Joey Essex is currently heating up the Love Island villa as he cracks on with all the sexy singletons on the ITV show.
Essex, 33, first burst onto our screens some 13 years ago as the fresh-faced, dim-witted lad on fellow ITV show The Only Way is Essex. Becoming famous for his lack of knowledge and single-handedly rewriting the English dictionary, Joey endeared himself to the nation, making him one of the most popular stars of the show.
Now, since finding fame on real-life soap TOWIE, Joey has become a reality TV legend, with stints on Celebs Go Dating and I’m A Celebrity already under his belt. But after over a decade in the spotlight, Joey is now looking to slow things down, and settle and perhaps start a family.
READ MORE: Ex-Love Island star Sam Taylor drops huge hint he’s returning to villa with cryptic post
READ MORE: Join the Daily Star Soaps WhatsApp for all the latest spoilers and exclusives
And it seems that Joey’s family are supporting him all the way as he lays it on thick with the other Islanders. Sister Frankie admitted that Joey would be looking for someone who wants to be with him for the long-term and is not just chasing fame by being with him.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Frankie, 36, who also appeared on TOWIE, told OK!: “We’ve all watched Joey grow up on TV. He’s definitely looking for love in the villa but he needs a woman who will tell it like it is and isn’t with him for fame.”
Joey’s sister said that while he may be in the villa for himself, he is keeping his family close to his heart during his stint in Majorca. This includes a heart-breaking conversation he had with the Islanders about losing his mum at the age of 10, after she took her own life.
Looking back on his bravery, Frankie said: “I was really proud of him because it’s something you never really get over, you just learn to live with it. You need to keep their memory alive, and Joey is doing that.”
(Image: joeyessex/Instagram)
Frankie also gave some details about Joey’s hopes for the future, including the potential for having kids of his own. “I think seeing me as a mum has made him want the same,” she explained.
When asked whether he has a type when it comes to girls, she said it was all about the personality with him. “It’s also about building trust and for people to get to know him for who he really is – he doesn’t need a ‘yes’ girl though or someone who is going to follow him around all day.”
(Image: Piers Allardyce/REX/Shutterstock)
She also revealed that Joey had not told a single soul in his family that he was about to go into the villa, to the point where “even their dad didn’t know” about his upcoming stint on Love Island. However, she joked how she almost had rumbled him when he mentioned he was off to the Spanish island.
“I do remember him being a bit jittery and thinking, ‘What is going on?'” she recalled. “I even joked, “You’re not going on Love Island, are ya?” but then forgot about it. His agent said I was the only person to guess – I obviously know him very well!”
Love Island airs every Sunday to Friday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
