In 2000, when Essex was just 10 years old, his mother, Tina committed suicide at the age of 37 after battling with depression. Essex was told by his family that the death was caused by a fall but in 2010 he found out the truth from his sister, Frankie

Must have been a tough time for him

Unfortunately, most on this forum decided they didn't like Joey before the programme had even started. He won't get much sympathy for the loss of his Mother on here. I think Joey is a nice bloke in spite of his dyslexia and low IQ. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body and just seems to enjoy life. I like him and hope he does well.

Like or dislike Joey, I don't think anyone would feel anything but sympathy for him losing his Mum in such an awful way.

However you can't suddenly like someone because they've suffered in such a tragic way.

I'm sorry, but having sympathy for him doesn't equate to having to like him. I absolutely have sympathy for him, that doesn't mean I have to be a fan of him.

I can't warm to him because I personally feel that he exaggerates his "low IQ". I don't think he's a bad person, and I don't hate or even dislike him, but I'm not really a fan.

How awful

Yes it's awful, but (at the risk of sounding callous) so what? A lot of people have lost a parent, and many in horrible circumstances.

Why do I have to explain the reason why I think the death of someone's mum from suicide is awful?

It just is. It doesn't matter who it is, what their background is, what the relationship is like... it's just awful. End of.

you sound very callous.

Ah well. I just don't think that is any excuse to be so dense you can't even read a clock.

as sad as the loss was it does not make me think he should win...it is far to early to say yet but I want to see more of all the others not just a watch with timmy TV show

This. ^^

Nobody said it did.

He may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but not being able to tell the time using an analogue clock doesn't mean you are dense. If you are dyslexic it affects the part of the brain that makes reading a clock a straightforward thing to do

http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/about-...-and-tips.html

Thank you.

Interesting that having a supermodel teach him negates the dyslexia!

Never watched TOWIE, never seen him on anything, no pre-conceptions, this is the first time I've seen him on tv and - so far - I can't find much to like about him. I instinctively dislike anyone who wears their stupidity on their sleeve and he comes across as if it's an act. And a bad one, at that. That's just how it is.

If he wants to be seen as the resident 'thick act' - because that's how he's coming across - then he can't expect people who can't stand 'made-for-tv thickos' to warm to him. If, on the other hand, he drops the stupid, I'll be perfectly happy to give him a chance. Ball's in his court.

Sad.

Doesn't make me like him or mean I will fall for his thick act.

The only person I've liked that were celebrated for being thick was Helen from Big Brother 2, I may have been naive in believing her. Everyone else since then I just don't buy.

Sad News about what happened during his early childhood years.

Moving onto Joey Essex himself. He just looks a real fake from what people perceive him from " The Only Way Is Essex" He reminds me of Justine Bieber.

This is very true!! I couldnt tell the time until I was about 11 years old. My mum was called into school and told this shocking information It dawned on my mum that all we had ever had was digital 24 hour clocks in our house, something that simple had caused an issue. She bought an anologue clock and after a bit of practice the problem was solved!!

Maybe it was the same for Joey.

Regardless of whether people on this forum like/dislike him he's definitely going to reach the final 3 and very very likely to win the show don't worry about that, it could be the widest margin of victory in I'm a celeb history.

it is sad that this happened but it won't make me like him

Come gimme a hug, if you're into getting rubbed.

So so true

He seemed to learn very quickly when the nice sexy lady was teaching him. Cunning devil