Joey Essex says Rita Ora’s ‘just a friend’ after being snapped leaving her house
HE was pictured sneaking out of Rita Ora's house earlier this week following a boozy night on the town.
But despite looking pleased with himself as he crept out of the singer’s posh Holland Park pad in West London, Joey Essex insists they were not doing the horizontal tango.
Speaking about their unlikely dalliance for the first time, he said: “We have known each other for years.
“She’s a nice girl, but we’re just friends.
"She's a sort.”
Joey — who split from model girlfriend Lorena Medina last month — features in the new series of MTV show Ex On The Beach.
And he says that’s the only reality show he will be doing for now, because he has still not signed up for the ten-year special of The Only Way Is Essex.
Talking at the TRIC awards at London’s Grosvenor House, he said: “I can’t think how it would work.
“Realistically there is only one person who would make the show’s ratings go up and that’s Joey ‘Don’ Essex.”
One star definitely on board is Amy Childs, who I revealed yesterday would return for the ITVBe special. She said: “I would 100 per cent go back. TOWIE made me and it made a lot of us.
“The show changed all our lives. I know a few of the original cast are up for it. I don’t see why any of them would turn it down.”
It might be they’re too busy sneaking into pop stars’ houses in the early hours to get up early for filming.
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John has an eye on ice role
JOHN Barrowman's next big gig will seem him join the cast of BBC1 drama Holby City, but the star has admitted he wouldn’t mind going back to be a judge on Dancing On Ice.
His first “fabulous” stint on the panel came to an end on Sunday when Joe Swash triumphed on the ITV skating contest.
John shared the judging role with Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo, and his camp shenannigans and firm-but-fair verdicts proved a hit with viewers.
But John, who also briefly reprised his role as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who, thinks DOI bosses will warm to the idea of hiring him next year.
Speaking at the awards, he said: “I think they’d be silly not to have me.”
As meek as ever.
Piers in touching message
HE’S usually a stickler for tradition, but fears of catching coronavirus prompted Piers Morgan to dispense with handshakes at yesterday’s awards.
The Good Morning Britain host didn’t seem to mind being antisocial, and didn’t think anyone else would care.
He said: “People don’t want to touch me anyway so it’s fine.”
Motormouth Piers also revealed his better half, writer Celia Walden, was taking precautions to prevent being affected by the disease – although he was characteristically dismissive.
He said: “My wife bought four masks yesterday on Amazon, which is a complete waste of time because they don’t do anything, but they make her feel better.”
She might benefit from earplugs too.
bizbit
HE was pining for new acting roles after winning Strictly, but Kelvin Fletcher now seems happy to return to his telly roots.
At the TRICs, the former Emmerdale star said: “I’d love to go back to a soap. Coronation Street would be great.”
Babs big on past
SCREEN legend Barbara Windsor is still cracking Carry On jokes and singing songs despite her battle with Alzheimer’s.
Her pal Christopher Biggins said: “I had lunch with Barbara yesterday and she recognised me.
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"She can still remember her Carry On lines and was singing to me. We laugh and tell stories.
“She’s fantastic on the past but on the current, she’s not so good.”
Chris said of his own future: “Learning lines is harder as you get older. I’d rather do the unscripted stuff.”
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