The Love Island villa just got a bit more reem.
Fans of Love Island were left in shock after Joey Essex was announced as a contestant on this year’s series.
On Monday night, the 2024 season of the popular dating show kicked off, introducing a new group of contestants searching for romance in the villa.
For the first time ever, a celebrity entered the villa as Joey was introduced to the contestants by host Maya Jama.
The 33-year-old, who became famous on The Only Way Is Essex, said he joined the show because he is “extremely single right now.”
During last night’s episode, Jama informed the contestants: “Well it’s good to see you’re all settled in, as you know you are in Love Island, you must always expect the unexpected. So please welcome Joey.”
ITV has announced that he is the first “celebrity contestant” to participate in Love Island.
The surprise reveal left viewers at home stunned, with many taking to social media to express their disbelief.
One person wrote: “Joey Essex coming in as a bombshell in Love Island was not on my 2024 bingo card.”
Another exclaimed: “LMAOOO WHAT IS JOEY ESSEX DOING ON LOVE ISLAND???”
“Joey Essex as the first bombshell this season has hit hard,” a third commented.
Someone else said: “I don’t know what’s more weird, Joey Essex being on Love Island or him being 33.”
The Sun reported that it was Essex’s decision to apply for the show, with ITV bosses working hard to keep his participation a secret.
Speaking to the paper, he said: “I feel like Joey Bond, ‘the name’s 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’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.”
Since gaining fame on TOWIE, Essex has appeared in several reality shows, including I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Celebrity MasterChef, and Dancing On Ice.
Love Island continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX on Tuesday.