Dancing On Ice legend ‘unrecognisable’ as they leave viewers gobsmacked with Love Island entry-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

A Dancing On Ice legend has swapped the ice rink for the Love Island villa (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

From Adam Collard (the second time) to Maura Higgins, Love Island has certainly delivered its fair share of iconic bombshells.

And the ITV reality competition this year proved to be no different.

For the first time ever, a celebrity entered the villa as a bombshell, and in news that shocked the islanders and all of us watching at home, it was none other than Dancing On Ice star Joey Essex.

‘As you know you’re on Love Island, you must always expect the unexpected,’ host Maya Jama warned the islanders, before welcoming a stranger into the villa.

Little did they know, it would actually be ‘King of Essex’ Joey Essex.

No one was expecting this! (Picture: ITV)

This was not on our 2024 bingo card (Picture: ITV)

The 33-year-old vowed he was ready to find love and declared: ‘Boys you better watch out, I’m coming for the girls.’

As well as the islanders being completely stunned, viewers at home could not believe their eyes, and had to double take to confirm it was Joey.

The Towie star had a completely new look with a buzzcut, as he strolled into the villa.

‘Joey Essex coming in as a bombshell in love island was not on my 2024 bingo card,’ viewer Ava wrote on X.

‘The way I saw the abs… the hair… the name… it didn’t click… it took me a few seconds, then I quite literally screamed “oh my god that’s joey Essex”,’ Lottie said.

Ryan added: ‘Joey Essex? Took me a minute to even realise that was him, like so unexpected I had to do a double take.’

The Dancing On Ice star is on the hunt for love (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Ahead of entering the villa, Joey told The Sun: ‘I feel like Joey Bond, “the names Essex, Joey Essex”.

‘It felt like a military operation, not even the journey itself but the process of even getting through the application process and to this point.’

He went on: ‘I’m extremely single right now, so I’m praying that I’m going to walk out of the villa hand in hand with the love of my life, that’s my main aim and all I care about.

‘It’s difficult for me to meet girls on the outside as they judge me based on a persona so I think this experience will allow for people to see the real me.’

He added: ‘I just want someone to like me for me and now from what they see on TV.

Joey wants people to see ‘the real him’ (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

‘This is exactly why I’m going into the Villa because you’re disconnected from the rest of the world and can focus on what actually matters on a far deeper level.’

This time last year, Joey, following his split from Dancing On Ice partner Vanessa Bauer, revealed he was setting his sights on finding love.

‘I’m in the best shape of my life, I’m single and getting my life together,’ he said at the time.

‘If a nice, kind girl walks into my life I’d get to know her.’

He added: ‘I’d like a girlfriend, but she needs to fit into my jigsaw puzzle. I’ve had some nice girlfriends over the years, but I need a girl to lift me up and put a smile on my face every day.’

The I’m A Celebrity star is on another ITV reality programme (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Joey rose to fame in 2011 on The Only Way Is Essex, before starring on the likes of I’m A Celebrity in 2013 and the first series of Celebrity Ex On The Beach in 2020.

He’s also appeared on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Celebrity MasterChef, Celebs Go Dating.

While on Towie, Joey found love with fellow cast member Sam Faiers, and the couple even got engaged before calling it quits in 2014.

He was then rumoured to be dating model Amy Willerton after meeting on I’m A Celebrity, and then Stephanie Pratt after hitting it off on Celebs Go Dating.

Love Island continues on Tuesday at 9pm on ITV1.

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