What happened between Grace Jackson and Joey Essex?

21 January 2025, 17:46

Why did Joey and Grace end things? Picture: ITV/Instagram

By Abbie Reynolds

Grace Jackson is officially back in the Love Island villa for All Stars, but what happened between her and ex-boyfriend Joey Essex last year? Here's everything we know about why they broke up.

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Grace Jackson made a dramatic entrance to Love Island last year when she arrived as a bombshell and Joey Essex realised that he was in the villa with an ex.

Now Grace has made another bombshell entrance to the villa, but this time for her second shot at love in All Stars and thankfully, with no ex-boyfriends to be seen. (Yet?)

When she first arrived on the show in 2024, Joey was quick to dump Samantha Kenny for her and they quickly rekindled their romance. But later on Joey recoupled with Jessy Potts and he and Grace became a thing of the past, again.

So, that first time around, what happened between Joey and Grace?

Read more: Who is coupled up on Love Island All Stars 2025?
Read more: Love Island All Stars 2025 ages: How old are the cast and who is the oldest?

Joey Essex has history with new bombshell Grace Jackson. Picture: ITV

When did Joey Essex and Grace Jackson date?

Speaking on Love Island, Grace said she and Joey dated in the summer of 2023 after meeting in Ibiza. She told the girls things were "intense" and they ended on "frosty" terms - awks!

A source told Mail Online: "There's definitely some unfinished business between them and she isn't going to hold back in expressing how she feels in the villa."

The source also acknowledged at the time that Grace's appearance in the villa would put major pressure on Joey's coupling with Samantha - which clearly came to be the case.

Grace claimed in her Love Island stint last year that her and Joey were together for a couple of months but hadn't seen each other for a year. She also slipped in that Joey was messaging a couple of months before their time in the villa trying to "talk".

Grace entered the Love Island villa as a bombshell. Picture: Instagram

Why did Joey Essex and Grace Jackson break up?

Joey was the one who called things off, and speaking to Grace in the villa last year he apologised for the way things ended, saying things had got really serious really quickly.

The pair briefly spoke about how distance was a huge factor for their break up, something Grace - who's from Manchester -gently reminded Joey - who lives in Essex - hadn't changed this time around either.

Grace also spoke a bit about how her lifestyle had hindered past relationships, saying: "My lifestyle can put guys off a little bit, I like to go out and go abroad a lot.

Joey has been with Samantha Kenny whilst in the Love Island villa. Picture: ITV

"They can't keep up with my lifestyle. It's the life that I want, and it helps with my business. To sit in and be single, I can't understand why I would do that in my peak and my mid-20s."

You'd think that can't be what put reality TV star Joey off since he leads a busy life too, however, he was candid about wanting to settle down and start and family.

When Grace was explaining their situation to fellow islander Konnor, who "stole" her from Joey, she citied busy work plans as another reason they didn't work out.

They did briefly rekindle things on the show, and their chemistry was clear. However, Grace left the show with Reuben Collins and Joey left the show with Jessy.