The fifth season was originally set to begin production in November 2006 and air in March 2007 , but has been put on temporary hold, as Nicole has had to enter a health care facility for her ongoing weight issues.



In a joint statement, 20th Century Fox and Bunim/Murray said: "Everyone supports Nicole and wishes her well. We consider her a part of our family and look forward to resuming production on The Simple Life when she is ready."

Meanwhile, E! added: "Nicole is an important member of the E! Networks family. We send her our very best wishes and look forward to working with her on the new season of The Simple Life."

In an interview with Australian Cosmopolitan magazine in January, 2007, Paris confirmed The Simple Life will resume shooting in March, 2007, in Malibu, California. The tentative title for the season being Malibu: Camp Simple Life, she explained how she and Nicole will be counsellors for multiple camps, including, but not restricted to, a beauty pageant camp, a fat camp and a couples camp.

The Simple Life Goes to Camp, season 5 of the show, will find Paris and Nicole at work again, this time as camp counselors. Five different groups will get their attentions: the Wellness Camp, Couples Camp, Survival Camp, Drama Camp, and Pageant Camp. Various experts will guide the girls as they go to camp to live and work alongside campers, where they are supposed to adhere to the same schedule set forth by the camp itself. Since this schedule no doubt requires Paris (26) and Nicole (25) to wake up before noon, good TV will no doubt ensue - both women are notoriously lazy, a trifle self-centered, and don't seem to worry about rule-breaking. (...All the makings for a pair of great camp counselors). During the final episode of season 4's Simple Life: 'Til Death Do Us Part, Paris Hilton actually hired a lookalike to take her place on set because she didn't ?feel? like going to the last day of shooting. The lookalike ran into Nicole Richie, the jig was up, and a bitter confrontation between the two feuding friends was cut off by E! with the lingering promise ?to be continued...next season.?

Fans are still waiting. Could that final scene finally be shown during The Simple Life Goes to Camp premiere? The episode is scheduled to run on Memorial Day (when most campers come home), Monday, May 28 2007. After this premiere, the show will air on its regular Sunday night schedule. The fifth season of the reality show has been in the works for many months, even before a concept was decided upon. E! execs knew they were going to renew the show for season 5 even before 'TIl Death Do Us Part was finished airing last year.