Love Island bombshell Joey Essex is ‘looking for a wife in the villa’ after signing up to 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 followers on Instagram, and sources close to the TV personality say he doesn’t “need” the exposure .
Joey made Love Island history on Monday night when he became the first celebrity to join the cast of otherwise unknown Bachelors.
According to inside sources, Joey, who 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 change will boost ratings and Joey’s fans will engage with his love story.
Love Island bombshell Joey Essex is ‘looking for a wife in the villa’ after signing up to 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 followers on Instagram, and sources close to the TV personality say he doesn’t “need” the exposure .
Joey made Love Island history on Monday night when he became the first celebrity to join the cast of otherwise unknown Bachelors.
A TV source told MailOnline: ‘Joey has signed up for Love Island for all the right reasons.
‘He is 33 years old and really wants to find someone to settle down with, he wants a wife and to have 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 will give 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 shocked, the cast, already in their couples, questioned whether Joey’s arrival was a ‘joke’ after recognizing the bombshell of their previous television seasons.
Joey, who rose to 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 10 shows.
And her love life has played out on a public scale, after her romance with former co-star Sam Faiers, 33, ended in heartbreak and she has since been unable to have a long-term relationship.
According to inside sources, Joey, who 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 rose to 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 10 shows.
Her love life has unfolded on a public scale, after her romance with former co-star Sam Faiers ended in heartbreak and she has since been unable to have a long-term relationship.
He has dated models including 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. years, who starred alongside him in Ex on the. Beach.
He was also rumored to have had an affair with fellow Dancing On Ice pro Vanessa Bauer, 28, after they performed together in 2023.
Joey has connected with his fan base over the years through his television appearances, some of which have been more personal than others.
In 2021, the Essex star shared her story in the BBC documentary Grief and Me, in which she opened up about her mother’s suicide.
When he was just 10 years old, Joey’s mother took her own life and he explained how the profound loss left him unable to process his emotions for years.
