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JOEY Essex's ex Jess Wright has spoken out for the first time about their surprise romance after being revealed as a Love Island bombshell.

The 33-year-old said he's "looking for love" in the villa and chose to be "respectfully ruthless" by sending a boy home after stealing his girl.

Jess Wright had a brief romance with Joey Essex in 2011
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Jess Wright had a brief romance with Joey Essex in 2011Credit: ITV2
The 38-year-old former Towie star has spoken out about Joey
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The 38-year-old former Towie star has spoken out about JoeyCredit: Splash News
Joey joined Love Island as a bombshell this week
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Joey joined Love Island as a bombshell this weekCredit: Rex

Die-hard Towie fans will remember back in 2011 when Joey and Jess shared a saucy snog in Mark Wright's final series.

The pair's fling was short-lived and they both went their separate ways.

Now, speaking to MailOnline, Jess has reacted to seeing Joey on telly as the show's first-ever celebrity signing.

Jess said: "I haven't watched it, but I've obviously seen it all over [social media]. I think it's great. I think Joey's just so much fun. He might be, you know, 33 but he still is young at heart and he's obviously single.

READ MORE ON JOEY ESSEX

"Obviously, I knew Joey on Towie and we were all kids and young and everything else and times moved on."

The pair haven't seen each other in "years", admits Jess - but proving there's no bad blood she added: "I think I've been off Towie now for about I wanna say eight years, which is nearly a decade. So yeah, it's crazy, but no, we all had fun on there.

"I really wish him Joey well. He's just a nice guy."

Joey is currently coupled up with Samantha Kenny, but was whisked into the Hideaway by bombshell Uma Jammeh.

Samantha was left in tears by the shrewd move - and lack of reassurance from Joey.

However her family are still rooting for the couple - who are seven years apart in age.

Love Island's Samantha breaks down in tears as she watches Joey chats up bombshell

"We're rooting for them! We love him. He's absolutely goregous. Joey is fun, good looking and he's got everything for Sam," Samantha's sister April told .

Follow our live coverage of Love Island which continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2.

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