Joey Essex’s relationship history as he’s spotted kissing Maura Higgins

2022-10-27

Joey Essex has had his fair share of romances over the years and it looks like he's now got his sights set on Love Island star Maura Higgins.

Former The Only Way Is Essex star Joey, 32, was seen getting cosy with Maura, 31, at the 2022 Pride of Britain Awards at Grosvenor House in London.

Following the event, the reality TV stars were photographed kissing and left together with friends in a taxi, and reports now claim they're "planning their first date".

As Joey looks set to embark on a romance with Maura, here we take a look back through the TOWIE heartthrob's dating history…

Sam Faiers

Joey and Sam got together back in 2011. Their romance only lasted for a few months before Sam reportedly broke things off over the phone.

However, it wasn't long before the pair reignited the flame and admitted to having feelings for each other, becoming one of the main power couples on the ITVBe series.

A year later and Joey proposed to the then 21 year old Sam with her saying yes and agreeing to be his wife in 2012.

But things were on the rocks a year later when the TOWIE gang went to Marbella and the pair argued and he kissed her childhood friend. They broke things off, with Sam later saying that Joey needed to grow up.

In 2014 the pair reunited once more when Joey paid £2,000 to go on a date with Sam at a charity auction, however the spark had long since burned out.

Amber Turner

Joey briefly dated Amber Turner in 2012 and it was rumoured that the pair got together during one of Sam and Joey’s breaks.

Amber, who was 19 at the time, hadn’t joined the TOWIE cast by this point.

Amy Willerton

The next year, in 2013, Joey was reportedly dating Amy Willerton, who won the title of Miss Universe Great Britain.

The pair became close during their time on I’m A Celebrity in 2013, but after the show ended they both insisted they were just friends.

Charlotte Stuchfield

In 2015, Joey started dating new flame Charlotte Stuchfield.

Speaking to the MailOnline at the time, the TV personality said: “She’s really young and doesn’t quite understand my life. I respect her and have told her it’s hard being in the limelight but she’s really easy-going and isn’t paranoid about anyone or anything.”

On the subject of moving in at the time, Joey continued: “She keeps asking for a key but I'm saying, 'no'. I'm not having it. Allow it. I've just bought my house as well.”

Stephanie Pratt

Stephanie Pratt and Joey met on Celebs Go Dating, and shared a very steamy kiss in the star’s swimming pool.

In the final episode on 16 September 2016, the pair went to dinner together and Joey asked the MIC star to go exclusive.

And in the run up, the couple shared a loved-up selfie on Twitter. Joey uploaded the snap captioned: "Watching the finale with this one @stephaniepratt."

Stephanie uploaded an Instagram shot of the pair looking dapper ready for dinner, writing: "Can't believe it's the finale episode tonight!" And Jeph was born.

Celebs Go Dating viewers expressed on Twitter suspicion they played up the attraction to spruce up the series.

But Joey told OK! Online at the time he didn't feel the need to address the 'showmance' claims.

The former TOWIE star said: “For me, there’s no point even answering the question. I know it’s genuine, she knows it’s genuine. I trust her, she trusts me. It works and it’s perfect."

However individual commitments led the stars to eventually go their separate ways, with a source telling The Sun: “Joey wasn’t up for spending every minute in Chelsea. He genuinely fell for her… But he realised it was never going to work with him spending so much time away from home.”

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Georgie Purves

Joey started dating fashion stylist Georgie Purves in 2017, and a source at the time confirmed things were going pretty well between them.

The source said: “While they’ve known each other for a while, things got more serious in the last few months – and they have even talked about moving in together.”

“They’ve been dating for several months now, but things have been hotting up of late. They went to Dubai last month and they spent Christmas together. He also met all of her friends at her 21st birthday party.”

The couple ended up splitting up later that year.

Ellie Brown

In 2018 Joey was spotted out a lot with London model Sabreena Diamond, however he never confirmed a relationship with the pink-haired beauty.

At the time they were rumoured to be dating, Joey was also spotted kissing Love Island star Ellie Brown, with a source close to the pair telling The Sun at the time: “Ellie and Joey were all over each other at Sheesh – kissing and flirting together.

“They met for the first time there on Wednesday and immediately hit it off drinking and partying until the early hours.

“Ellie looked incredible in a sexy red outfit and was up for letting her hair down following her split from Charlie – and Joey was more than happy to be her distraction.

“He was out with Dan Edgar and Diags while she was there with girlfriends Samira and Zara and they all got along really well.

"They've been speaking to each other since and are planning to meet up but will be taking it slow."

Lorena Medina

Joey looked very loved-up with Ex On The Beach star Lorena Medina in 2020, although it wasn’t to last with the stunning brunette.

Following their split, Joey revealed he wants to “find the one.”

He told The Sun Online: “I normally date girls because I’m bored, but I want to settle down now and I do wonder how I’ll find the one.

“I’m single at the moment and I need to date someone in the industry because they’ll know the situation that if we go out, there might be people watching. I’ve dated girls before who are not in the limelight and it feels awkward.”

Lorena revealed she’d dumped Joey after he was photographed leaving Rita Ora’s house following a night of partying.

She explained to The Sun Online at the time: “I knew Joey had spent the night out because I had talked to him when he was in the cab on the way back to Essex.

“He told me, ‘I had a crazy night and I stayed at my friend’s,' and that was fine. But he didn’t tell me it was a girl and he didn’t mention Rita Ora. I told Joey, ‘This s*** can’t happen. Are you crazy?'

"‘How would you feel if I spent the night with some guy?’ I was very upset and was like, ‘F*** this. I don’t trust you. I don’t trust what you are saying’.”

Speaking about the heated split, Lorena added: “We were crying, screaming and hanging up the phone so much I got eczema all over my body.

“I didn’t want to speak to Rita and I don’t hate her. I respect her, she is super-talented. But after that Joey and I decided it was best if we didn’t talk any more.

“We said goodbye and agreed we were hurting each other too much and that it was time to end it and I haven’t spoken to him since.”

Both Joey and Rita strenuously denied anything romantic has gone on between them.

Brenda Santos

Joey dated Brazilian model Brenda Santos for a number of months in 2020, and the pair spent lockdown living together.

However it wasn't to be, and the couple called it quits with Joey's representatives confirming they'd parted ways in September.

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