Both contestants and viewers were left speechless after Joey Essex entered the Love Island villa on Monday as the first bombshell of the series and the first ever series to enter an original lineup.
And it turns out the former TOWIE star, 33, also shocked his family as his cousins and sister were all left in the dark about his appearance on the ITV dating show.
Taking to Instagram Joey’s cousins Demi, Chloe and Frankie were over the moon to see the star on their TV as they confessed they had no idea he had travelled out to Mallorca.
Watching live, Demi was astounded as Joey walked in as she exclaimed: ‘Sorry what?! Joey I am deadddd. I didn’t even know this.’
Sharing his official Love Island snap she gushed: ‘Yessss @joeyessex I’m so gassed for you, little ladies Mann!!’
Joey Essex’s famous relatives have revealed they were left in the dark about his Love Island appearance as they share what they REALLY think about the former TOWIE star entering the villa (pictured Frankie, Chloe and Demi Sims – Joey’s cousins)
The former TOWIE star, 33, entered the Love Island villa on Monday as the first bombshell of the series and the first ever series to enter an original lineup
And Demi has already shared her predictions as to which of the girls might be the perfect match for Joey.
Sharing a snap of makeup artist Samantha from Liverpool she wrote: ‘I’m gonna put my bets on Joey going for Sam, what do u all think’.
Frankie was equally shocked as she cried: ”What the hell. What the hell!’ as his entrance 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.
She wrote: ‘I’m so shocked. Still getting over the shock of seeing his little face pop up!
‘Soooooo excited to watch you every night @joeyessex’.
Meanwhile Chloe is currently away in Los Angeles so was unable to watch the launch, however she still took to her Instagram Story to let fans know what she really thought of Joey’s entrance.
‘I am excited. I love Love Island and Joey’s on it. I found out when everyone else did by the way so it was a shock to me too,’ confessed Chloe.
‘But what a twist. I am actually so annoyed that I am not back there to watch it I am going to have to catch up when I am back. to London but I am going to bed and I am too excited to sleep.
Watching live, Demi was astounded as Joey walked in as she exclaimed: ‘Sorry what?! Joey I am deadddd. I didn’t even know this’
Frankie was equally shocked as she cried: ”What the hell. What the hell!’ as his entrance was unveiled in the final moments of Monday’s launch show
Sharing his official Love Island snap Demi gushed: ‘Yessss @joeyessex I’m so gassed for you, little ladies Mann!!’
And Demi has already shared her predictions as to which of the girls might be the perfect match for Joey
‘Celebrating with a Shake Shack in bed, it’s how we roll at midnight back here in LA.’
Sharing the snap from Joey’s management she joked: ‘Salty potato. Yesssss @joeyessex.’
Joey’s sister Frankie was also none the wiser about his appearance as she filmed his entrance while exclaiming: ‘Woooo Joey! Surprise surprise’.
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;’
Meanwhile Chloe is currently away in Los Angeles so was unable to watch the launch, however she still took to her Instagram Story to let fans know what she really thought of Joey’s entrance
Sharing the snap from Joey’s management she joked: ‘Salty potato. Yesssss @joeyessex’
Joey’s sister Frankie was also none the wiser about his appearance as she filmed his entrance while exclaiming: ‘Woooo Joey! Surprise surprise’
‘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’.
also revealed that bosses took ‘every precaution’ to keep Joey’s entry into the villa a secret.
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!