TOWIE's Harry Derbidge issues 6-word statement on love split after he's dumped for best friend

The Only Way Is Essex star Harry Derbidge has opened about his heartache - after his finding out his ex hooked up with his best friend in the last series of the hit ITVBe show

TV star Harry Derbridge has never been one to hold back - and that's certainly still the case when it comes to talking about his recovery from the shock of Joe Blackman (his ex boyfriend) and Junaid Ahmed’s (his best friend) betrayal. In one of the most one explosive storylines TOWIE has ever seen, viewers witnessed Joe and Junaid hooking up in the last series of the ITVBe show. But it appears for the 30-year-old that the past is firmly in the past and as he tells OK!, he credits the huge public support he’s been shown for helping him through a "bad place." He said: "I am in such a better place. In Cyprus, when it all happened, I don’t even remember it… I was there but not there. I am so thankful I have come out the other side. Time is a healer."

Harry - who first appeared on TOWIE in 2010 - continued: "I will always be scarred by the situation and that scar will stay with me into my new relationships. But I am pleased two people have shown me who they really are. I thought I would still been in a bad place now, but I’m lucky I’ve been able to pull myself together." Now, not only is the TOWIE OG filming a 90-minute Christmas special, Harry has revealed that he’s connected with someone new but they’re based down under. However, the pair haven't even met yet. He explained: "I am seeing someone. It is early days. It is so early, we haven’t even met! He lives on the other side of the world, in Australia. I’m going for two weeks – to go on a first date!".

The star, who is cousins with fellow TOWIE alum, Amy Childs, has dubbed this time in his life as a "new chapter". He said: "I’ve never been. I’m dreading the flight, I’ve never been on one that long. The first part is eight hours and the second is 13. It is a new chapter. We have dates over FaceTime. He’s very handsome. I’m going to take my time. It’s the other side of the world, so it can’t be rushed!". As much as Harry is looking towards the future, filming for the Christmas special - alongside Joe and Junaid - has no doubt been a difficult time for him, as he confirmed he'll "never forgive" them.

Harry explained: "I have only seen them once so far this Christmas special. That’s going to change today. There’s a lot of stuff that happened. The last time we saw TOWIE everyone was on the phone, going, “They’ve broken up…” I look at them and think, “You ain’t real.” They can try and hurt me or rub it in my face but I just see them for what they are now. I will never forgive them, ever. And Joe’s apology was not a genuine apology. He apologised and two minutes later called me a liar. I ended up losing my head and I just walked off. I am proud of myself. The person you last saw on screen? I’ve changed a lot since then. Yesterday they had to walk in, but I just turned my back, smiled and carried on." Harry ended with a heartbreaking six-word statement: "They don’t hurt me any more."

The Only Way Is Essexmas airs Sunday 15 December at 9pm on ITVBe and ITVX