For more than a decade, James Lock was one of the most recognisable faces on The Only Way Is Essex. To millions of viewers, he became “Locky”, a character associated with relationships, arguments, nights out and some of TOWIE’s most memorable storylines.
But what happens when reality television stops being your entire life?
Speaking to Terry Stone on The Terry Stone Connection, James opens up about the reality behind reality TV, the difficult period that followed his departure from TOWIE and why approaching 40 has completely changed his priorities.
From launching businesses and pursuing acting to discussing mental health, relationships and the importance of discipline, the conversation reveals a very different side to James Lock.
The Real James Lock Behind the TOWIE Character
James joined TOWIE after being spotted while enjoying the Essex social scene, rather than actively auditioning for fame. What followed was around a decade as one of the programme’s most prominent personalities.
One of the biggest misconceptions, he explains, is how much viewers believe what they see represents normal life.
TOWIE might be based around real people, relationships and events, but James describes it as “scripted reality”. Situations can be deliberately created to produce entertaining television, while cast members are encouraged to confront conversations or situations they might simply avoid in everyday life.
That creates an unusual relationship between the person and the character.
James really is Locky, but the version audiences see on television can be amplified. Arguments become bigger, relationships become storylines and viewers form opinions about somebody based on a carefully edited selection of their life.
For James, learning not to take that portrayal too seriously became essential.
What Reality TV Fame Really Feels Like
James experienced TOWIE during what he describes as its golden era.
As his role increased, he and fellow cast members such as Pete Wicks became central figures in the programme. The cast travelled internationally, filmed in destinations including Marbella and enjoyed opportunities that would have been difficult to imagine before the show.
But there was another side to that fame.
Relationships became public entertainment. People approached James believing they knew intimate details about his life. Arguments, breakups and mistakes were discussed by strangers, while the line between James Lock and the television personality became increasingly difficult to separate.
After years of living inside that bubble, James eventually felt he had outgrown it.
Life After Leaving TOWIE
Walking away from something that had defined his adult life was not straightforward.
James speaks candidly about hitting a low after leaving TOWIE. After spending around ten years as one of the programme’s main characters, suddenly stepping outside that environment created a huge adjustment.
He eventually travelled to Dubai and began focusing more seriously on himself, his fitness and his future.
It also changed the way he thought about success.
James admits that during his early years of fame, he became caught up in the lifestyle. Money was spent quickly, the attention went to his head and opportunities were not always used as wisely as they could have been.
Now, his ambition is less about appearing successful and more about building something that lasts.
James Lock Turns His Attention to Business
Two projects now sit at the heart of that ambition.
The first is his tequila brand, which James describes as a potential legacy business. Rather than simply becoming a celebrity ambassador for another company, he wanted ownership of something he could develop himself.
The same thinking led to Locky’s Fitness.
After years of being approached by fitness companies for promotional work, James questioned why he was helping other businesses grow instead of creating his own.
Locky’s Fitness focuses initially on accessible home training equipment, including adjustable weights, mats and other products designed to make exercise possible without relying entirely on a traditional gym.
For James, this transition represents something bigger than another celebrity product launch.
It is about ownership, longevity and building businesses that could continue growing long after his reality television career.
Discipline Has Become the Biggest Change
A recurring theme throughout James Lock’s interview is discipline.
Growing up, sport came naturally to him. He participated in everything from football and rugby to swimming, but looking back, he believes he lacked the consistency required to take any of those opportunities further.
It is only during the past few years that he feels that mindset has changed.
James now applies discipline to his fitness, diet and businesses, while still believing that life should include balance.
Rather than promoting an extreme lifestyle, he talks about maintaining healthier habits most of the time while still allowing room for socialising and enjoying life.
His wider point is simple: consistency usually matters more than short bursts of motivation.
Opening Up About Mental Health
Perhaps the most revealing section of the conversation comes when James discusses mental health.
Despite appearing confident publicly, he admits that there have been periods where the reality behind the scenes looked very different.
After leaving TOWIE, only the people closest to him could see how much he was struggling. His father, family and close friends became particularly important during that period.
That experience has also changed how he views other people.
Someone appearing happy, successful or confident does not necessarily reveal what is happening privately. James argues that people, particularly men, need to become more comfortable talking when things are going wrong.
Whether that conversation is with family, friends or a professional, the important thing is avoiding isolation and recognising when support is needed.
From Reality TV to Acting
Business is not James Lock’s only ambition.
Acting has been an interest since childhood, long before TOWIE made him famous. Rather than assuming reality television automatically qualifies him for acting roles, James says he has taken classes and worked on developing the craft.
He also reveals that he is preparing to work on a film project.
It represents another stage in his attempt to move beyond the label of simply being “the bloke from TOWIE”.
Reality television may always be part of his story, and James says he would consider returning for the right programme, but another dating show is unlikely to tempt him. A challenge-based programme would be far more appealing.
James Lock on Turning 40 and the Next Chapter
As James approaches 40, the biggest shift appears to be his understanding of what he actually wants.
For years, the Locky audiences watched was built around nightlife, relationships and drama. Today, James says he is more interested in building businesses, developing his acting career, supporting his family and becoming someone he can personally be proud of.
He is also refreshingly open about not having everything figured out.
There are still behaviours he wants to change, relationships he has learned from and mistakes he is trying not to repeat.
But that is perhaps the central message of the entire conversation.
James Lock does not see failure as the end of something. He sees it as part of the process.
His advice is to pursue what genuinely matters to you, accept that setbacks will happen and stop allowing other people’s opinions to determine the direction of your life.
After more than a decade of viewers watching Locky on television, James Lock finally seems focused on writing the next chapter himself.
