shortly before 3.15pm on Thursday 21 January.
“Sadly, a man inside was pronounced dead. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
(Image: WireImage)
At 7.17am on Thursday 21, Mick took to Twitter to post a message of positivity telling his 500,000 followers: “At the end remind yourself that you did the best you could. And that is good enough.”
Mick shot to fame during the first few series of TOWIE, when his nightclub Sugar Hut was regularly featured.
The swanky venue was famous for wild parties and glamorous girls and often a focal point of TOWIE nights out.
But by 2013, Mick admitted he felt while the programme had raised the platform of the venue it was damaging the brand.
(Image: Getty Images)
Mick told The Sun: “My club is an upmarket venue where people come to drink champagne and feel spoiled.
“All these rows they keep filming don’t show the club in a good light and I’m worried it’s putting people off coming, which is the last thing I want.”
He continued to the publication: “Allowing the Sugar Hut Honeys to be called sl*gs is the final straw. I would never allow that to happen in my venue.
“I’ve had enough. I’m out.”
(Image: micknorcross/Instagram)
After he left TOWIE, Mick continued to be one of Essex’s most prominent businessmen.
Most recently, he had been working on developing a string of large homes around the county.
Speaking in 2018, Mick told Echo news: “I’m also building 19 large executive homes in Bulphan, the village where I live.
“And I’ve now just started another site with six executive homes as well. So, I’m building 25 homes in Bulphan, with a gross development value of circa 45million quid. So, it’s a big project.
“As well as, the Sugar Hut, and that’s a moving target at all times.”
Mick’s son Kirk was one of the original cast members on TOWIE when it started in 2010.
He left the show in 2012 before entering the Celebrity Big Brother house.
Last year he briefly returned to the show, only to quit shortly after.
Taking to Twitter at the time, Kirk said: “Just to let everyone know, I have walked away from TOWIE and will not be returning.
“The show had changed too much. I will let you know the details soon.”
He added: “The decision to leave #TOWIE was mine and there is reason behind my action which I’m not prepared to have manipulated in the media anymore.
“I’m not a character, this is my life & its the way certain situations over the last few weeks have been portrayed which left me with no choice.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
