As the popular reality show returns, Joey Essex becomes the first-ever celebrity contestant on Love Island.

Essex has stated that he is “praying” that he will leave the island “hand in hand with the love of my life.” It is reported that Essex chose to apply to be on the show himself.

Having gained notoriety from The Only Way Is Essex, the 33-year-old has stated that he is “extremely single right now” and that he intends to leave the island “hand in hand with the love of my life.”

On Monday, the ITV dating series made a comeback, bringing additional candidates to the Majorca, Spain villa. The host, Maya Jama, made her appearance wearing a white dress.

Jama responded by saying: “Well it’s good to see you’re all settled in, as you know you are in Love Island, you must always expect the unexpected.”So please give Joey a warm welcome.”

The TV personality claimed to be “the king of Essex” and declared his desire to locate his “queen”.

He is referred to as the “first celebrity contestant” on ITV.

Before ITV executives made a concerted effort to conceal his participation, Essex made the decision to seek to be on the show himself, according to The Sun.

Before departing for the villa, Essex made an exclusive statement to the newspaper, saying, “I feel like Joey Bond, ‘the name’s Essex, Joey Essex.” Not the trip per se, but the process of even getting through the application process and to this point felt like a military operation. My primary goal and all that matters to me is to leave the villa holding hands with the love of my life, as I am now incredibly single.”

After making guest appearances on The Only Way Is Essex from 2011 to 2013, Essex went on to appear in other comparable shows such as Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, and Celebs Go Dating and Dancing On Ice.

Calum Best, Rebecca Loos, and Lee Sharpe were among the contestants on the first season of Love Island, which debuted as Celebrity Love Island in 2005. A second season of the show aired in 2006, and in 2015 a redesigned version of the show sans celebrities debuted.

Jama informed the other participants prior to Essex’s arrival on Love Island: “First impressions matter.” Now, boys and girls, rank each other from most like boyfriend and girlfriend material to least like a potential partner.”

Jama went on to say that the rankings will determine their pairing.

Among the couples were Nicole Samuel, 24, an accounts manager from Aberdare, and Sean Stone, 24, a salesman from Hertford; and Mimii Ngulube, 24, a mental health nurse from Portsmouth, and Munveer Jabbal, 30, a recruitment manager from Surbiton.

The other partners were Harriett Blackmore, 24, a dancer and personal shopper from Brighton, and Ciaran Davies, 21, a surveyor from Pencoed, South Wales; Samantha Kenny, 26, a make-up artist from Liverpool, and Sam Taylor, 23, a hair stylist from Chesterfield; and Jess White, 25, a retail manager from Stockport, and Ronnie Vint, 27, a semi-professional football player from London.

They were joined by Ayo Odukoya, a 25-year-old model from Canning Town, and Patsy Field, a 29-year-old office administrator from Orpington.

Patsy shared her bed with her mother. Patsy was born with Erb’s palsy, a paralysis of the arm due to damage to the upper group of the arm’s major nerves as a result of a difficult birth.

She clarified that other than the same room, her mother did not have a place for her to remain at her house.

During the episode, Ciaran acknowledged that when he was eighteen, he had “been with” a woman who was older than forty.

Tuesday at 9 p.m. on ITV2 and ITVX, Love Island continues.