A FORMER star of a hit reality TV show has appeared at a Hampshire shopping Mecca.

Kirk Norcross, once part of ITV sensation The Only Way is Essex, was at WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton to sign copies of his new book.

Fans queued for hours for a chance to meet the 25-year-old, who admitted he was in awe of the sheer size of the mall.

And he believes Southampton has what it takes to feature its own version of the show he once starred in, popularly known as "TOWIE".

He vowed to be back in Southampton to sample the shopping delights in the city.

News of his return will be welcomed by the scores of fans who queued to meet Kirk, who shot to fame after becoming one of the regular faces on ITV2’s TOWIE.

Some had woken up in the early hours of the morning to get to the front of the queue, some broke down in tears when they got the chance to hug him and one even gave him her number in the hope of a call.

None of them left disappointed, as the “reem” Essex boy spent time chatting to each and every one of them, posing for photos, giving them cuddles and high-fiving his youngest fan in Southampton, five-year-old Ellie Organ, from Millbrook.

Mega-fan Katie Araeipour-Tehrani, 18, a student from Itchen, ensured she was in poll position at the front of the queue, getting her mum Sandra up at 5am.

She said: “I had to work when (fellow stars of the show) Billie and Sam Faiers came to Southampton before so I was determined to come here today and meet Kirk.

“For the first time I was completely start struck. He was amazing, a really nice guy. It has been well worth the wait.

“He didn’t realise how big WestQuay was, I think he was just as excited.”

Kirk, who left the show for a second time in March this year, spent more than an hour greeting his fans and hopes that many will be inspired to follow their dreams after reading his book.

Asked what he thought of Southampton, he added: “I actually thought Southampton was going to be a little town but this mall is huge.

“It’s a little better than the Essex one so I am going to have to come back for a little shop.

“Looking here and meeting all the girls and boys I think it could be the next one, The Only Way Is Southampton, get on it.”