Love Island's Joey Essex says mum's tragic death when he was just 10 causes 'trust issues'

They may be busy soaking up the sun and 'going for chats' in the Love Island villa, but the 2024 cast have also waved goodbye - perhaps temporarily - to their careers for a summer of love. As the eleventh series of Love Island continues to bring us more drama, bombshells and dumpings, OK! takes a look at what the Islanders did for work before becoming the stars who grace our TV screens every evening. Not only is there reality TV royalty starring on the show but there's also a mental health nurse, a semi-pro footballer and a HR coordinator.

Love Island's Samantha Kenny and Patsy Field have shown they're not letting getting dumped from the villa get them down.The girls, who started in the original cast of the 2024 ITV2 show earlier this month, were spotted out partying in London together with friends.The group enjoyed watching Girls Aloud from a box on Saturday night. Patsy, 29, posted a video of Samantha, 26, dancing and singing along to their hit song Love Machine. Later on she shared an update from a taxi, showing the party carrying on as passengers including Liverpudlian Sam, singing and dancing in the car.

The 26-year-old make-up artist from Liverpool had been coupled up with TOWIE original Joey Essex for the past two weeks, before bombshell Grace Jackson arrived and rekindled her romance with her ex – leaving Samantha high and dry. Speaking exclusively to new just days after her exit, Samantha has revealed she has no regrets about pursuing a romance with Joey, but slams him for wasting her time and “disregarding her feelings”. And, following rumours that Joey and Grace “didn’t ever split upafter their fling last summer, Samantha has questioned their relationship.

It's hotting up in the Love Island villa - particularly in Joey Essex’s bed, as the TOWIE star smooches up a storm with bombshell Grace Jackson. While the couple, who originally met on holiday and briefly dated , claim they haven’t seen each other in over a year, recently dumped islanders Munveer and Patsy aren’t so sure that’s true. Speaking exclusively to OK!'s Love Island Dumping Debrief - OK!'s weekly video series where the 2024 cash unpack the latest drama from the series - Patsy and Munveer gave their opinion on what they think about Joey and Grace’s romance.

Love Island fans have called out Joey Essex and Grace Jackson for allegedly "staging" a dramatic moment, hot on the heels of Samantha Kenny's unexpected exit.The duo seemed to be embroiled in a heated argument over Joey's handling of the situation with Samantha, which resulted in an emotional villa atmosphere and a shocking walkout. Samantha faced a harsh elimination from the show during a dramatic recoupling, ending up alone following what viewers saw as Joey's heartbreaking betrayal.

Two brand-new and stunning, bombshells Matilda June-Draper and Konnor Ewudzi have entered into the Love Island villa. However, within just seconds of their arrival, they’ve already stirred up drama for one couple. Ronnie Vint who has famously been in love triangles since he first came into the villa shockingly declared he knows new girl Matilda.

Samantha Kenny's mum has taken a swipe at Joey Essex for 'ruining' her daughter's experience on Love Island after she was brutally dumped from the villa.The 26 year old was sent home on Tuesday, 18 June, after she was left single following a recoupling around the fire pit. The beauty entered the Love Island villa on day one and after the shock arrival of TOWIE star Joey Essex, the pair coupled up. Despite highs and lows, Samantha and Joey remained as a couple for around two weeks and in Love Island terms - that's pretty serious.

Love Island fans believe Joey Essex and his ex-Grace Jackson may have organised to meet again in the villa after dating last year - and that they may never have split up.The pair revealed they had dated last summer and have very quickly rekindled their romance just days after Grace walked into the villa as a bombshell. Joey and Grace met while on holiday in Ibiza last year, and although they continued their romance when they returned home, the bombshell confirmed that things were left frosty.

The drama in Love Island is about to reach boiling point - with a massive never seen before twist. In Sunday 16 June's episode, the latest bombshell Grace Jackson stirs things up when she receives a tantalising text that announces, "Grace, Tiffany and Will, It's time to pack a bag and get ready for a night away with an Islander of your choice.

