The twenty-third series of the British reality television programme The Only Way Is Essex began airing on 2 September 2018 with an Italian special as the cast flew off to Sardinia.
Ahead of the series, it was announced that James Argent would be taking a break from the show after recently returning to rehab; however, he never returned to the series. New cast members for this series included Saffron Lempriere, a friend of Gemma Collins', and Sam Mucklow, who is the brother of former cast member Billi Mucklow. Former Love Island contestant Kady McDermott also made her debut during this series, as well as Demi Sims, the sister of Chloe Sims.
<onlyinclude></onlyinclude>
For the first time, catch-up service totals were added to the official ratings.