Love Island bombshell Joey Essex is ‘looking for a woman in the villa’ after signing up for the show for the ‘right reasons’.
The former TOWIE star, who at 33 is the oldest contestant in the line-up, already has fame and 1.8 million Instagram followers, with sources close to the TV personality saying he doesn’t ‘need’ the fame ‘ has.
Joey made history on Love Island on Monday night when he became the first celebrity to join the cast of bachelors, who are otherwise unknown.
Insiders say Joey, who has also starred in I’m A Celeb, Dancing On Ice, Ex on the Beach and Celebs Go Dating, wants to ‘settle down’ and find someone he can start a family with.
And ITV bosses hope the format twist will boost ratings and fans of Joey will delve into his love story.
Love Island bombshell Joey Essex is ‘looking for a woman in the villa’ after signing up for the show for the ‘right reasons’
The former TOWIE star, who at 33 is the oldest contestant in the line-up, already has fame and 1.8 million Instagram followers, with sources close to the TV personality saying he doesn’t ‘need’ the fame ‘ has
Joey made history on Love Island on Monday night when he became the first celebrity to join the cast of bachelors, who are otherwise unknown
A TV source told MailOnline: ‘Joey signed up for Love Island for the right reasons.
‘He is 33 years old and really wants to find someone he can settle down with, he wants a wife and children one day.
“Not many people know the real Joey. Over the years he has hidden behind his reality TV persona, but being on Love Island has given him the chance to show his true self.
“He doesn’t need fame, followers or prize money… He’s excited to meet someone and can’t wait to start dating.”
The show’s launch ended on a cliffhanger with Joey entering the villa, introduced by host Maya Jama.
Visibly shaken, the cast, who were already in their pairs, wondered if Joey’s arrival was a ‘joke’ after recognizing the bombshell from his previous TV stints.
Joey, who found fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011, has become known for his reality TV exploits, which have seen him appear on more than ten shows.
And his love life has played out on a public scale after his romance with former co-star Sam Faiers, 33, ended in heartbreak and he hasn’t had a long-term relationship since.
Insiders say Joey, who has starred in I’m A Celeb, Dancing On Ice, Ex on the Beach and Celebs Go Dating, wants to ‘settle down’ and find someone he can start a family with (pictured with Chloe Sims)
Joey, who found fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011, has become known for his reality TV exploits, which have seen him appear on more than ten shows.
His love life played out on a public scale after his romance with former co-star Sam Faiers ended in heartbreak and he hasn’t had a long-term relationship since
He has dated model Amy Willerton, 31, after the two met in the Australian jungle, American reality star Stephanie Pratt, 38, after their joint appearance on Celebs Go Dating and Lorena Medina, 32, who starred alongside him in Ex on the Strand.
He was also rumored to have had an affair with his professional Dancing On Ice partner, Vanessa Bauer, 28, after they performed together in 2023.