Love Island bombshell Grace Jackson surprised her ex Joey Essex by walking into the Love Island villa - and it didn't take long for her to spill all about their fling. In Friday night's episode, three bombshells entered the villa - including blonde Grace, who once dated the TOWIE star. Reacting to Grace's arrival, Joey turned to Sean and said: "I used to see that girl…that blonde girl." Samantha then probed Joey about his history with Grace, asking: "Do you know her?" Joey sheepishly replied: "Yeah.

Things could get very complicated in the Love Island villa very soon, as 25 year old bombshell Grace Jackson is set to stir things up during her entrance to the villa this week.The blonde beauty is one of three new bombshells – along with Wil Anderson and Tiffany Leighton – who have entered the villa, and it turns out that Grace knows not just one, but two of the current Islanders. Grace, who co-owns a social media marketing agency in Manchester and also works as a model, is Joey Essex’s ex, with the pair having dated for six weeks earlier this year.

It’s been five years since Chris Taylor first rose to fame on Love Island and, while he may not have found love on the show, he has had one heck of a ride ever since. After his appearance raised Chris’s profile and even led to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in the hit movie Barbie, the 33-year-old returned to the villa for a second go at romance in January in Love Island: All Stars. And with the iconic dating show back on our screens, Chris chats exclusively about what life on the ITV2 show is really like – from queuing for cameras to leaving the villa for cheat meals.

Food is pretty a big deal in the Love Island villa - but for one Islander they couldn't wait to escape and go on a hunt for a McDonald's. Former contestant Chris Taylor - who also shot to fame in the Barbie movie - revealed that on their 'days off' the boys and girls would separate, and the boys would be on the lookout for some junk food. Chris, who first appeared on Love Island season five and later on the spin-off All Stars series this year, said: "They made us eat out of troughs like pigs [in the villa]! Nah, I’m only joking, it’s just pretty standard catering.

Two Love Island stars may be packing their bags and signing up for a very different type of adventure, as it has been reported they are lined up to appear in this year’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. According to The Sun, the two ex-Islanders competing in the series known as TV’s toughest reality show will be Chloe Burrows, who appeared on Love Island in 2021, and Adam Collard, who was on the dating series in 2018 and 2022.

Recently, Love Island fans have been questioning Joey Essex regarding a comment he made about his past stint on The Only Way Is Essex to his fellow islanders.

Love Island spoilers for the episode that airs on Monday 10 June see Samantha Kenny attempt to gain clarity on her connection to Joey Essex.The couple go for a deep chat to discuss where their connection will lead, and as Samantha insists 'I'm not stupid', another comment leads Joey to doubt her intentions. Also in tonight's show, Ronnie Vint pulls Harriett Blackmore for a chat in the Hideaway Retreat as livid Jess White watches on.

Love Island Aftersun returned with a huge first show as Maya Jama took a look back over the first week of the dating series. Ex-Love Islanders Indiyah Polack, Amy Hart and Chris Taylor joined Maya in dissecting the drama from the love triangle between Ayo Odukoya, Mimii Ngulube and Uma Jammeh to Ronnie Vint’s tough love to Jess White.

Joey Essex made a star-studded arrival into the Love Island villa earlier this week, making history as the first ever celebrity bombshell to appear on the ITV reality dating show.

Katie Price has slammed Joey Essex’s stint in the Love Island villa. The TOWIE legend became the first celebrity bombshell to enter the villa on Monday 3 June, but it doesn’t looks like everyone approves of his decision. "I don't think it was a good move for him,” the former glamour model said on her podcast, The Kate Price Show.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. New bombshells have entered the villa. Season 11 of “Love Island,” which kicked off on Monday night, will again see contestants competing for love in Mallorca, Spain where they’ll be joined by host Maya Jama who took over from Laura Whitmore in 2022.