Joey Essex has become the first bombshell to enter the Love Island villa, after bosses took ‘every precaution’ to keep his entry a secret.
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.
Insiders told MailOnline that Joey’s entry was kept a closely-guarded secret with the star forced to take a ferry to Mallorca in a bid to keep it under wraps.
It remains to be seen which of the six girls will catch Joey’s eye, as he enters the villa looking for love.
Joey Essex has become the first bombshell to enter the Love Island villa, after bosses took ‘every precaution’ to keep his entry a secret
It comes after host Maya Jama flaunted her gorgeous curves in a sizzling black thigh-split dress as she kicked off the new series in typically stylish fashion
It comes after host Maya Jama flaunted her gorgeous curves in a sizzling black thigh-split dress as she kicked off the new series in typically stylish fashion.
The presenter stunned in the plunging number that showcased her toned pins in with a very daring slit.
Maya styled her long dark tresses in a sleek straight style and opted for dewy and radiant makeup.
The presenter, stunned in the plunging number that showcased her toned pins in with a very daring slit
For her other look she wowed in a white crochet mini dress and had her hair in glossy waves.
The long-awaited new series of Love Island kicked off on Monday night, but thousands of die-hard fans were left in the dark after ITV’s online streaming service was hit by technical difficulties.
Viewers took to social media to express their frustration after being unable to log into ITVX, meaning they missed the show’s opening moments.
The new series sees 10 excited new singletons move into the famous villa in Mallorca, before a shock twist reveals the first couples of the new series.
Angry tweets included: ‘ITVX now is not the time to be playing up; So everyone’s ITVX is doing tomfoolery… ITV have shame actually the worst streaming service available.’
‘Anyone else’s ITVX down? I need to watch Love Island ffs;’
‘How can my ITVX just crash nah; ITVX get all your affairs in order NOW… there should be no lagging with one thousand ads;’
‘Now why is ITVX down when Love Island started four minutes ago.’
The presenter, 29, stunned in the plunging number that showcased her toned pins in with a very daring slit
She boosted her height with strappy heels and accessorised with sparkly silver earrings while posing up a storm
For her other look she wowed in a white crochet mini dress and heels and had her hair in glossy waves
After around 20 minutes to troubles, ITVX got back up and running, meaning viewers could tune into the first couplings of the series.
It comes after fans also shared their confusion upon learning that new girl Harriett Blackmore has only been single for four months.
The 24-year old, a dancer and personal shopper from Brighton, has flown to Majorca as anticipation builds ahead of the show’s eleventh series, which launches on June 3.
But in her video tape ahead of entering the villa she told how she had only been single for a very short amount of time.
While ITV have since confirmed she began negotiations with them about starring on the show after her breakup, many on Twitter have still questioned if she was in a relationship when she began her application.
It comes after friends claimed that she told an on-off boyfriend she loved him just days before confirming her participation in the ITV dating show.
Some fans were quick to point out a possible overlap after her newly-single status was revealed, as they penned online: ‘4 months!???? when did she even apply for Love Island.’
‘4 months single, is that it.’,
‘Doesn’t the process to get on love island take longer than 4 months?’.
‘Single for four months…how long does the application process take.’
However one viewer pointed out: ‘Sometimes Love Island contacts people on their socials and invite them. So they might have only a month to enter the villa.’
While former Islander Brett Staniland shared his own application process experience, saying: ‘Mine was pretty much 4 months from first reaching out to confirming me.’
ITV have confirmed she was single when she was in the application process for the show.
It comes after last week friends claimed Harriett told an on-off boyfriend she loved him just days before confirming her participation in the show.
The announcement she was joining the show has been overshadowed by claims that she was still romantically connected to Josh Curling, 25, while ITV producers prepared to name her among 12 new contestants.
The couple originally ended their three-year relationship in January, during which Curling dated another woman, before reuniting in April.
Friends claim she wanted to tell him about the Love Island opportunity but didn’t know how to broach the subject.
Blackmore is thought to have visited Curling’s home as recently as May 24, during which she gave him a scrapbook of photos detailing their stop-start relationship and told him she ‘loved’ him, The Sun reports.
But hours after she leaving she sent an unexpected text, telling him: ‘I need time to focus on myself and what I’m doing.’
