LOVE Island winner Tom Clare has defended Joey Essex as the first celebrity bombshell – saying “it was the twist we needed”.

Tom, who found love on the All Stars series with Molly Smith, said ex-Towie star Joey shouldn’t be trolled for going on the ITV2 dating show, because he’s looking for love like everyone else.

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Tom Clare has defended Joey Essex’s villa entrance as the shake-up we ‘needed’Credit: PA

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Joey shocked fans as he entered as the first ever celebrity bombshellCredit: ITV
Despite being the reality King of TV, some viewers thought it was “unfair” for a celebrity to enter a non-celeb series.

But telly favourite Tom said if ex-Islanders can return to the villa, then it’s no different if a celebrity enters.

Tom also said it was the shake-up that the programme needed.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun: “Joey’s entrance was crazy – I think it’s great though, it adds a bit of a different element to Love Island someone like a big character like Joey Essex going in.

“I was watching it and like ‘Joey..’ no way.

“But it will be a good change, it will keep the lads of their toes and the girls seem excited when he walked in.

“It’s so weird watching it back but they’ve all come across really well.

“I have no idea who his type is but I’ll be surprised if they all don’t beeline for him.

“I’m not sure what type of girl he’s looking for.”

He is also hoping that Essex lad Joey will ruffle some feathers in the coming weeks.

Love Island’s Joey Essex opens up about losing his mum when he was 10 during heart to heart with Jess White
Defending Joey’s entrance, Tom continued: “I know they’ve done it in the past when previous Love Islanders come in.

“But I think it adds a completely different element to it, some people might not like it but other will.

“I personally think it definitely brings a different element into Love Island.

“We’ll have to wait and see if it will be the Joey Show – we’ll have to see who he comes in for, ruffles a few feathers up.

“Love Island is a crazy place, I know Maya [Jama] says it every time there is a recoupling, you literally never ever know what’s going to happen, I don’t think anyone expected Joey going in.”

Joey, 33, entered the villa tonight to join the latest lot of sexy singletons looking for romance on the show.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun ahead of his debut, he said: “I just want someone to like me for me and now from what they see on TV.

“This is exactly why I’m going into the villa because you’re disconnected from the rest of the world and can focus on what actually matters on a far deeper level.”

Joey has dated a string of celebrities in the past – including Rita Ora and former Islander Maura Higgins – but now he’ll be cracking on with ‘normal’ girls.

He said: “I feel like Joey Bond, ‘the names Essex, Joey Essex. It felt like a military operation, not even the journey itself but the process of even getting through the application process and to this point.

“I got on the plane to Ibiza, I made sure I still wore my mask when I went out for dinner, and then we got the boat over to Majorca to a villa hidden in the mountains in the middle of nowhere.

“I’m extremely single right now, so I’m praying that I’m going to walk out of the villa hand in hand with the love of my life, that’s my main aim and all I care about.

“It’s difficult for me to meet girls on the outside as they judge me based on a persona so I think this experience will allow for people to see the real me.”

But some fans were not happy with Joey being a new Islander.

One wrote: “With all Joey Essex’s media training through the years he is basically guaranteed a place in the final, maybe even winning if he plays his cards right when he’s already a multi millionaire with a huge platform just seems incredibly unfair??”

A second posted: “Sam was one of the best looking guys there wth, so unfair a normal person’s time has been cut for Joey Essex.”

A third added: “So like can Joey Essex just win £50k then? Seems kinda unfair to have a millionaire in there who already has a huge fan base in a show where the public vote for people to win money.”

As the nation gears up for a summer of love, eBay UK is inviting fans to step inside the Love Island shared wardrobe for the very first time as they are invited to browse iconic Islander pieces and select a pre-loved item, inspired by Villa fashion to re-wear.

With 60 per cent consumers sharing fashion, this growing trend is why eBay is opening The Nation’s Shared Wardrobe.

Featuring iconic pieces from the villa with Islander-inspired clothing, The Nation’s Shared Wardrobe will be taking over Shoreditch on 5th June, and be opened by none other than eBay’s Pre-loved Ambassador and Islander Tom Clare.

The launch celebrates the first Love Island season where it is completely free to buy and sell pre-owned fashion on eBay UK.

From Tasha Ghouri’s yellow Versace two piece re-worn by Olivia Hawkins, to the red Jean Paul Gaultier co-ord worn first by Tasha Ghouri and then by Liberty Poole, the Islanders love to share and re-wear.

Now that fans can access buying and selling pre-loved fashion for free on the platform, eBay is encouraging the nation to take inspiration from the Islanders and embrace re-wearing.

How it works:

Attendees are encouraged to bring an item they’ve previously worn but no longer love, and get a ‘new to you’ pre-owned item from the wardrobe.
eBay’s Pre-Loved Style Director, Amy Bannerman, will be styling attendees in an item they love with fashion including House of CB tops and Rat & Boa dresses.
Ticket holders will also get a first-hand look at a number of iconic archive pieces worn by Islanders on the show.
eBay’s Pre-loved Ambassador and Islander Tom Clare will be opening the wardrobe, and a Colourologist will also help fans look and feel their best.
For the full Love Island experience, guests can bring along their bestie.

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Tom is eBay’s Pre-loved AmbassadorCredit: Getty