Joey Essex reveals Love Island producers orchestrated his villain storylines

Joey Essex has claimed Love Island signed him to bring the drama in the villa as he speaks out on claims he received preferential treatment on the show. 

The TOWIE star, 33, caused speculation among ITV viewers during the competition as they questioned if he was only brought in to ruffle some feathers and bring some much needed drama to the villa.

He told the publication: ‘We’re all there to find love but there needs to be a journey, there needs to be drama – so, you know, I had to be that guy.

‘I’d switch it on, I’d do my scene, if I was involved in someone else’s stuff it’s because I’ve been pulled in and dragged into that situation.

Joey Essex has claimed Love Island signed him to bring the drama in the villa as he speaks out on claims he received preferential treatment on the show 

 ITV viewers questioned if he was only brought in to ruffle some feathers and bring some much needed drama to the villa. (pictured with Jessy Potts)

‘I’ve just done what I’ve done because I’m filming a television show.’

He also implied that one challenge, which involved him kissing Nicole Samuel in front of his love interest Jessy Potts, was orchestrated by producers as he insisted: ‘do you think that I would go up to a girl in a challenge and kiss her in front of her boyfriend whilst the girl that I actually have feelings for is stood next to her?’

ITV has been contacted for comment. 

For a while Joey insisted he wasn’t given any special treatment during his time on Love Island because he was already a celebrity but it was revealed soon after he left the show that he did. 

Joey, who was introduced as a ‘bombshell’ in the first week of the show, was  ‘promised the final’ before entering the show, MailOnline revealed this week. 

He was reportedly furious when he was sent packing on Sunday night’s show with his partner Jessy after the ex-Islanders voted them the least compatible couple. 

And, sources close to the show say that the former TOWIE star was given ‘two to three hours’ of time a day out of the villa which he spent with producers and away from the cameras.  

Insiders have  also previously said Joey was given flowers by the production team to hand to the eventual winner Mimii Ngulube after he was slammed for his behaviour towards her and her partner Josh Oyinsan. 

In a new interview with the Sun he admitted that he would ‘switch it on’ when the villa needed spicing up – and was reportedly directed to deliver scenes 

He told the publication: ‘We’re all there to find love but there needs to be a journey, there needs to be drama – so, you know, I had to be that guy

In an episode last week, Joey was seen giving Mimii a bunch of flowers to apologise to her after previously arguing with her during a challenge. 

However, ITV have now said: ‘Joey has not been treated differently at all at any point of the process both pre, during and post featuring on the series. We completely refute any claim as all islanders are treated equally.’

Upon entering the villa, ITV producers previously stated: ‘Joey is being treated like any other Love Island contestant, he’s playing by the same rules and won’t be given any preferential treatment.

‘He hasn’t been paid an appearance fee or any money at all for signing up to the show, not a penny.’

Just this week it was reported Joey, who is already worth £8 million, is set to earn a whopping £250,000 with a club tour following his Love Island dumping.

It came after it was revealed that he wasn’t being paid any more to be on the show than the other contestants – which is around £375 a week.

During the final episode on Monday night fans claimed they saw him looking ‘furious’ and ‘bitter’.

Viewers admitted they couldn’t help but notice his unimpressed facial expressions as the cameras paused on him during the show. 

< div class="mol-img">

He was reportedly furious when he was sent packing on Sunday night’s show with his partner Jessy after the ex-Islanders voted them the least compatible couple