[Mrluvaluva]

Brian Belo is sueing the makers of The Only Way is Essex over the show's concept.





The former Big Brother winner alleges that the ITV2 series has breached copyright, and that they have reproduced a format that was originally created by him, Sassy Films and Massive TV for a show called Totally Essex.

Belo has filed the claim with the High Court on behalf of himself and the two companies, reports the Financial Times.

He first talked about a possible lawsuit against ITV last April, claiming he lost earnings up to £100,000.

Totally Essex had a similar concept to The Only Way is Essex, and a trailer for the show even featured future TOWIE stars including Amy Childs and Mark Wright, but the full series was not commissioned.

ITV and Lime Pictures said in a joint statement: "The Only Way is Essex is an original concept created and developed by an award-winning team at Lime Pictures.

"Brian Belo's claim against Lime and ITV is totally without foundation and will be vigorously defended. The creative team at Lime Pictures is very proud of TOWIE and the notion that it was not entirely their own work is a serious allegation which is completely refuted."

Belo is hoping to claim £4 million compensation if his court case succeeds, and alleges that he was offered £2,500 for the show's idea, according to The Sun.

The reality star's writ reportedly demands that TOWIE be taken off the air until he gives permission for its broadcast.


TOTALLY ESSEX trailer:

Youtube video

DS

[Kizzy]

Gwan bri!!

[Jack_]

Do you know what? I actually hope he wins the case.

[Kate!]

Get in Brian....plagiarising bastards

[Tom4784]

I hope he destroys that wretched abortion of creativity.

[MTVN]

Brian

[Omah]

I always suspected that Belo had a brain .....

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I hope he destroys that wretched abortion of creativity.

He spawned it apparently......who knew eh?...haha

[Black Dagger]

Eurgh, he needs to crawl back into his hole.

Odious creature, one of the worst male winners ever

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by kizzy

He spawned it apparently......who knew eh?...haha

Well he can make it up to the world by sending it straight to the depths of Hades.

[Sam:)]

I Think He could win this. The fact that some of the cast featured in the pilot makes it his side of the story very believable

[arista]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Do you know what? I actually hope he wins the case.

He will not

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Omah

I always suspected that Belo had a brain .....

Yep, Omah. He can't play that dumb card after this can he.

I have no trouble believing that the concept for that pile of poo was Brian Belo's baby. It rings of the sort of thing he would be involved with. Trouble is this will bring more interest in the awful show

[Saph]

I just heard this on the radio oh Brian..

[Shaun]

this has got to be a record for the most morons in a public courtroom.

[Marsh.]

I don't know why anyone would own up to any association with that show, no matter how much you were paid.

But I've got to laugh at this whole thing, who created this "original" idea. lol
It's as old as the hills. America's been doing the faux-reality shows for years so far from a new concept. They both happened to be set in Essex and both got leeched on by the same wannabes.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Omah

I always suspected that Belo had a brain .....

What!


More His Agent and Lawyers

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Shaun

this has got to be a record for the most morons in a public courtroom.

[Mrluvaluva]

Brian Belo will reportedly launch a rival reality show to The Only Way Is Essex.

The Big Brother winner is developing fly-on-the-wall series Marbella Beach while locked in a legal battle over claims that he created TOWIE.

The show, which was pitched to producers last year and is allegedly being favoured by Channel 5, is described by a source as featuring "sun, sea and lots of sexy action with bikini babes and hunks in trunks".

Cast members tipped for Marbella Beach include Belo's former Big Brother co-star Amy Alexandra, ex-Miss Great Britain Rachael Tennant and a professional David Beckham lookalike, according to the Daily Star.

Belo sued ITV and TOWIE production company Lime Pictures last month, claiming that the popular programme is based on a format of his called Totally Essex, which starred the likes of Mark Wright, Amy Childs, Sam Faiers and Kirk Norcross.

The reality star is seeking £4m in compensation, though both ITV and Lime Pictures have said that Belo's claim is "totally without foundation and will be vigorously defended".


Link to article

[lostalex]

i believe him.

[iRyan]

Good for him, it so obvious they stole the entire concept - even right down to the bloody cast!

[Niall]

I must hope that it destroys the show. It's absolutely horrible.

[GiRTh]

I hope he wins.