INTERVIEW
The TOWIE star’s close pal Amy Childs reveals how Joey Essex kept his shock Love Island entrance a secret from everyone, and why he won’t be fooled by fakes
When Joey Essex walked into the Love Island villa, no one was more W surprised than his own family and friends. The 33-year-old had successfully kept the huge news that he could be spending eight weeks in aMajorcan villa a secret, even managing to hide it from his own dad and older sister, Frankie.
Close pal and former TOWIE co-star Amy Childs was also stunned. The pair have been friends for over 14 years and, just like Joey’s family, she had no idea he was part of this year’s line-up.
Speaking exclusively to Closer, Amy says, “I spoke to Frankie the other day and she said her phone was going off the hook the night he went in and she had no idea why. Spotting him on TV, she said she just screamed.
“She was laughing to me about it because the Thursday before he’d been over to her house to see the twins [Frankie is mum to Luella and Logan, two] and he was acting a bit weird and shady. She said, looking back, that was why!
“She’s really excited for him and thinks it’s time for him to settle down.”
Joey’s shock entrance into the villa saw him couple up with Liverpudlian make-up artist Samantha Kenny – sending hairdresser Sam Taylor, 23, home in the process.
And according to Amy, Samantha, 26, is “just Joey’s type” – so much so she even thinks the pair will go the distance and win. “I think they’ve got the same energy,” Amy says. “She said she loves a PDA and Joey said the same, I can tell they have a lot in common already.
“She’s just Joey’s type. I know it’s early days, but I think they will win it. They look good together.”
GENUINE
And Amy is positive he’d be upfront if someone else did catch his eye.
“Joey is such a genuine and honest person that if there was someone who came in, he would be upfront about it,” she says.
“I think he’ll always stay true to himself. But it would have to be someone really special to top Samantha as she really is a bit of Joey. In fact, all of the girls in the villa are stunning!”
She continues, “Joey doesn’t like drama, we saw that with the whole thing with Harriet, he doesn’t want to get involved in it. So he won’t be having any rows or stuff like that, and he will always be honest with people.
“He’ll be the one
