The new season of Love Island has already seen its first contestant eliminated, just hours after the show began. This surprising early exit will be featured in episodes airing over the next few nights. The unexpected departure closely follows Joey Essex’s dramatic entry as a celebrity bombshell.
A villa insider revealed, “The islanders were all in shock when it happened. They thought Joey coming in was the only twist. Nobody was expecting a dumping to happen so soon. The dumped star was gutted they hardly got to spend any time in the villa and feels like they’ve been cheated of the whole experience. There were tears around the firepit. The islanders haven’t known each other long but this has sent them reeling. It shows that bosses aren’t messing around this series and they need to expect the unexpected.”
On Monday night, Maya Jama introduced the first 12 contestants to the Mallorca villa, pairing them up based on their ‘boyfriend/girlfriend material’ ranking. She then shook things up with Joey Essex, from The Only Way Is Essex, who entered the show as the first bombshell.
This twist comes after fans were warned to ‘expect the unexpected’ for this year’s series, with producers planning multiple surprises to keep the islanders on edge. Besides altering the initial coupling process, the Hideaway will now be permanently available for uncoupled individuals to spend time together.
Despite only a day in the villa, connections are already forming among the contestants. Ayo Odukoya and Mimii Ngulube seemed to have an immediate connection, chatting and flirting even though they were paired with others. Meanwhile, Ronnie Vint has become popular with two girls and has been seen engaging in flirty banter with both. He is currently coupled with Jess White, but Samantha Kenny has also shown interest in him. This behaviour led fans to label him a “walking red flag” after he was seen playfully hugging and kissing both girls on the head.
Joey Essex, who rose to fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011, shared his reasons for joining Love Island in an interview. “I just want someone to like me for me and not for 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.”
Since his rise to fame at 21, Joey, now 33, has appeared on various shows including I’m A Celebrity and Dancing On Ice, amassing an £8 million fortune through smart property investments. Producers worked hard to keep Joey’s entrance a surprise to ensure his appearance would be a shock to everyone. “Keeping the celebrity bombshell secret has been a military operation and bosses cannot wait for viewers to see who is waiting to strut through the villa doors,” sources revealed ahead of his entrance.