LIVING THE D-REEM
Who is Love Island and TOWIE star Joey Essex? Meet the dating show’s first celebrity bombshell to go into the villa
REALITY superstar Joey Essex caused shockwaves when he entered the Love Island villa to become the show's first celebrity bombshell.
Find out more about the TV personality who first hit our screens in The Only Way Is Essex and is now hoping to find love.
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Who is Joey Essex?
TV personality Joey Essex was born on July 29, 1990, in London, England.
He went to West Hatch High School in Chigwell, Essex.
His mother Tina, who took her own life when he was ten years old, had been an ambassador for Child Bereavement UK since 2014.
He talked about her suicide and his grief in the BBC Three documentary Joey Essex: Grief and Me, which was shown in June 2021.
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Joey first appeared on Towie as a supporting cast member in series two, alongside his cousin Chloe Sims.
It wasn't long before he was promoted to the main cast in series three, alongside his sister Frankie who joined the supporting cast.
When was Joey Essex on The Only Way is Essex?
Joey Essex first appeared in The Only Way Is Essex in the second series of the show in 2011.
He was soon appearing on a range of other top shows.
After stints on All-Star Family Fortunes, The Big Quiz and Celebrity Juice, Joey competed in the first series of Splash! in 2013.
He was eliminated during the "splash-off" in the second heat, losing to telly presenter .
Later that year he announced his departure from Towie, and appeared on the 13th series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
He was voted out of the jungle after 20 days, finishing fourth.
In 2014, he starred in a documentary called Educating Joey Essex, which was filmed in South Africa.
Originally planned as a one-off, it was then turned into a series.
The following year, Joey won the second series of Channel 4's The Jump.
In 2016 he appeared on E4 dating show Celebs Go Dating and went on to return for a second series.
In 2020 Joey appeared on the second series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, as well as MTV's Celebrity Ex on the Beach.
In 2022, it was announced Joey was set join 11 other celebrity contestants appearing on Dancing On Ice for the 2023 series.
You’re close and you are touching each other’s legs . . . and everywhere else. You are very intimate and it can happen. Honestly I don’t know how people do this show when they’re married — it would be a disaster."
Joey Essex on his Dancing on Ice experience
He came second alongside his pro-skater Vanessa Bauer - who he dated for a number of months afterwards.
Is Joey Essex married and does he have any children?
Essex is not married and does not have any children.
He was previously engaged to fellow Towie cast member Sam Faiers, but the pair later split.
They reconciled later in 2012.
He then proposed to Faiers again in March 2013, but the couple split once more on-screen in June 2013 following several arguments between the pair.
In October 2014 they announced they had split up "for good".
Who has Joey Essex dated?
Joey says he entered the Love Island villa because he was desperate to find love after a string of failed relationships.
What will Joey Essex bring to Love Island?
By Beth Allcock, Showbiz and TV reporter
JOEY Essex left Love Island fans gobsmacked after his arrival in the Love Island villa - but what can we expect from the sizzling bombshell?
The former TOWIE star is Love Island's first-ever celebrity contestant and has certainly brought the drama in the first episode.
Yet the reality TV stalwart, 33, who has featured on everything from Dancing On Ice to Celebs Go Dating, also showcased a hot new look.
He strolled into the villa with his fresh close-cut hairstyle and ripped abs on full display as he declared himself the 'King of Essex' - and it's this cheeky chap attitude fans can certainly expect in the Mallorca villa.
Joey's likely to be at the heart of the action in the villa, with his wicked sense of humour and Essex charm bound to shake up the partnerships of his co-stars.
His pal and former Love Island All Stars contestant Georgia Harrison, 29, confirms he'll liven up proceedings, admitting he'll be "so jokes."
Yet he's no stranger to juggling the attention of a slew of stunning females - so he'll likely fit right in to Love Island life.
On Celebs Go Dating in 2021 Joey threw the series into chaos as he dating two women at the same time.
He previously exclusively told us he's "really picky" when it comes to finding the right girl - so he might be grafting hard and involved in a few coupling up switch-ups.
Meanwhile, he insisted he can also "kick back" and "relax" when it comes to female attention - so some of the sexy stars might feel snubbed.
He told us: "I'm quite held back. I don't just let girls come to me like that, do you know what I mean?
"I can't say the right words in a nice way, but basically what I'm I'm trying to say is I just don't get with every girl, basically!"
He added: "People are realising that I'm more picky than normal. There'll be one little thing that I won't like and then I'll just be completely turned off.
"Not put off, but I’ll just know she ain't for me."
Love Island continues on ITV2.
Joey was dating model Lorena Medina after the pair met on Ex On The Beach in 2020.
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During a break with ex-fiancé Sam Faiers, Joey had a fling with former Towie star Amber Turner.
Joey grew close to Miss Universe Great Britain Amy Willerton during his time in the I'm A Celeb jungle in 2013, but he insisted the pair were just friends.
In 2016 Joey met Made in Chelsea star Stephanie Pratt while the pair were both participating in Celebs Go Dating.
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Though it was against the show's rules for celebs to date other celebs, they became a couple.
However, they split up not long after the show finished filming.
Joey was linked with popstar Rita Ora in 2020, after the two of them shared a wild night out - but Joey denied anything was going on.
We have known each other for years. She’s a nice girl but we’re just friends.”
Joey Essex on rumour of a relationship with popstar Rita Ora
After staying single for a couple of years, Joey and Brazilian model Brenda Santos started dating at the peak of lockdown and it was another whirlwind romance that only lasted five months.
Joey then found love in the jungle AGAIN in 2022 with Maria Thattil when they both starred in the Australian version of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
However the pair later went there separate ways.
In January 2023, The Sun revealed Joey was dating German skating champ and Dancing on Ice professional partner, Vanessa Bauer.
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The relationship lasted until April, when fans spotted the pair no longer followed each other on social media.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
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