A source said: ‘Josh had suspicions she was going on the show. She was going up to London and saying she was being interviewed for [online retailer] PrettyLittleThing.
‘He asked if she was going on but at the time she said she would never go on Love Island.
‘Josh feels like he’s been led down a garden path. He was in love and during their relationship they were talking about moving out and getting married.
‘They had a good relationship but it fizzled out in January when they started arguing all the time.
‘But they seemed to have been working on getting back to where they were.’
Blackmore has since addressed those claims, telling The Sun: ‘We kind of broke up out of the blue but we’ve remained in contact and, and I think we’ll always be friends, there’s no bad blood there.
‘You know the ex-boyfriend’s always going to have a lot to say and even if it’s not the ex-boyfriend, one of his friends…. he’s not expecting me to be on TV, so he’s probably got a lot of emotions, he’s probably got a lot of feelings.
‘But I’m just gonna clarify, we’ve had conversations and we remained in contact but yeah, for me, the relationship ended in January.’
Blackmore has also been filmed defending an unnamed Premier League footballer after he was accused of allegedly attacking a group of women.
In the video, which has been widely circulated on social media, she is seen wading in after the woman filming points at a man – who conceals his identity in a cap and hooded coat – and declares: ‘You beat up my friends’.
Blackmore then appears in frame to say: ‘He’s a Premier League football player, so please leave him alone.’
As the group of girls respond: ‘I don’t give a f**k’, she responds: ‘Well I give a f**k, so leave. Just leave’.
The long-awaited new series of Love Island kicked off on Monday night, but thousands of die-hard fans were left in the dark after ITV’s online streaming service was hit by technical difficulties
Viewers took to social media to express their frustration after being unable to log into ITVX, meaning they missed the show’s opening moments
She strutted her stuff into the villa with her usual confidence and blew away viewers with her looks
The woman filming is then heard breaking down in tears and claiming: ‘He kicked me’, while Blackmore continues to say: ‘He’s a Premier League footballer, so leave.’
With stunned onlookers watching on, she continues: ‘Why are you filming? Give me your phone’, before the mystery man walks over to her and the video cuts out.
The footage was uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, hours after Blackmore was unveiled as an Islander, with the caption: ‘Love Island, do better.’
MailOnline has contacted a Love Island spokesperson for comment.
LOVE ISLAND 2024: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
NAME: Mimii Ngulube
AGE: 24
FROM: Portsmouth
OCCUPATION: Mental Health Nurse
WHY LOVE ISLAND? The pool in Portsmouth is not giving. I’ve tried dating, speaking to people on social media and it just hasn’t been successful. Applying was a spontaneous thing, I didn’t expect to get here!
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? My girls are my rocks and I’m theirs so I’ll be a good friend as well as going in there to find a man. I like dressing up so I’ll bring style, and I’d like to think I’m quite funny so I’ll make people laugh. Bringing honesty as well – I’m good at picking up on people’s personality traits and side-eyeing those who might be a liar.
NAME: Sam Taylor
AGE: 23
FROM: Chesterfield
OCCUPATION: Hair Stylist
WHY LOVE ISLAND? At this point in my life I just want the opportunity to find a real connection with someone. I’ve been looking for that connection for quite some time but I’ve never really found it, I’m hoping I find that spark in the Villa.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE ISLANDERS TO KNOW? I’d say not to judge a book by its cover because how I look compared to what I do for work might not necessarily add up. You wouldn’t look at me as a tall guy covered in tattoos and think that I make girls’ hair look pretty for a living.
NAME: Patsy Field
AGE: 29
FROM: Orpington
OCCUPATION: Office Administrator
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE ISLANDERS TO KNOW? I’ve got something very special about me which is my disability, it’s a condition I was born with called Ebs Palsy. It doesn’t define who I am , but it makes me a little different, although I’ve learnt to get on with it and it’s never held me back.
HOW WOULD FRIENDS/FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? My friends would say that I’m the loudest person in the group, I’m the one who’s always up for doing a dare, the life and soul of the party. My family would say that I’m bossy and that it’s always my way or the highway, they’d say I rule the roost.
NAME: Sean Stone
AGE: 24
FROM: Hertford
OCCUPATION: Sweet Salesman
WHY LOVE ISLAND? I’ve always been one for relationships and when you have found someone you want to be with it’s the best feeling. Now is the perfect time, the one thing that is missing is my soulmate.
