As Love Island’s Joey Essex and Grace Jackson’s relationship hots up, insiders say their romance has been a long time coming
Tdumping of his love interest Samantha Kenny may have left Joey Essex in the doghouse with his fellow Islanders, but that hasn’t stopped the charmer from reigniting his steamy romance with ex-girlfriend Grace Jackson.
The couple first met last year and enjoyed a short-lived holiday romance, but things fizzled out at the end of the summer when neither Essexbased Joey, 33, or Manchester lass Grace, 25, were willing to relocate or to pursue a longdistance relationship.
COLD FEET
And while fans may be shocked by bombshell Grace’s promise to up sticks and move down south just days after entering the villa, a source tells Closer how the pair never stopped talking, and how Joey is equally smitten. Our insider says, “Joey has been harbouring a secretlove for Grace before she surprised him on the show. The chemistry never died, nor did Joey’s feelings for Grace. The physical side of the relationship with her only fizzled out as Joey got cold feet and wasn’t sure he was ready to commit to having a proper girlfriend.
TRUE LOVE
“That and his work commitments got in the way, but they never stopped talking. Now things couldn’t have come at a better time as Joey is ready to commit and wants true love.”
Up until Grace’s dramatic entrance, Joey had been coupled up with Samantha, who was brutally ditched from the villa at the recoupling, leading fans to call for “justice for Samantha”.
Just hours before, Joey had sparked fury from fans and Islanders when he had invited newcomer Grace to spend the night in The Hideaway with him – because he didn’t want her to sleep in a single bed.
“I’m struggling to see why it’s such a bad thing for Grace to sleep in a single bed? Why are they acting like she’d contract a disease if she does”, seethed one fan, while another added, “Why are Joey and Grace acting like a single bed is some form of torture? I slept in a single bed for 11 years, I think she’ll live.”
However this situation is familiar territory for wellversed ladies’ man Joey
