Love Island fans left in shock after Joey Essex enters the villa

It's been less than one day, and already, Love Island producers have sent viewers' heads into a spin.

The 2024 instalment took to our screens earlier this evening after much anticipation, and, of course, the beautiful Maya Jama is our host dishing out the drama.

Despite the dating competition taking place in a villa in Mallorca for another year, ITV viewers have a few brand new plot twists this time around - and by the looks of things, they're starting as they mean to go on after a big-name celebrity star joined the love-hungry line-up in the very first episode!

Last week, ITV producers finally gave viewers a glimpse into this year's cast-mates and let's just say, it went down a treat with fans to discover that several of the contestants already had links to the celebrity world.

An example being Munveer Jabbal (a 30-year-old Recruitment Manager from Surrey), who revealed he's already got a claim to fame, being best pals with Piers Morgan's son Spencer.

And Ronnie Vint, a semi-pro footballer from South East London, has been rubbing shoulders with ex-Love Island star Olivia Attwood for some time now.

But the celebrity connections between this year's stars and former contestants aren't the only claims to fame.

And within an hour of the hit dating series taking to our screens, a very well-known big-name star strutted into the villa, sending fans WILD...

It it none other than The Only Way Is Essex star Joey Essex!

The TOWIE star has officially entered the villa. (ITV)

Taking to social media, one viewer penned: "IS THAT JOEY ESSEX?!?!

#loveIsland"

Another went on: "JOEY ESSEX?!?! ya good luck lads its looking rough now. might aswell start packing them suitcases back up #loveisland"

"JOEY ESSEX IS ON LOVE ISLAND WTF #loveIsland," added a third, whilst a fourth continued: "Joey ESSEX???? Is this a JOKE??? #loveisland"

For the next eight weeks, we'll see the contestants crack on with one another in a bid to find that special someone and walk away with their share of £50,000.

The last installation of the Love Island franchise, Love Island: All Stars, saw 2020 favourite Molly Smith and 2023 star Tom Clare take home the win to the delight of viewers - despite having Tom’s former flame Georgia Steele and Molly’s long-term ex Callum Jones attempting to get in the way.

The pair are still very much together, with their relationship having gone from strength to strength and treating fans to a string of loved-up holiday snaps from all over the globe.

While we're so happy for them, of course - we are very excited about the brand new series...