James Argent High School in Woodford. Argent began acting and singing in 2002 after winning The Kenny Award at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford, east London. Argent dated Lydia Bright on and off from 2007 to 2012 and 2015 to 2016. In August 2014, Argent was reported missing from his home when he failed to show up for a scheduled flight; however, he was found just over 24 hours later and tweeted "Hi I'm so sorry to have worried everyone. I'm fine and safe but again can't apologise enough." In October 2014, Argent was suspended from "The Only Way Is Essex"
The Only Way Is Essex (series 16) it was announced that cast member Gemma Collins had quit the show having appeared since the second series, however she later returned for the Essexmas special. This was also the final series to feature original cast member Lauren Pope, who quit mid-way through the series, Jess Wright and Ferne McCann who both announced their departures from the show ahead of the seventeenth series. This was also the final series to include Patricia "Nanny Pat" Brooker following her death. A Christmas special of the show aired on 16 December 2015 which featured the brief return of former cast members Gemma Collins,