THE sizzling chemistry between Joey Essex and Grace Jackson has certainly turned up the heat on ITV’s Love Island.
Model Grace, 25 enjoyed a tryst with Joey, 33, last year, but their romance soon soured, which Grace later admitted left her feeling hurt and confused.
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But now speculation is rife that their reunion is staged, on the basis that TOWIE star Joey would have stipulated plans to reintroduce his ex-girlfriend, into his contract, as this year’s big celebrity signing.
Writing on Reddit, many followers confess they were left unconvinced by Joey’s mock surprise when Grace entered as one of the bombshells last week.
One said: “Joey probably knew for months he was gonna be in the villa and like others have said, he’s a celebrity so he’s got a contract for the show. They both knew they were going to be in the villa together. It seems like Joey always knew she was coming in.”
Meanwhile another said: It’s very likely they spoke prior to the season starting and he was just waiting for her to show up this entire time.
You can see his whole demeanor change once she entered the villa. It also explains why he didn’t really give any of the other girls the time of day.”
Another viewer suggested that Joey’s lukewarm rapport with Samantha Kenny, 27, in Casa Amor, was due to the imminent arrival of his ex.
“Acting all weird when she came in, now That’s why he never really kissed Samantha because he was waiting for her to come in. They have to stop bringing celebs in and their exes looking for more clout, give a chance to others.”
However others seem to be enjoying the entertainment value. “I’m not as upset by this manufactured storyline as everyone else bc nothing else is happening and they actually have chemistry.”
Indeed Joey and Grace have been generating some of the steamiest contet ever to be seen in the history of Love Island. So much so that producers have been forced to pull some of the footage.
Joey, 33, dated Grace, 25, briefly in 2023 and things have dramatically escalated since their rendez vous in the villa and show bosses are said to be delighted with the couple’s attempts to spice up the show.
A source told The Sun: “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen chemistry like this on Love Island. “We always wanted to bring sex back to the villa but didn’t expect this kind of tension so soon.
“There was genuinely so much footage of Joey and Grace at it in Casa Amor, bosses were spoilt for choice and some scenes had to be left out of the edit.
“Because they knew each other before, their entire relationship is on fast forward and it’s steamy stuff. Joey can’t keep his hands off her.”
Over the weekend Tiffany Leighton asks Grace if she and Joey had previously consummated their relationship. Grace replied: “Uh huh. Was it good? Yeah…”
Later, she and Joey discussed why their spark fizzled out after they met on an “unforgettable” holiday in Ibiza last summer.
But the Manchester-based model also confessed that she’d be prepared to relocate southwards to give their relationship the best chance in the future.
Only time will tell.
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