LOVE Island fans were up in arms last night as bosses served up a huge twist.
Reality TV legend Joey Essex, 33, was the last face viewers expected to see in the villa on launch night.
There were gasps around the nation as the shaven-headed Towie man arrived with a smile, declared himself ‘the king of Essex’ and told the girls they were looking fine.
While Joey’s inclusion in the series had the desired effect and got everybody talking, not everyone is in favour of the the move to bring in a celebrity.
The opener was barely over when some declared that the series is “dead” because of it.
One person said: “Having Joey Essex on there now is so dead where are the original people? Where are the public? WE DON’T WANT CELEBRITIES.”
Another shared: “That guy turns up everywhere. There shouldn’t be any so called celebs in there. Hopefully he won’t be there long.”
A third said: “Was so excited to meet the new #loveIsland islanders then #joeyessex walks in?! #doh.”
You can follow The Sun’s live coverage from the Love Island villa here.
Joey – who shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011 – spoke to us before his bombshell arrival and revealed the ‘real reason’ he signed up.
He said: “I just want someone to like me for me and now from what they see on TV.
“This is exactly why I’m going into the villa because you’re disconnected from the rest of the world and can focus on what actually matters on a far deeper level.”
Joey has dated a string of celebrities in the past – including Rita Ora and former Islander Maura Higgins– but now he’ll be cracking on with ‘normal’ girls.
The Love Island girls this year include Samantha Kenny, 26, and Mimii Ngulube, 24.
And Joey revealed he wasn’t approached by show bosses but instead applied to take part.
He said: “I feel like Joey Bond, ‘the names Essex, Joey Essex. It felt like a military operation, not even the journey itself but the process of even getting through the application process and to this point.
“I got on the plane to Ibiza, I made sure I still wore my mask when I went out for dinner, and then we got the boat over to Majorca to a villa hidden in the mountains in the middle of nowhere.
“I’m extremely single right now, so I’m praying that I’m going to walk out of the villa hand in hand with the love of my life, that’s my main aim and all I care about.
“It’s difficult for me to meet girls on the outside as they judge me based on a persona so I think this experience will allow for people to see the real me.”
Love Island 2024 couples
On launch night the Islanders were immediately 'coupled up'.
The couples so far include:
- Mimii Ngulube and Munveer Jabbal.
- Nicole Samuel and Sean Stone.
- Jess White and Ronnie Vint.
- Patsy Field and Ayo Odukoya.
- Samantha Kenny and Sam Taylor.
- Harriet Blackmore and Ciaran Davies.
Singles: