Joey Essex


Joey Don Essex is an English television personality. He came to prominence for his appearances on the ITV reality series The Only Way is Essex ''. He went on to appear on various reality shows, including Splash!, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, The Jump, Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity Ex on the Beach, Dancing on Ice, and Love Island''.
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Education

Essex attended West Hatch High School in Chigwell, Essex. He left school in 2006, having received a U in Drama, a C in Art and a D in Design & Technology at GCSE. Ten years later, as part of a television series, he added a D in General Studies to his qualifications, commenting that "I still don't really know what GCSE stands for."

Television career

Essex first appeared in The Only Way is Essex as a supporting cast member in the second series with his cousin Chloe Sims but was then promoted to a main cast member in the third series. In 2011, the TOWIE cast recorded and released a single titled "Reem". In 2013, Essex competed in the first series of Splash! where he was eliminated during the "splash-off" in the second heat against television presenter Charlotte Jackson. On 13 November 2013, it was announced that Essex had quit The Only Way Is Essex. Essex also appeared in the thirteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and was voted out on 6 December 2013 after 20 days in the jungle, finishing in fourth place.
In March 2014, Essex starred in a one-off documentary called Educating Joey Essex, taking place in South Africa, narrated by Phillip Schofield. ITV2 later ordered a full series that began in June 2014. In 2016, ITV announced that the series has been picked up for a seven part second series; the series aired in the summer of that year with the first episode titled "The Queen's 90th Birthday". In 2015, Essex won the second series of Channel 4's reality show The Jump in 2015, and in 2016, Essex took part in the E4 reality dating series Celebs Go Dating. It was later confirmed that Essex would return to the show for its second series in 2017.
In 2017, he ranked in fourth place on the Essex Power 100 list, being named the fourth most powerful person in Essex. In 2018, Essex was a guest in the fourth series of BBC One's Michael McIntyre's Big Show. In 2020, Essex appeared on the second series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, as well as MTV's Celebrity Ex on the Beach. In 2021, he appeared in the E4 series Celebs Go Dating: The Mansion.
In 2022, he participated in the eighth season of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, entering the camp as an intruder in the second episode and finishing the show in sixth place. In 2023, Essex came second place on the fifteenth series of Dancing on Ice.
In June 2024, Essex entered the Love Island villa as a contestant on the eleventh series. He entered on the evening of Day 1 as the first "bombshell" of the series. Essex is the first celebrity to appear on the revived version of the show.

Other ventures

Businesses

On 8 March 2013, Essex launched a hair products range, Joey Essex: D'Reem Hair. On 23 March 2013, he opened his shop Fusey in Brentwood. The shop closed in 2016. On 12 September 2013, Essex launched two fragrances, Fusey aftershave for men and My Girl perfume for women. In February 2016, Essex appeared in adverts for Batchelors Cup-a-Soup. In May 2017, it was announced that Essex would be launching a clothing line titled DAFDEA.

Boxing

In November 2024, Essex was set to make his MF–professional boxing debut but withdrew prior to the official announcement. On 18 July 2025, Essex officially announced his boxing debut, this time against Portuguese influencer Numeiro set to take place on 30 August at Manchester Arena in Manchester on the Misfits 22 – Ring of Thrones undercard.

Personal life

Essex was engaged to fellow TOWIE cast member Sam Faiers, but later split up. They reconciled later in 2012. He then proposed to Faiers again in March 2013 and she accepted. However, the couple split up again on-screen in June 2013 following several arguments between the pair. In October 2014, they announced they had split up "for good". In summer 2023, Essex was previously linked to model Grace Jackson before ending their romance but reuniting on Love Island in 2024.
In June 2012, Essex was mugged at knifepoint in Hammersmith, London.
Essex, whose mother took her own life when he was ten years old, has been an ambassador for Child Bereavement UK since 2014. He addressed her suicide and his grief in the BBC Three documentary Joey Essex: Grief and Me broadcast on 3 June 2021.
Essex moved to Dubai in 2023, following his stint on Dancing on Ice, after thieves reportedly broke into his home in January 2023.

Filmography

; Guest appearances
Selling sunset -season 8, 2 episodes

MF–Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
1Win1–0Numeiro430 Aug 2025