JOEY ESSEX went into Love Island as an adored reality TV favourite – and was hailed the saviour of the struggling dating show.
But after eight weeks of sun, sexy stuff and squabbling, he crashed out of the villa on Sunday amid accusations of bullying and fakery.
Now, the star — who was the first-ever celebrity among the “bombshell” latecomers sent in to shake up existing romances — reveals exactly how he became this summer’s villain.
And he insists leaving with his new girl, Jessy Potts, is all that matters.
In an exclusive chat with The Sun, Joey says: “I must say, genuinely, that Love Island was probably my last ever reality show.
“To carry the show on and keep it going, I was needed in a lot of situations to help the storyline progress.
“I mean, I need a medic right now because my back is killing me because I carried that show so hard.”
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After 13 years in the business, Joey feels like producers leant on him to deliver decent TV — and that meant he had to meddle in other Islanders’ business and create drama.
He was subsequently accused of bullying cast members including Mimii Ngulube, Josh Oyinsan and ex-squeeze Grace Jackson.
Viewers went so far as to say Joey had committed career suicide.
But hitting back, the star explains he was just doing his job.
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He says: “Am I a bully? No.
“Don’t get me wrong, whatever you say or do, it is what you’ve said and done. We’re surrounded by about 85 cameras with a storyline, with a show to make. That is the reality.
‘I’d switch it on and do my scene’ says Joey Essex as he admits he WAS a producer plant
“We’re all there to find love, but there needs to be a journey, there needs to be drama — so, you know, I had to be that guy.
‘I’ve got feelings, I’ve got heart, it hurt a lot’
“I’d switch it on. I’d do my scene. If I was involved in someone else’s stuff, it’s because I’ve been pulled in and dragged into that situation.
“I’ve done what I’ve done because I’m filming a television show.”
Since Love Island began in 2015, bosses have made it clear that they work with the cast to create some dramatic scenes for the show.
But was Joey really the producers’ man on the ground?
He says: “I was put in a situation where I had to do what I had to do. Do you know what I mean?
“I’m there for a reason. I was in Love Island to entertain.
“I didn’t really have much time off . . . I was very, very busy, active.
“I mean, do your readers actually think that I would go up to a girl in a challenge and kiss her in front of her boyfriend, while the girl that I actually have feelings for is stood next to her?”
At 33, Joey was the show’s oldest ever contestant. The star — who turned 34 on Monday — says: “You’ve got to remember the fact that everyone else in there is younger.
“Thirteen years ago, you know, TV was very different. You just can’t please everyone these days.
“I was wearing my cap back to front and people had something to say about that.”
His time in the villa came to an end a day before the final, when a “jury” of axed Islanders returned to vote for the least compatible of the remaining five couples.
Joey was shaken by their desire to see him go. He says: “If you want to talk about bullying — in that moment, the finger pointing at me, it not being about compatibility at all, it was all personal, all towards Joey, and to sit there and take that.
“You know, if there’s one bit of advice I could give producers, it is never put a rookie, a young Islander, or anyone, in the position that I was in when I got dumped on Love Island, because it could have been a different story.
“You’ve got to remember, I’m a human. I’ve got feelings. I’ve got heart. That was very savage. And it was very, very difficult to take.
“It hurt a lot. But, luckily, I’m very resilient and strong minded. And I’ve got a brave face.
“They know someone like me, with a strong mind, can take it. That’s why I was put in that position.”
You’ve got to remember, I’m a human. I’ve got feelings. I’ve got heart. That was very savage
Joey, who has worked on a string of ITV shows since his big break on Towie, including I’m a Celebrity, Dancing on Ice, Splash! and Educating Joey Essex, felt so strongly about the exit, he revealed he called out the producers — some of whom he has known for years.
He explains: “It’s like, ‘Why did you do that?’. They could have got me out a better way.
“I wasn’t ever there to win. You know, if someone wants to win, they don’t do the journey I did. You go a different way about it.
“If you would say I had special treatment, then I would really be worried about seeing what the worst treatment is. They know someone like me can handle it and make great television.
“Did I like that ending? Did I feel like it was the right thing to do? Did I feel like it could have been better for my head?
“Savage. But you know, again, I’m there to make a TV show.”
NO REGRETS
Despite everything, Joey insists he does not regret signing up for Love Island — which he revealed he proactively applied for two years ago, when he filmed his own audition tape and sent it in.
And, with a gleaming grin even brighter than usual thanks to his Majorca tan, he says that’s all down to gorgeous blonde Jessy.
Joey was coupled with Grace when Jessy, 25, arrived as a fellow bombshell and he was immediately intrigued. He says: “The first thing I noticed was her natural beauty. She turned around and I thought, ‘Wow’.
“And we just got along very well.
“There was a spark instantly, but in a natural way. And from the first date, there was no going back.
“I knew straight away. It didn’t take no longer than five, ten minutes.”
He adds: “I don’t think she’s told anyone this, but she used to be a cheerleader!
“She still hasn’t shown me. She’s got a lot of things up her sleeve. She’s got so many layers.
“It felt very natural just to open up to Jessy. She’s trustworthy. She’s just a very, very nice, genuine girl.”
The couple are now exclusively dating and planning a romantic getaway to the Maldives. But first, a trip to Essex’s famous Sheesh restaurant, in Chigwell, and also Mayfair, is on the cards.
Joey says with a laugh: “Sheesh is already in the diary! We talk a lot about going to the Maldives, somewhere quite remote.
“And, you know, we both haven’t experienced that type of holiday before — you can’t go to the Maldives with your mates or on your own.
“We’re really happy. I can’t wait for us to just meet my friends, my family. Times ahead are looking really exciting.” When Joey’s sister Frankie and his grandma Linda visited the villa as part of the show’s family day, both reported how struck they were by the couple’s connection.
That might be down to the night they spent in the privacy of the hideaway — where a champagne bucket was suggestively shown on screen rocking by the bedside.
But Joey says with a laugh: “I’m trying to figure out why [it was rocking]. Maybe one of the cameras was broken? I think that’s probably why.”
