Joey Essex has become the first bombshell to enter the Love Island villa.

In what may be the biggest signing in the show’s history, the TOWIE star, 33, headed into the villa at the end of Monday night’s launch show.

MailOnline can also reveal that bosses took ‘every precaution’ to keep Joey’s entry into the villa a secret.

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While the rest of the singletons were flown out to Mallorca, the reality star was forced to travel by ferry to keep his appearance under wraps.

This is the first time Love Island bosses have landed a celebrity in its original lineup, with Joey known to viewers as one of TOWIE’s original stars, followed by stints on Dancing On Ice, Celebs Go Dating and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

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Joey Essex, 33, has become the first ever celebrity to enter the Love Island villa, after bosses took ‘every precaution’ to keep his entry a secret

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In what may be the biggest signing in the show’s history, the TOWIE star headed into the villa at the end of Monday night’s launch show

Joey’s arrival was unveiled in the final moments of Monday’s launch show, with host Maya Jama confirming he would be arriving to shake up the six couples.

The twist left many viewers aghast, and they were quick to flood social media with their reactions.

Posts on X included: ‘Wait wtf, Joey Essex still ain’t found love?! He’s been on the scene for years lol;’

‘Joey Essex on Love Island was something I would never be prepared for, you just know everyone’s going to be all over him. Not giving the other lads a chance bless him;’

‘Joey Essex coming in as a bombshell in Love Island was not on my 2024 bing card;’

‘The thing is EVERY GIRL in that villa is gonna wanna couple up with Joey Essex cos they’re all in it for the fame;’

Ahead of making his way to Mallorca, Joey told The Sun: ‘I feel like Joey Bond, ‘the names 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.’

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MailOnline can also reveal that bosses took ‘every precaution’ to keep Joey’s entry into the villa a secret, and he was forced to travel to Mallorca by ferry

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The twist left many viewers aghast, and they were quick to flood social media with their reactions

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Joey first to fame as one of the stars of the first series of The Only Way Is Essex back in 2010

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He went onto appear as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

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Joey was previously a contestant on Dancing On Ice in 2023, and at the time he sparked rumours he was dating his professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer

Joey is no stranger to causing drama with his love life, and was previously engaged to Sam Faiers on TOWIE, before leaving the show after they split.

In 2013, he formed a close bond with Amy Willerton while they appeared on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! but things fizzled out after they left the jungle.

He then went onto date The Hills star Stephanie Pratt after their stint on Celebs Go Dating in 2017, but their relationship only lasted three months.

Joey’s most recent romance came during his stint on Dancing On Ice in 2023, when rumours swirled that he was dating his professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer.

But just a day after Vanessa confirmed that they were dating, MailOnline confirmed that they had gone their separate ways.

The pair, who performed together during the latest series of the ITV show, have not seen each other since the grand final, which took place on Sunday, March 12.

Viewers saw the couple grow close filming the show, where they narrowly missed out on being crowned champions to Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson and his professional partner Olivia Smart.

Their separation comes as Joey is planning an overseas move to Dubai and is in the middle of viewing properties where he can relocate and begin a new life away from Essex.

A source said: ‘Joey absolutely loved his time performing with Vanessa on Dancing On Ice – he will treasure those memories forever.

‘But for now, he’s focussing on work opportunities and beginning a new chapter in Dubai.

‘He’s definitely single and while Vanessa means a lot to him because of the experience they shared on the show, they’re just friends now.

‘Joey has a busy life and career and right now his main priority is his house move, which will be a massive change for him.’

In 2022, Joey previously discussed his plans to have five children when he starts a family in the future.

He told The Sun: ‘I feel like in ten years’ time, I am hopefully on a huge boat, yacht in Spain and I am living on that with a wife and maybe four or five kids!’

Last year, Joey was left shaken after a break-in at his home left him an ’emotional wreck’.

His bachelor pad was raided while he was on a night out with his pal James ‘Diags’ Bennewith.

Joey lost a mustard Louis Vuitton weekend bag worth £2,500, and a £1,900 grey Maison Goyard cross-body bag, as well as other valuable items, such as a black Fendi rucksack worth about £4,500.

Joey contacted Essex Police, who investigated the break-in, while friends said he was left ‘terrified and shaken’ and an ’emotional wreck’.

It is thought Joey has split his time between Dubai and Essex going forward.

Joey, who found fame on TOWIE in 2011, paid £1.6 million for the Chigwell pad in 2014 – almost half what it is now worth.