Reality TV star Joey Essex has made a splash as the first-ever celebrity contestant on Love Island. The 33-year-old, known for his rise to fame on The Only Way Is Essex, joined the show with hopes of finding true love, declaring himself “extremely single” and eager to leave the island “hand in hand with the love of my life.”
The popular ITV dating series kicked off its latest season on Monday, with a fresh group of contestants arriving at the picturesque villa in Majorca, Spain.
Host Maya Jama, dressed in a striking white dress, welcomed the new islanders and introduced Joey with a flourish. “Well, it’s good to see you’re all settled in,” she told the contestants. “As you know, in Love Island, you must always expect the unexpected. So please welcome Joey.”
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Joey Essex, who described himself as “the king of Essex” looking for his “queen,” is a notable addition to the show. According to ITV, he is the series’ “first celebrity contestant,” a secret the network managed to keep under wraps until the premiere.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun before heading to the villa, Joey joked about the secrecy surrounding his participation.
“I feel like Joey Bond, ‘the name’s Essex, Joey Essex,'” he said. “It felt like a military operation, not just the journey but the whole application process. I’m extremely single right now, so I’m praying that I’ll walk out of the villa hand in hand with the love of my life. That’s my main aim and all I care about.”
Joey Essex’s TV career has been prolific since his days on The Only Way Is Essex from 2011 to 2013. He has appeared on several reality shows, including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Celebrity MasterChef, Celebs Go Dating, and Dancing On Ice.
Love Island itself has an interesting history, originally debuting as Celebrity Love Island in 2005 with contestants like Calum Best, Rebecca Loos, and Lee Sharpe. After a second season in 2006, the show was revamped in 2015 without celebrity contestants, becoming the format fans know today.
Before Joey’s entrance, Maya Jama set the tone for the islanders with a challenge. She asked them to rate each other based on who seemed most like “boyfriend and girlfriend material” down to those who gave off the least relationship vibes. These rankings determined their pairings.
Among the couples were Mimii Ngulube, a 24-year-old mental health nurse from Portsmouth, paired with Munveer Jabbal, a 30-year-old recruitment manager from Surbiton; Nicole Samuel, a 24-year-old accounts manager from Aberdare, with Sean Stone, a 24-year-old salesman from Hertford; and Samantha Kenny, a 26-year-old make-up artist from Liverpool, with Sam Taylor, a 23-year-old hair stylist from Chesterfield.
Other pairings included Harriett Blackmore, a 24-year-old dancer and personal shopper from Brighton, with Ciaran Davies, a 21-year-old surveyor from Pencoed, South Wales; and Jess White, a 25-year-old retail manager from Stockport, with Ronnie Vint, a 27-year-old semi-professional footballer from London.
Ayo Odukoya, a 25-year-old model from Canning Town, was paired with Patsy Field, a 29-year-old office administrator from Orpington. Patsy shared a personal story, revealing she has Erb’s palsy, a condition that causes paralysis of the arm due to a birth injury. She also mentioned sharing her bed with her mother, as there was no other space for her in their home.
The episode also featured Ciaran’s candid admission of being involved with a woman over 40 when he was just 18. Love Island continues to deliver drama and romance, airing at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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