Joey Essex’s nan Linda Sims makes brutal dig at his famous exes as she says Love Island star needs ‘normal’ girlfriend
JOEY Essex’s gran has lifted the lid on why she thinks none of his previous relationships have lasted.
In an appearance on Lorraine, Linda Sims and his cousin Chloe weighed in on his dating history.
They shared their sympathy for Samantha who was brutally jilted by the TOWIE star, with his nan saying: “I did feel for her because you could tell that she really liked him.”
However, she took a different tone when it came to some of his previous relationships off screen.
When presenter Christine Lampard asked why Joey hasn’t settled down yet given he’s such a catch, Linda made a subtle dig at some of his famous exes, saying he needs a “normal” girlfriend.
In response to what he is looking for, she added: “A normal person. He’s had many girlfriends but they never last.
“I mean he’s done everything in his short life, he’s met a lot of girlfriends I say and none of them ever last. I think he really wants to settle down now.”
Chloe chimed in: “Yeah he’s actively dating and I would say he is genuinely looking for love.
“He has said to us recently that he’d like to settle down and meet somebody and he’s quite a homely person as well.
“He likes that family feeling so if it works out with Gracey he would happily settle down.”
Joey Essex is best known for his time on on ITVBe’s The Only Way Is Essex, which he joined in 2011.
He’s been romantically linked to many stars over the years – including Rita Ora, Towie’s Sam Faiers, model Lorena Medina and reality favourite Stephanie Pratt.
For the moment he has reunited with model Grace Jackson on Love Island, who he had a six week whirlwind romance with in Dubai.
She was left hurt and confused when he suddenly dumped her, and made it clear she wanted to get some answers from him upon arrival in the villa.
Joey Essex's famous exes
Sam Faiers – Joey dated Towie co-star Sam Faiers from 2011.
The pair were one of the original Essex duos, and were together on and off for three years before ending the relationship for good in September, 2014.
Amy Willerton – Joey was rumoured to be dating his I’m A Celeb co-star Amy Willerton in 2013, when they both appeared on the show together.
The romance soon fizzled out afterwards and Willerton, who won the title of Miss Universe Great Britain said she found it difficult.
Speaking to the Daily Star Sunday newspaper, she said: “The attention after we left the show was really hard for me. While Joey had a strong management team behind him, I didn’t really have anybody in my corner.”
Stephanie Pratt – Made In Chelsea star and US born socialite, Stephanie Pratt, dated Joey for three months.
They fell for each other while appearing in Celebs Go Dating and shared a steamy kiss in Joey’s swimming pool.
But he dumped her in October 2016 for making him “spend too much time in Chelsea”.
Lorena Medina – Joey met model Lorena Medina on MTV reality show Ex On The Beach in 2019.
Their relationship seemed to be going well after Joey showed her around his hometown of Chigwell in Essex. But the pair split in February 2020.
Lorena had moved into his home in Chigwell, Essex, in September 2019, but they had a furious bust-up after he was snapped entering singer Rita Ora’s home in the early hours of the morning.
Rita Ora – Joey’s ex Lorena revealed to The Sun that she dumped Joey after he spent a wild night out with Rita Ora early in 2020.
He was holed up for 13 hours in Rita’s mansion after the pair had tried to avoid being seen together by taking separate cars between venues.
However, the pair have denied that there was anything romantic between them.
Joey said: “We have known each other for years. She’s a nice girl but we’re just friends.”
Vanessa Bauer – Joey was rumoured to have had a brief romance with Dancing on Ice pro skater Vanessa Bauer during his stint on the hit ITV show in 2023.
Rumours of the pair’s relationship circled for months in the lead up to the show airing, with Vanessa exclusively denying the whispers to the Sun in November 2022.
The pair came runners-up during the final in March – and while it seemed like they were close on the show, it appeared to have fizzled out shortly after.
By May 2023, Joey confirmed he was single and said he could not see a future for them after the final.