TOWIE pays tribute to ‘charming and generous’ Mick Norcross after he was found dead at 57 

The Only Way Is Essex has paid tribute to former star Mick Norcross after he was found dead at the age of 57.

In a statement posted to Instagram on Friday, the ITVBe show said the ‘charming and generous’ Sugar Hut owner, who starred on the show from 2011 to 2013, was ‘hugely popular’ with the show’s cast and crew and would be ‘missed by all.’

They said: ‘Everyone at TOWIE is shocked and deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Mick’s death. He was hugely popular with cast, crew and the audience alike.’

‘Charming, generous and host to many of Essex’s most glamorous events, Mick will be missed by us all. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.’

In the past 24 hours dozens of former TOWIE stars have paid tribute to Mick after he was found dead by emergency services at his home in Essex, just hours after posting a haunting final tweet.  

The reality star had appeared beaming alongside his son Kirk in a final image taken just three weeks before his death.

Mick was seen ‘looking pale’ and ‘didn’t look too well’ at around 8:30am yesterday – just hours before his death, neighbours told MailOnline.

Essex Police have not confirmed the cause of Mick’s death, or if it was suicide, but said it was not being treated as suspicious. 

Mick had sold the Sugar Hut nightclub in 2019 and concentrated on his property businesses. Before his death he was developing the famous Grand Hotel in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend into 18 luxury flats, which remains unfinished.

He was also building five luxury houses in Bulphan, called the Bonham Grange Estate, where the asking price for a five-bedroom property is £1.75million. But some of the properties have been on the market since November 2019 and remain unsold. 

Mick lived in a mansion in the same village, which he designed and built himself. He also had an antiques shop in nearby Brentwood.

But sources close to the late building developer told MailOnline Mick was set to make £5million on the Bonham Grange project but due to drainage issues and the financial cost of repairing damage, his payout was expected to be slashed to £3.5million. 

It is believed the financial loss was the latest in a long line of money issues Mick had suffered over the past two years, made worse by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Gemma Collins, 39, led the tributes to Mick on Thursday as she penned on Instagram alongside a photo of them: ‘ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN. Absolutely shocked and saddened by the news. My thoughts and prayers are going out to Kirk family and friends absolutely tragic.

‘The memories of the early days the sugar hut and the wonderful filming parties you put on will never be forgotten. You never know what someone is going through you was one of the good guys.’ 

James Argent, 33, who was an original TOWIE cast member when the show launched in 2010- a year before Mick joined- wrote: ‘A true gentleman & a very kind man! RIP Mick. Many amazing memories, So Sad! My thoughts are with his family.’ 

Mark Wright wrote: ‘RIP Mick N. You were a great man, an inspiration to many, always so polite and welcoming. Such a gent. We lost a good one.

‘Let this be ANOTHER reason to check in on people and ask if they are ok. It’s imperative we talk.

‘Love to Kirk and the rest of the family Broken hearts such sad news. 

Lauren Goodger, 36, shared three broken heart emojis while Jess Wright, 35, said: ‘Terribly, terribly sad. Always such a gentleman and so kind. Devastated for him and his family.’ 

Mario Falcone, who starred on the show between 2011 to 2018 posted a broken heart emoji, as did Elliott Wright, 41, who appeared on TOWIE between 2010 and 2017. 

Mario, 32, later tweeted: ‘RIP my friend. You were the perfect gentlemen and I am thankful I got the privilege of having you in my life’.  

Jamie Reed, who had a brief stint on the reality series as Amber Turner’s boyfriend, chimed: ‘Very sad. RIP’.  

Whilst Bobby Norris, 34, penned: ‘Just a reminder in case your mind is playing tricks on you today.

‘You matter. You’re important. You’re loved. And your presence on this earth makes a difference whether you see it or not.’ 

Ex On The Beach star Jess Impiazzi, 31,typed: ‘Please don’t ever feel like no one is there or wants to listen, you matter! You’re loved! And the world is better with you in it. There is always light at the end of the tunnel! I promise.’ 

Love Island’s Cara De La Hoyde, 26, and former Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, 38, also posted broken heart emojis. 

Mick’s death was confirmed by Essex Police. A spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We were called to an address in Bulphan shortly before 3.15pm on Thursday 21 January. Sadly, a man inside was pronounced dead.

‘His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.’  

Mick made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show’s second season. His son Kirk, 32, was part of the original cast when the show began a year prior. 

Mick quit The Only Way Is Essex in 2013, after being left furious the nightclub was being used a battleground on the show.  

Sugar Hut became known for its high-publicised feuds on the show with huge rows between central characters such as Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger, as well as former on-off couple Chloe Sims and Mark’s cousin Elliott. 

He told The Sun at the time of his departure: ‘My club is an upmarket venue where people come to drink champagne and feel spoiled.

‘All these rows they keep filming don’t show the club in a good light and I’m worried it’s putting people off coming, which is the last thing I want.’