Joey Essex is a British television personality best known for his role in the reality television show The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE).
He is also known for participating in other television shows, such as Splash!, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, The Jump, Celebrity Exes on the Beach and Dancing on Ice.
His distinctive style, quirky sense of humour and unique way of speaking made him a popular and influential figure in British popular culture.
File
- – Full name: Joseph James Essex
- – Nickname: Joey
- – Date of birth: July 29, 1990
- – Age: 33 years old
- – Gender: Male
- – Place of birth: Southwark, London, England
- – Nationality: British
- – Occupation: TV host, businessman, author
- – Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
- – Parents: Donny Essex (father), Tina Essex (mother)
- – Siblings: Frankie Essex (sister), Charlie Sims (cousin)
- – Wife/husband: None
- – Children: None
- – Relationship status: Single
- – Net worth: £6 million
Early life and education
Joey Essex, now 33, was born on 29 July 1990 in Southwark, London, England. He is the son of Donny and Tina Essex, who own a hair salon in Brentwood, Essex. He has an older sister, Frankie, who is a television personality. He also has a cousin, Charlie Sims, who appeared on TOWIE with him.
Joey grew up in Essex and attended West Hatch High School in Chigwell, where he was a popular and outgoing student. He left school in 2006, having achieved a U in Drama, a C in Art and a D in Wood Engineering at GCSE.
He later admitted that he struggled with schoolwork and was dyslexic. In 2016, as part of a television series, he added a D grade to his GCSE General Studies, commenting, “I still don’t really know what GCSE stands for.”
Personal life
Joey Essex has had a number of romantic relationships, mostly with his TOWIE co-stars. He dated Sam Faiers from 2011 to 2014, and they became engaged in 2013 but split shortly afterwards. He then dated Amy Willerton, who he met on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, in 2013, but they split after a few months.
He also dated Stephanie Pratt, who he met on Celebs Go Dating in 2016, but they broke up after three months. He then dated Lorena Medina, who he met on Celebrity Ex on the Beach in 2020, but they also broke up after a few months.
Career
Joey Essex began his career as a hairdresser, working at his parents’ hair salon. He has also modelled for various brands and magazines. He made his television debut in 2011 when he joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex, a reality TV show that followed the lives of young people in Essex.
He quickly became one of the show’s most popular and memorable characters, thanks to his antics, catchphrases, and humorous fashion choices. He left the show in 2013 after appearing in 10 seasons.
He then pursued other television opportunities, such as appearing in the first series of Splash!, a diving competition, and the thirteenth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, a jungle survival show, where he came in fourth place.
In 2015, he won Channel 4’s The Jump, a winter sports challenge. In 2020, he appeared in the first series of Celebrity Ex on the Beach, a dating show.
In 2022, he participated in the eighth season of the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, finishing sixth. In 2023, he was the runner-up on the fifteenth season of Dancing on Ice, an ice skating competition.
Aside from television, Joey Essex has ventured into other areas, such as business, music, and writing. He launched his own clothing and accessories line, Fusey, in 2012, selling sports and casual items for men and women. He also released his own fragrance, D’Reem, in 2013, which became a bestseller.
He recorded the single Reem in 2014, which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. He also wrote two autobiographies, Being Reem and The Book of You (and Me), in 2014 and 2015, which were well received by fans.
Net worth
Joey Essex’s estimated net worth is £6 million. He makes his fortune from numerous television appearances, advertising contracts and business ventures.
Argumentative
Joey Essex has faced controversy and criticism throughout his career, largely due to his general ignorance and portrayal of Essex culture. He has been accused of being ignorant, naive and dull by some viewers and critics, who have questioned his intelligence and education.
He was also mocked for using slang words such as “reem”, “well jel” and “sort”, which he popularised on TOWIE. He defended himself by saying he was not stupid but different and did not care what people thought of him. He also said he was proud to be from Essex and represented the positive and fun side of the county.
Social media
- – Instagram name: @joeyessex
- – Twitter username: @JoeyEssex_
List of movies played
- – The Only Way Is Essex
- – Boom!
- – I’m famous…Get me out of here!
- – The jump
- – Joey Essex Education
- – Celebrity dating
- – Celebrity Juice
- – Famous ex on the beach
- – Dancing on ice
Book
- – Reem
- – Your book (and mine)
