JOEY Essex’s sister Frankie has revealed how the reality TV legend hadn’t told her he’d been booked for Love Island – but she guessed.
Viewers thought Frankie, who appeared on Towie with Joey and their cousin Chloe, had been privy to the huge secret after she posted online.
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Speaking for the first time about Joey’s new job, Frankie said: “I didn’t have a clue but I did guess it because I just couldn’t get hold of him. I just couldn’t fathom it out.
“I was thinking this is so weird.
“And it was only because his agent said ‘I’ll ring you tomorrow’ that suddenly I just thought ‘he must be going on Love Island’.
“But then as the episode was going on I just thought no, it can’t be, and then I forgot about it.
“And then obviously right at the last minute they said Joey and I was like, ‘Oh my god’.
“So I grabbed my phone and did the little bit of Instagram video.”
On the video, Frankie laughed: “Surprise, surprise!” as she held her camera up to the TV.
Her phone blew up with friends and family reacting.
She added: “It’s literally just gone mad. I’m still in shock, my head’s just absolutely gone.
“I was like ‘how long is it on for?’ this will be us every night now.
“I’ve got voicenotes off all my mates screaming, my phone just went crazy last night.
“Amy Childs messaged me straight away this morning, she said oh my god this is amazing, he’s definitely going to win .
“And my cousins Frankie and Demi were like ‘omg we need a night round yours soon to watch Love Island’.
Frankie and Demi Sims later joined Towie after Joey and Frankie had moved on.
It means Joey will have a huge clan of celebrities backing him in the villa.
What will Joey Essex bring to Love Island?
By Beth Allcock, Showbiz and TV reporter
JOEY Essex left Love Island fans gobsmacked after his arrival in the Love Island villa – but what can we expect from the sizzling bombshell?
The former TOWIE star is Love Island’s first-ever celebrity contestant and has certainly brought the drama in the first episode.
Yet the reality TV stalwart, 33, who has featured on everything from Dancing On Ice to Celebs Go Dating, also showcased a hot new look.
He strolled into the villa with his fresh close-cut hairstyle and ripped abs on full display as he declared himself the ‘King of Essex’ – and it’s this cheeky chap attitude fans can certainly expect in the Mallorca villa.
Joey’s likely to be at the heart of the action in the villa, with his wicked sense of humour and Essex charm bound to shake up the partnerships of his co-stars.
His pal and former Love Island All Stars contestant Georgia Harrison, 29, confirms he’ll liven up proceedings, admitting he’ll be “so jokes.”
Yet he’s no stranger to juggling the attention of a slew of stunning females – so he’ll likely fit right in to Love Island life.
On Celebs Go Dating in 2021 Joey threw the series into chaos as he dating two women at the same time.
He previously exclusively told us he’s “really picky” when it comes to finding the right girl – so he might be grafting hard and involved in a few coupling up switch-ups.
Meanwhile, he insisted he can also “kick back” and “relax” when it comes to female attention – so some of the sexy stars might feel snubbed.
He told us: “I’m quite held back. I don’t just let girls come to me like that, do you know what I mean?
“I can’t say the right words in a nice way, but basically what I’m I’m trying to say is I just don’t get with every girl, basically!”
He added: “People are realising that I’m more picky than normal. There’ll be one little thing that I won’t like and then I’ll just be completely turned off.
“Not put off, but I’ll just know she ain’t for me.”
Love Island continues on ITV2.
It comes after The Sun first revealed he was to become Love Island’s first ever celebrity bombshell.
He told us: “I’m praying that I walk out 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. I can’t wait to be my authentic self and I just hope that the right girl is in there for me.
“I can’t wait to go in and just be the real me, I feel like I’m at a new chapter in my life and I’m looking forward to people seeing that.”
Follow our live coverage of Love Island which continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2
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: