FRANKIE Essex has told how her Love Island brother Joey Essex really is desperate to settle down and have kids.
Viewers were baffled why Joey, 33, might have signed up for Love Island when he arrived on Monday night as the first bombshell.
But Frankie has revealed that watching her settle down with partner Luke and have their twin babies, Luella and Logan, has made Joey feel broody.
Speaking for the first time about Joey’s arrival in the villa, Frankie told The Sun: “Joey is proper single at the moment.
But he’s seen me with the babies and they just love him, they sit on his lap and he just looks at them and goes ‘they’re unreal’.
“I just feel like it’s his time now to settle down.
“It would be lovely for him to come out hand in hand with the girl of his dreams and I really, really hope he does.
“He definitely wants to be a dad, 100%.
“But these things happen on Love Island, people do get married and have babies and have amazing futures together. Maybe this is Joey’s time.”
Since hitting the big time he’s romanced everyone from Towie co-star Sam Faiers, to whom he was engaged, to Love Island’s Maura Higgins.
And he’s taken part in two dating shows already, Ex On The Beach and Celebs Go Dating.
But Frankie reckons Britain is still rooting for Joey.
She added: “I feel like a lot of people are rooting for him, they just want him to find love.
“This is a new fresh start for Joey, a new chapter. It’s all about the future and that’s what’s exciting.
“He’s so lovely in a relationship, he’s so romantic. Whoever gets to be with him is lucky.
“The Hideaway? I’ve watched him kiss people for years but I still go urgh! He’s my little brother!”
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.”
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.