HOW WOULD FRIENDS/FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? Very loving, caring and thoughtful. I’m the kind of guy that if you broke down on the motorway and needed your tyre changed, I’d be there at any time of night.
NAME: Harriett Blackmore
AGE: 24
FROM: Brighton
OCCUPATION: Dancer & Personal Shopper
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? I’ll bring the entertainment for everyone in the Villa, whether that’s making the girls laugh or making the boys turn their heads, I’m sure that I’ll bring the drama.
CLAIM T0 FAME? Being a bit of an IT girl in Brighton, I’ve done personal shopping for the rapper Arrdee and one of my best friends is Saffron Barker the YouTuber.
NAME: Ayo Odukoya
AGE: 25
FROM: Canning Town
OCCUPATION: Model
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? I think I’d bring excitement and joy. I think people would have someone to come to and talk to and feel comfortable being around or to have a laugh with. I think I’m somebody everyone would take to.
WHY SHOULD SOMEBODY DATE YOU? I feel like the way I carry myself is very respectful and I think people take to that and once you show who you are to somebody you get it back tenfold. The way I am gives off a good enough energy for people to feel comfortable around me.
NAME: Samantha Kenny
AGE: 26
FROM: Liverpool
OCCUPATION: Makeup Artist
WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? I think I will definitely bring some fire, I’m very opinionated and wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m really bubbly too so I’ll definitely have a laugh as well as bringing some scouse glamour.WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I don’t get out enough, I work weekends and tend to not go out in Liverpool anymore. If I want a night out I go down to London as I love the boys down south. Tall, dark and cockney is my type.
NAME: Munveer Jabbal
AGE: 30
FROM: Surbiton, Surrey
OCCUPATION: Recruitment Manager
WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I haven’t found the right girl, I’m quite picky and have high standards. Dating in London is horrible. You don’t know who’s single… but now you’re putting me in a place where everyone’s single so there’s no issues around that. CLAIM T0 FAME? I’m mates with Spencer Morgan (Piers Morgan’s son). We met when I moved to Fulham in 2018.
NAME: Nicole Samuel
AGE: 24
FROM: Aberdare, Wales
OCCUPATION: Accounts Manager
WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I’ve been enjoying single life and the attention of different boys, it’s fun. I’ve enjoyed being able to go on holiday with the girls and not having to worry about someone back home. All the girls are there texting in their room and I’m out till 4 in the morning living my best life.
WHAT IS SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU? I became a world champion dancer in 2011, not many people know that. I was a professional street dancer.
NAME: Ronnie Vint
AGE: 27
FROM: South East London
OCCUPATION: Semi Professional Footballer
WHAT’S YOUR TYPE ON PAPER? I want someone that’s family orientated, caring and career minded. Lookwise, I like blondes with nice boobs but am partial to a brunette too.
CLAIM T0 FAME? Bradley Dack is my best friend and he and Olivia are a big part of my life. I call Olivia my big little sister, she always looks out for me.
NAME: Jess White
AGE: 25
FROM: Stockport
OCCUPATION: Retail Manager
WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I don’t underestimate the fact that I’m hard work. I know what I want and I’m not easily pleased. When you’re a loud, outgoing woman, sometimes it can intimidate men – men don’t always want that.
WHAT’S YOUR TYPE ON PAPER? I love a set of white Turkey teeth but a good set of Turkey teeth. I would say personality traits, you have to be family orientated. You have to be tall, you can’t be shorter than me, I can’t be having to question whether I can wear heels around you and what height of heels I can wear. If you’re vertically challenged, it’s not for me.
NAME: Ciaran Davies
AGE: 21
FROM: Pencoed, South Wales
OCCUPATION: Surveyor
WHAT’S YOUR TYPE ON PAPER? Obviously looks but humour is a big thing for me, I’m a bit of a wind up so I want a girl who can give it back. Loyalty is another one for me, I think that’s the most important thing to look for in a relationship.
CLAIM T0 FAME? When I was in Malia on a boys holiday I pretended to be Liam Reardon from series 7 to get into a club because they wouldn’t let us in. It worked and we ended up getting a private booth and free drinks all night.