Gemma Collins claims it's "normal" for Essex boys to threaten to kill their girlfriends.

Gemma Collins

Gemma Collins

The 'Only Way Is Essex' star has jumped to the defence of Dan Osborne after he was sacked from the ITVBe show earlier this year when recordings emerged of him threatening to stab his ex-girlfriend Megan Tomlin if she slept with another man, despite them no longer being together.

Gemma said: "Dan is one of the loveliest guys I've met. People say things in temper. If you live in Essex that's what all the boys say to their girlfriends.

"Death threats, yeah, that's Essex boys for you. I have had boyfriends say to me if I ever leave them they will kill me. In Essex, it's a normal thing."

"Affairs of the heart are the most stressful things ever and I believe when he was saying those things he was very much in love with Megan."

The 34-year-old reality TV star also appeared to hint that Megan - who has 18-month-old son Teddy with Dan - was partly to blame for his behaviour.

She told The Sun newspaper: "There are two sides to every story but nobody is perfect.

"You shouldn't threaten to kill your baby's mum but I do believe he had a lot of love for her and was never going to kill her."

Gemma even added that she thinks Dan - who is now dating the mother of his four-month-old daughter Ella, 'EastEnders' actress Jacqueline Jossa - should be allowed back on 'TOWIE'.

The blonde beauty said: "I think he deserves to make a comeback to the show."