Reality television star Joey Essex is set to return to screens in a new ITV challenge series hosted by Gary Lineker, where he promises viewers will see a smarter side of his personality alongside his familiar persona.
The 36-year-old television personality, who first rose to fame on The Only Way Is Essex 15 years ago, admitted that while he hopes to surprise audiences on The Box, his lack of academic sharpness will also be on full display.
Essex, whose real name is Joey Don Essex, was born in Southwark, south London, in 1990 before his family moved north of the river to Chigwell, Essex. He admitted he still struggles with basic skills, including telling the time, an issue highlighted during his 2013 appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! when campmates tried drawing clock hands in the sand.
"If I had a watch on I could give it a go, but when the hands are wonky, there's a bit of confusion," Essex said. He added that his father recently asked if he could read a clock, to which Essex replied: "Dad, I genuinely don't. I swear on my life, I can't."
Addressing his long-standing public image, Essex acknowledged playing a character in front of cameras over his 15-year television career. "I'm very different around my friends. I talk very fast. I've got a natural funniness. If someone calls action and the cameras are on, I know what people want to see," he said, adding: "I play on being Joey Essex, because everyone knows me."
Challenges inside The Box
In The Box, Essex competes alongside nine other celebrity contestants who are placed inside individual yellow shipping containers the size of telephone boxes and transported to unknown locations before opening the doors to face undisclosed tasks.
The contestant lineup features former football manager Graeme Souness, Dragons' Den star Sara Davies, former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, chaser Jenny Ryan, content creator Danny Aarons, comedian Ellie Taylor, singer JB Gill, Shakira Khan, and television presenter Ranvir Singh.
The series tests contestants through physical, mental, and courage-based tasks, ranging from an egg-and-spoon race on a racecourse without instructions to high-altitude challenges. Essex recalled becoming confused during the racecourse challenge: "The games are mind-boggling. They show how the brain works. Mine clearly wasn't working the best that day, because I ran off set. I got so far I realised, eventually, that there was no cameraman, so I had to turn back."
Another challenge took place at the top of a tower hundreds of feet above the ground. "I'm getting sweaty talking about it. That was definitely the most fear I felt," Essex said of the task.
A classroom segment featured Lineker acting as a teacher while contestants answered history and geography questions against seven- and eight-year-old schoolchildren. Essex admitted the children outperformed him, though he won their affection, prompting Lineker to remark during filming: "OK, it's not an act."
Describing the format, Essex compared The Box to a combination of SAS: Who Dares Wins and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, calling it "the maddest" show he has ever undertaken. He also praised fellow contestant Souness, saying: "Love Graeme. Legend. I think what he was trying to say is that when you meet me for who I really am, you can see that I'm actually quite normal, not the clown that people have seen for 15 years."
Childhood loss and educational struggles
Essex explained that his public reputation as a comical figure stems partly from severe dyslexia and an arrested development caused by early family tragedy.
While attending school, he was the only student to have a dedicated assistant in every class. "I used to cry because I couldn't do what I was being asked to do," he revealed.
When Essex was 10 years old, his mother, Tina Essex, took him to an open day for his secondary school. Three months later, she died by suicide at the age of 37 following a struggle with depression.
Following her death, Essex struggled to discuss his grief, as he grew up surrounded by male relatives who rarely spoke about emotions. His father has two brothers, and his mother had two brothers. "Back then, there was not really help you could get," Essex said, adding: "Today, it could get touched on, but back then there was no such word as Mum. There was no Mum."
He associated school with his mother's loss and decided to focus on staying strong like his father rather than academics. Although staff at West Hatch High School in Chigwell tried to support him, Essex recalled that that period of his life felt frozen.
Essex later underwent therapy while filming the 2021 BBC documentary Joey Essex: Grief And Me, and he currently serves as an ambassador for the charity Child Bereavement UK.
Boxing career and acting debut
Despite leaving school with few academic qualifications, Essex launched successful clothing and fragrance ranges and lives in a house with a pool in Chigwell, with reported wealth exceeding £8 million.
He has recently expanded his career into acting and celebrity boxing. Although he previously attended acting school and studied scenes from Jumanji and Romeo and Juliet, he dropped out, stating: "It's too much. I can't do it."
However, Essex is set to make his acting debut in an upcoming untitled short film written and directed by family friend Geoff Bell, who is known for roles in dramas such as MobLand. Essex called the experience incredible, stating he shocked himself with his performance.
In preparation for potential screen and sports roles, Essex has been sparring at the gym owned by his uncle, Tony Sims, where professional boxers Anthony Joshua and Conor Benn have trained.
Motivated by the lucrative earnings of social media figures such as Jake Paul, Essex requested boxing training from Sims, who warned him to take the sport seriously. Last year, Essex won his debut boxing match against Portuguese influencer Numeiro, real name Joao Barbosa, at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Essex expressed interest in further fights, including a potential bout against Tommy Fury, the brother of heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury, after Fury suggested online that he would defeat Essex easily. "I don't know about that," Essex responded.
Love life and financial liquidation
Essex also addressed his high-profile romantic history, including his 2024 stint on Love Island. During the show, he coupled up with contestant Grace Jackson before moving on to Jessy Potts.
Although Essex and Potts declared their relationship on ITV's This Morning after the show ended, they subsequently split up. Addressing criticism from viewers who accused him of being petulant, Essex stated he had no regrets about his decisions in the villa.
"I put myself in a difficult position. I'm not blaming anyone. I had a good time, personally. I made big headlines," Essex said, adding that he hopes to settle down and have children when the right relationship comes along.
On financial matters, Essex confirmed that his business, Joey Essex Management Ltd, entered liquidation last year owing £1.2 million in debts. His manager, Dave, noted that Essex signs paperwork based on professional advice.
Additionally, Essex addressed reports regarding his £2.75 million home in Chigwell, which was placed on the market while he spent time training in Dubai. He indicated he would only sell the property for an exceptional offer, as he worked hard to acquire it.
Looking ahead, Essex ruled out participating in BBC's Strictly Come Dancing unless offered substantial compensation, explaining he prefers boxing training to six months of dance rehearsals. "I'd take the crown if you passed me one," he said of his reality television status.
"This is primetime. People are going to be excited to get their Chinese takeaway, sit down and watch it," Essex said of his new show. The Box launches on Saturday, September 5, with episode two airing on Sunday, September 6, on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player.
