Joey Essex DID receive special treatment during controversial Love Island stint as he was ‘promised the final’ and was ‘furious’ when he was dumped from the villa

He was brought in to cause a stir and add some much needed drama to the villa.

But despite Joey Essex insisting he didn’t get any special treatment during his time on Love Island because he was already a celebrity, it can now be revealed that he did.

MailOnline has learned that Joey, who was introduced as a ‘bombshell’ in the first week of the show, was ‘promised the final’ before he started on the show and was furious when he was sent packing along with his partner Jessy Potts on Sunday night after the ex-Islanders voted them the least compatible couple.

Sources close to the show say the former TOWIE star was allowed to spend ‘two to three hours’ a day outside the villa, with producers and away from the cameras.

According to insiders, Joey was given flowers by the production team to give to eventual winner Mimii Ngulube after he was criticised for his behaviour towards her and her partner Josh Oyinsan.

The former TOWIE star was left ‘furious’ when he and his partner Jessy Potts were evicted from the villa a day before the final

Last week’s episode saw Joey give Mimii a bouquet of flowers to apologize after getting into a fight with her during an earlier challenge.

Upon entering the villa, ITV producers said: ‘Joey will be treated like any other Love Island contestant, he plays by the same rules and won’t get any preferential treatment.

“He received no compensation or money whatsoever for his participation in the show, not a cent.”

This week it was reported that Joey, who is already worth £8million, is set to earn a whopping £250,000 from a club tour after his departure from Love Island.

This came after it was revealed that he was paid no more for his participation in the show than the other contestants: around £375 a week.

During the series finale on Monday night, fans claimed he looked “angry” and “bitter.”

Viewers admitted they couldn’t ignore his disinterested facial expressions as the cameras lingered on him during the show.

Insiders also say that Joey was given flowers by the production team to present to eventual winner Mimii Ngulube after he was criticised for his behaviour towards her and partner Josh Oyinsan.

Just this week it was reported that Joey, who is already worth £8million, is set to earn a whopping £250,000 from a club tour following his departure from Love Island.

They speculated he was unhappy he didn’t make it to the final with Jessy, 25, after leaving the villa just a day earlier.

On the show, Joey was called “arrogant,” “problematic,” and “embarrassing.”

In one episode he even received 120 complaints to Ofcom for his behaviour towards former contestant Samantha Kenny.

As he was the first celebrity to join the show, bosses took ‘every precaution’ to keep Mr Essex’s arrival in the villa a secret.

While the rest of the bachelors were flown to Mallorca, the reality star had to travel by ferry to keep his appearance a secret.

This was the first time that Love Island bosses had managed to get a celebrity into their original line-up. Mr Essex was known to viewers as one of the original stars of TOWIE, following roles in Dancing On Ice, Celebs Go Dating and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

ITV has been contacted for comment.

Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan won Love Island season 11.

Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan won Love Island season 11

Nicole and Ciaran finished the show in second place

Presenter Maya Jama revealed that the couple had received the highest percentage of the public vote and will take home the £50,000 cash prize.

Mimii, 24, and Josh, 29, have made Love Island history as the first black couple to win the series since the show’s reboot in 2015.

The couple were in the final with Nicole Samuel and Ciaran Davies, Matilda Draper and Sean Stone and Jessica Spencer and Ayo Odukoya.

Jessica and Ayo finished in fourth place, while Matilda and Sean took third place in the reality show competition.

Nicole and Ciaran finished second in the final, with viewers ultimately voting to crown Mimii and Josh the winners.