I’m single but got my eye on huge British actress – she’s a sort and follows me on Instagram, says Joey Essex

JOEY Essex skated away with a killer bod after months of intensive training for Dancing On Ice left him fitter than ever.

The reality TV favourite is also single after a brief romance with his skating partner Vanessa Bauer — but keeping his options open after noting that single British actress Lily James follows him on Instagram.

Former Towie star Joey, 32, who is also looking for a new home in Dubai, told The Celeb Report on Sunday: “I’m in the best shape of my life, I’m single and getting my life together.

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

“When I meet The One I’ll definitely get married in Essex.”

Asked about Yesterday actress Lily, who recently split from her boyfriend, rock star Michael Shuman, after a two-year romance, Joey said: “She’s a sort. We do follow each other on Instagram — we’ve been following each other for a while.

“I like seeing what she’s up to. She looks good and seems like a nice girl — and we’re both single.”

Joey, who found fame on Towie 12 years ago, has dated a string of celebrity beauties.

Last year he was pictured locking lips with Love Islander Maura Higgins, and before that he was linked to pop singer Rita Ora, reality stars Sam Faiers and Amy Willerton, and Brazilian model Brenda Santos.

But Joey is baffled by the constant interest in his love life. He said: “People always want to know who I am dating. They are willing me to find Mrs Essex.

‘I have the odd drink’

“I get a lot of people messaging me pictures. I got a message from a fan recently on Instagram saying, ‘I want to buy your used socks and underwear’. It’s weird. I didn’t reply.”

Despite forming a close bond with Dancing On Ice skater Vanessa, 26, who partnered him to the runners-up spot on the ITV show in March, Joey could not see a future for them after the final.

He said: “We spent every day together working. It was really fun. I want the best for her.”

Joey bulked up as a result of the daily rehearsals on the ice and he has been keen to maintain his impressive physique by hitting the weights.

He said: “I have had to donate bags of clothes as they don’t fit me any more, at least 100 designer T- shirts. They are too tight.

“Dancing On Ice revolutionised my fitness routine. It felt like a huge gym session — it was amazing toning my legs all day.

“Being on the ice got me in good shape, and since then I’ve kept it up. I feel toned and mentally fit. I’m now pushing heavier weights.

“I’ve always been a confident guy but I feel I am now the best I can be, so maybe I’m getting a few more looks from girls when I’m walking down the street.”

Joey’s healthy lifestyle has extended to his diet, too.

He has even ditched the boozy nights out that featured heavily during Towie.

He added: “I eat a lot but I try to eat very clean. I eat steak, fish, broccoli and rice. I try to eat lot of carbs to bulk up.

“I’m not that bothered about drinking alcohol any more. I just have the odd drink to socialise nowadays. I don’t like feeling hungover, I like being able to get up and go in the mornings.”

Last month The Celeb Report revealed that Joey was house hunting in Dubai, but he says he plans to hang on to his £3million Essex mansion, which has an Ibiza-style pool.

The move comes after he was originally tempted to buy a property in Los Angeles but opted for Dubai as it was closer.

He said: “This has been on my mind for about five years.

“The plan is to buy a house in Dubai and keep my Essex gaff. I’ll split my time.

“It’s a healthier lifestyle for me in Dubai with the sunny weather and being able to go running outside.

“Loads of my mates live there and family friends. We all go and watch the football together in my mate’s penthouse. It’s as if we are in Essex. Part of the attraction is that I feel safe in Dubai. But I do get recognised a lot, even if I’m getting a juice in the morning.

“My family are all for me moving, too.

“I thought about moving to LA a few years ago but it’s just a bit too far away from family back home. The ten-hour flight is too long.”

After appearing on a host of TV shows including I’m A Celebrity, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Celebs Go Dating and landing dozens of lucrative advertising campaigns, he is more successful than he could ever have imagined.

Joey, who worked at Billingsgate fish market in London after leaving school, said: “It’s a blessing to be in this position.

“I’ll always be up for working but I want to be in the sun during my downtime.

“I’ve got a printout of my bank statement when I was working at the fish market in Billingsgate and I keep it to stay grounded.

“I’ve got my head screwed on. I own my house. No one can take it away from me — I’ve been wise with my money.”

In 2021 he opened up about the death of his mother when he was ten. It was detailed in the heartbreaking BBC1 documentary, Joey Essex: Grief And Me.

Joey and his sister Frankie, 34, were raised by their dad Don after mum Tina took her own life.

He revealed the show not only “saved” him but countless other men who have contacted him since.

Joey said: “I haven’t been to therapy for a while. I feel good now but I’d like to go every two weeks and keep it up for life.

“It helped save me. A few times a year there would be days when I wasn’t in a good place. I would be sitting there in floods of tears — anything could trigger me. I could be driving and I’d have to pull over as I’d be on bits.

“It taught me so much. My DMs on Instagram were flooded with messages from guys saying I’d saved their lives. It still happens.”