After years of reality TV stints and public relationships, Joey Essex is finally looking to settle down and start a family.
According to his TOWIE best mate James ‘Diags’ Bennewith, 33-year-old Joey – who boasts an £8million fortune – wants to share his lavish life with someone special.
Diags told The Mirror that Joey, who entered the Love Island villa as a shock bombshell this week, finally ‘wants to settle down.’
He added: ‘Our mates are getting married and having kids. He is in that headspace now.
‘He’s like, “I’ve got all this stuff, I’ve got my house, but I’ve got no-one to share it with. I wake up in this house on my own.” He wants a family – he wants kids.
‘Going on Love Island is him putting that out into the Universe – it’s manifesting.’
After years of reality TV stints and public relationships, Joey Essex is finally looking to settle down and start a family
According to his TOWIE best mate James ‘Diags’ Bennewith (left), 33-year-old Joey – who boasts an £8million fortune – wants to share his lavish life with someone special
Joey is currently coupled up with Samantha Kenny, 26, on the ITV2 dating show.
Viewers saw Joey open up to Jess White about the tragic loss of his mum at just 10 years old.
Tina died after committing suicide in 2001 after battling depression in silence.
She was fighting an illness named candida prior to her passing, which is an illness that gives sufferers symptoms including stomach issues, fatigue, joint pain and depression.
Joey opened up about how he was affected by the death of his mother in a 2021 BBC documentary titled Joey Essex: Grief and Me.
He spoke openly about how deeply he had been impacted by his mother’s death, admitting that it took him nearly two decades to even utter the word ‘Mum’.
Diags, who has known Joey since primary school, explained that losing his mother had an impact on his ’emotional intelligence’.
He said: ‘Recently he’s dealing with it a lot better – he’s ready to cast all this trauma he was holding on to. Now he’s mentally ready and prepared to settle down. If he can find someone on Love Island, fantastic. I hope he does.’
Diags said: ‘Our mates are getting married and having kids. He is in that headspace now. He’s like, “I’ve got all this stuff, I’ve got my house, but I’ve got no-one to share it with. I wake up in this house on my own.” He wants a family – he wants kids.’
When he was just 10, Joey’s mum took her own life, and he explained how the deep loss left him unable to process his emotions for years
Joey is currently coupled up with Samantha Kenny, 26, on the ITV2 dating show
It comes after it emerged Joey 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 lineup, already has fame and 1.8million Instagram followers, with sources close to the TV personality saying 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 singletons, who are otherwise unknown.
His arrival led to the show being streamed 2.1 million times, an uplift of 24 percent on the same episode last year and gave ITVX its best day for six weeks.
According to insiders, Joey, who’s also starred on 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 are hoping the format twist will boost ratings and fans of Joey will engage with his love story.
A TV source told MailOnline: ‘Joey has signed up to Love Island for all the right reasons.
Diags added: ‘Going on Love Island is him putting that out into the Universe – it’s manifesting.’
‘He’s 33 years old and really wants to find someone he can settle down with, he wants a wife and to have children one day.
‘Not many people know the real Joey, over the years he’s hidden behind his reality TV persona but being on Love Island will give him the opportunity to show his true self.
‘He doesn’t need fame, followers, or the 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 recognising 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 has seen him appear on over 10 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’s since failed to have a long-term relationship.
Joey, who found fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011, has become known for his reality TV exploits, which has seen him appear on over 10 shows
His love life has played out on a public scale, after his romance with former co-star Sam Faiers ended in heartbreak and he’s since failed to have a long-term relationship
He’s dated the likes of model Amy Willerton, 31, after the two met in the Australian jungle, US reality star Stephanie Pratt, 38, following their joint appearance on Celebs Go Dating and Lorena Medina, 32, who starred alongside him on Ex on the Beach.
He was also rumoured to have a fling with his Dancing On Ice professional partner Vanessa Bauer, 28, after they performed together in 2023.
Joey has connected with his fan base over the years through his TV appearances, some of which have been more personal than others.
In 2021, the Essex star shared his story in BBC documentary Grief and Me, which saw him open up about his mother’s suicide.
LOVE ISLAND 2024: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
NAME: Mimii Ngulube
AGE: 24
FROM: Portsmouth
OCCUPATION: Mental Health Nurse
WHY LOVE ISLAND? The pool in Portsmouth is not giving. I’ve tried dating, speaking to people on social media and it just hasn’t been successful. Applying was a spontaneous thing, I didn’t expect to get here!
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? My girls are my rocks and I’m theirs so I’ll be a good friend as well as going in there to find a man. I like dressing up so I’ll bring style, and I’d like to think I’m quite funny so I’ll make people laugh. Bringing honesty as well – I’m good at picking up on people’s personality traits and side-eyeing those who might be a liar.
NAME: Patsy Field
AGE: 29
FROM: Orpington
OCCUPATION: Office Administrator
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE ISLANDERS TO KNOW? I’ve got something very special about me which is my disability, it’s a condition I was born with called Ebs Palsy. It doesn’t define who I am , but it makes me a little different, although I’ve learnt to get on with it and it’s never held me back.
