Another day, another cross reality TV romance and another notch on the bedpost for Joey Essex.
After the TOWIE legend made his entrance on the eighth series of Australia’s I’m a Celeb, it wasn’t long before rumours of camp fling started flying.
The woman in question is Miss Universe Maria Thattill, the only other single contestant in camp, and with Joey asserting that he “wants to find love” in the Jungle, you can bet it won’t be long until he makes his move.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Joey said, “If I find someone single in the camp and fall in love, I'll be the happiest man on earth.”
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Joey – who made a brief return to TOWIE for the tenth anniversary special in 2020 – is no stranger to a high profile relationship, having dated co-star Sam Faiers, Made in Chelsea’s Stephanie Pratt (the two starred on Celebs Go Dating together in 2016) and his UK I’m a Celeb campmate Amy Willerton in 2013.
Joey is returning to the Australian jungle for his second stint on the global franchise after placing fourth (missing out on the final to Lucy Pargeter, David Emanuel and eventual winner Kian Egan) in 2013. Eight years after his first rodeo, Joey is feeling optimistic about winning and says that eight is his “lucky number” – despite Australian viewers not having a clue who he is.
“I watch A LOT of reality tv & have never heard of Joey Essex,” tweeted one befuddled viewer, while another remarked, “Who the heck is Joey Essex?”
A third wrote, “No idea who Joey Essex is,” to which another agreed, “Me neither, I had to Google his name.”
CHECK OUT: all the I'm A Celeb winners
I'm a celeb winners
1 of 201. Tony Blackburn
Tony Blackburn was the first celebrity to win the show back in 2002.
2 of 202. Phil Tufnell
England cricketer Phil Tufnell won the show with his hilarious personality in 2003.
3 of 203. Kerry Katona
Kerry Katona was the first woman to win the show in 2004.
4 of 204. Joe Pasquale
Joe Pasquale won the show when it returned later in the year of 2004.
5 of 205. Carol Thatcher
Journalist Carol Thatcher won the show in 2005 when she beat soap stars Sheree Murphy and Sid Owen.
6 of 206. Matt Willis
Busted member Matt Willis was a popular winner in 2006.
7 of 207. Christopher Biggins
Lovable Biggins shared the jungle with the likes of Katie Hopkins and Janice Dickinson and went on to win the show in 2007.
8 of 208. Joe Swash
Cheeky chap Joe Swash swapped EastEnders for the jungle and won the show in 2008.
9 of 209. Gino D'Acampo
The nation fell in love with Gino in 2009.
10 of 2010. Stacey Solomon
After showing off her bubbly personality on The X Factor, Stacey Solomon entered the jungle and won the show in 2010.
11 of 2011. Dougie Poynter
McFly guitarist Dougie Poynter was crowned King of the Jungle ahead of TOWIE's Mark Wright in 2011.
12 of 2012. Charlie Brooks
EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks couldn't believe it when Ant and Dec announced her as the winner in 2012.
13 of 2013. Kian Egan
After 22 days in the jungle, Westlife star Kian Egan was crowned the King in 2013.
14 of 2014. Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty
Retired world super bike racer Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty won over the viewing public in 2014.
15 of 2015. Vicky Pattison
Vicky Pattison showed a different side to her usual Geordie Shore antics, winning over the public and being crowned Queen of the Jungle.
16 of 2016. Scarlett Moffatt
Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt was crowned Queen of the Jungle after winning the show in 2016.
17 of 2017. Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo
Made In Chelsea star Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo won the show in 2017 after beating Jamie Lomas.
18 of 2018. Harry Redknapp
Former football manager Harry Redknapp is the current King of the Jungle after beating Emily Atack in 2018.
19 of 2019. Jacqueline Jossa
Despite the likes of Ian Wright and Caitlyn Jenner signing up for the 2019 series, it was former EastEnders actress Jac Jossa who was crowned Queen of the Jungle, beating Coronation Street's Andy Whyment in the final.
20 of 2020. Giovanna Fletcher
Podcaster Giovanna Fletcher became the first ever Queen of the Castle in 2020, going up against the likes of Shane Richie, Vernon Kay and Mo Farah!
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In fact, the official I’m A Celeb Aus Twitter account ran a poll which revealed that a whopping 67.3% of their followers said they didn’t know who Joey was. Ouch.
However, there were some who were looking forward to seeing Joey on the show including one who wrote, “Knew it was Joey Essex going in. Can’t wait. Should be a laugh.”
One more added, “I guessed Joey Essex before the reveal. However, notice how he’s lost the thick accent – I hope we see more of the real Joey & not the character he plays on TV.”
Joey is following in the footsteps of fellow UK reality royalty Charlotte Crosby, who jetted off to Australia for the country’s version of I’m a Celeb back in 2020, placing fifth behind beloved Australian athletes, actors and TV presenters.
And while he may be making a triumphant return now, it was rumoured that Joey, alongside fellow alumni Vicky Pattison and Charlie Brookes, were to return for the UK's first stint in Grwych Castle in 2020.
“ITV producers love having a trick or two up their sleeve,” said a source at the time.
“What better way to celebrate 20 series of the show than getting some of the stars of yesteryear to take part in some way?
“They told them they had to spend some time isolating, just like this year’s contestants have done, ahead of being taken up to Wales,” said the source.
They added, “There’s even a chance they’ll isolate, travel to Wales, and not even get used.
“But it’s three great options for producers to have in the locker.”