HOW WOULD FRIENDS/FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? My friends would say that I’m the loudest person in the group, I’m the one who’s always up for doing a dare, the life and soul of the party. My family would say that I’m bossy and that it’s always my way or the highway, they’d say I rule the roost.
NAME: Sean Stone
AGE: 24
FROM: Hertford
OCCUPATION: Sweet Salesman
WHY LOVE ISLAND? I’ve always been one for relationships and when you have found someone you want to be with it’s the best feeling. Now is the perfect time, the one thing that is missing is my soulmate.
HOW WOULD FRIENDS/FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? Very loving, caring and thoughtful. I’m the kind of guy that if you broke down on the motorway and needed your tyre changed, I’d be there at any time of night.
NAME: Harriett Blackmore
AGE: 24
FROM: Brighton
OCCUPATION: Dancer & Personal Shopper
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? I’ll bring the entertainment for everyone in the Villa, whether that’s making the girls laugh or making the boys turn their heads, I’m sure that I’ll bring the drama.
CLAIM T0 FAME? Being a bit of an IT girl in Brighton, I’ve done personal shopping for the rapper Arrdee and one of my best friends is Saffron Barker the YouTuber.
NAME: Ayo Odukoya
AGE: 25
FROM: Canning Town
OCCUPATION: Model
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? I think I’d bring excitement and joy. I think people would have someone to come to and talk to and feel comfortable being around or to have a laugh with. I think I’m somebody everyone would take to.
WHY SHOULD SOMEBODY DATE YOU? I feel like the way I carry myself is very respectful and I think people take to that and once you show who you are to somebody you get it back tenfold. The way I am gives off a good enough energy for people to feel comfortable around me.
NAME: Samantha Kenny
AGE: 26
FROM: Liverpool
OCCUPATION: Makeup Artist
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? I think I will definitely bring some fire, I’m very opinionated and wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m really bubbly too so I’ll definitely have a laugh as well as bringing some scouse glamour.WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I don’t get out enough, I work weekends and tend to not go out in Liverpool anymore. If I want a night out I go down to London as I love the boys down south. Tall, dark and cockney is my type.
NAME: Munveer Jabbal
AGE: 30
FROM: Surbiton, Surrey
OCCUPATION: Recruitment Manager
WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I haven’t found the right girl, I’m quite picky and have high standards. Dating in London is horrible. You don’t know who’s single… but now you’re putting me in a place where everyone’s single so there’s no issues around that. CLAIM T0 FAME? I’m mates with Spencer Morgan (Piers Morgan’s son). We met when I moved to Fulham in 2018.
NAME: Nicole Samuel
AGE: 24
FROM: Aberdare, Wales
OCCUPATION: Accounts Manager
WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I’ve been enjoying single life and the attention of different boys, it’s fun. I’ve enjoyed being able to go on holiday with the girls and not having to worry about someone back home. All the girls are there texting in their room and I’m out till 4 in the morning living my best life.
WHAT IS SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU? I became a world champion dancer in 2011, not many people know that. I was a professional street dancer.
NAME: Ronnie Vint
AGE: 27
FROM: South East London
OCCUPATION: Semi Professional Footballer
WHAT’S YOUR TYPE ON PAPER? I want someone that’s family orientated, caring and career minded. Lookwise, I like blondes with nice boobs but am partial to a brunette too.
CLAIM T0 FAME? Bradley Dack is my best friend and he and Olivia are a big part of my life. I call Olivia my big little sister, she always looks out for me.
NAME: Jess White
AGE: 25
FROM: Stockport
OCCUPATION: Retail Manager
WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I don’t underestimate the fact that I’m hard work. I know what I want and I’m not easily pleased. When you’re a loud, outgoing woman, sometimes it can intimidate men – men don’t always want that.
WHAT’S YOUR TYPE ON PAPER? I love a set of white Turkey teeth but a good set of Turkey teeth. I would say personality traits, you have to be family orientated. You have to be tall, you can’t be shorter than me, I can’t be having to question whether I can wear heels around you and what height of heels I can wear. If you’re vertically challenged, it’s not for me.
NAME: Ciaran Davies
AGE: 21
FROM: Pencoed, South Wales
OCCUPATION: Surveyor
WHAT’S YOUR TYPE ON PAPER? Obviously looks but humour is a big thing for me, I’m a bit of a wind up so I want a girl who can give it back. Loyalty is another one for me, I think that’s the most important thing to look for in a relationship.
CLAIM T0 FAME? When I was in Malia on a boys holiday I pretended to be Liam Reardon from series 7 to get into a club because they wouldn’t let us in. It worked and we ended up getting a private booth and free drinks all night.
NAME: Uma Jammeh
AGE: 23
FROM: Islington, north London
OCCUPATION: VIP host / model
WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I feel like I’ve been so unlucky in love! It’s all been underwhelming so far. I don’t know what the reason is, I think it’s them, as it can’t be me!
CLAIM TO FAME? I was born in a closet in the hospital! There were no rooms left, my poor Mum!
