lauren: “Sex with Joey is going to be amazing!”
TV star Lauren Goodger tells Closer’s Katie Banks about her chemistry with convict Joey Morrison – and how she’s preparing for motherhood
She’s had her fair share of romance drama, but having known Lauren Goodger since she first found fame on reality show The Only Way Is Essex seven years ago, it’s abundantly clear she’s never been happier.
“I’ve met the love of my life; it’s the weirdest situation, but I have this excited feeling every day!” smiles Lauren, as she relaxes on our photo shoot and shows off her 1st weight loss following a stint at boot camp.
But Lauren’s romance with convicted criminal Joey Morrison, 31 – who is serving a 17-year prison sentence for drugrelated crimes – definitely isn’t run-ofthe-mill. The reality star can only see him during weekly visits to his prison, although they speak every day on the phone.
The pair took a loved-up selfie together in January when Lauren, 30, was able to walk around the prison grounds with her jailbird boyfriend during a supervised day release.
And she says that when Joey – who’s set to be released in March 2018, if not sooner, after he’s served half his sentence – is next allowed on day release, they won’t be wasting any time!
WORTH THE WAIT
“Joey’s going to be knackered when we’re finally alone because we’ll be very busy. There’s lots to do!” says Lauren, with a cheeky laugh. “I’ve been properly celibate for a year but he’s worth the wait.”
Then she adds, laughing: “I feel like I’m a teenager again, and I’m nervous that I’ve forgotten what to do in the bedroom. But one thing’s for sure – my underwear is going to be unreal. There’s been so much chemistry and build-up – it’s going to be amazing!
“I feel so relaxed with Joey, though, like I’ve been with him my whole life, so I’m sure we’ll be very comfortable in that department.”
‘I want lots of kids – we’ll be like the Essex Sound Of Music!’
Lauren, who’s wearing a giant diamond commitment ring from Joey and has his name tattooed on her left wrist, says she can’t wait to get married. “I’d like a proper party. There will definitely be a band and I want to perform a Beyoncé dance for Joey, maybe using a chair. I haven’t been able to dance for him yet in prison because I’d be thrown out. I have worn hot pants for him, though!” she laughs.
celebrity wedding guests
And Lauren says she’ll be inviting her friend Jordan, aka Katie Price, to her big day, as well as some of her TOWIE pals.
“I’d definitely invite Katie Price and Kieran,” says Lauren. “I went to their wedding and it was beautiful. I’m not sure who I’d have as bridesmaids, probably just family, but I’ve not thought that far ahead yet! I’d invite some of my genuine TOWIE friends, but won’t be inviting people just for the sake of it.”
And broody Lauren admits that a baby won’t be far off, giggling that she would be pregnant already if Joey’s day releases hadn’t been taken away after a petty incident at the prison.
She laughs: “When I say to him: ‘Are we going to have a baby?’ He says: ‘Yeah.’ He loves kids and he knows that’s part of the plan. I can see him changing nappies and getting up late at night – he’s very hands-on.
“I want 10 kids! It’s going to be like the Essex Sound Of Music. I want as many as I can – I just need to get them out. I’ve never been a fan of twins but now I am. But I don’t really want to tell people my baby names in case they steal them!”
And with rumours flying as Closer went to press that Cheryl was about to give birth to her first child with toyboy boyfriend Liam Payne, Lauren adds: “It’s so strange that Cheryl has been so secretive about her pregnancy. I’ve questioned whether it’s even real. I’m not sure why she’s hiding away.
“I’ll definitely pose naked when I’m pregnant – I’ll be so proud and they’re pictures I’ll want to keep for the rest of my life. I won’t fall pregnant straight away because I want Joey to enjoy my fit body that I’m working on before I get a belly. But at the same time, pregnancy’s going to be beautiful and it’s going to be his baby inside me. He is going to love me and the baby!”
And Lauren says she’s proud of her friend and TOWIE co-star Gemma Collins for recently admitting that she’s planning to have her eggs frozen at 36, after struggling to settle down with the right man.
“I respect Gemma for choosing to have her eggs frozen. If I hadn’t found someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with I’d definitely have it done. Even Kim Kardashian talked about wanting to freeze her eggs when she was 30! I think it’s great that women can take control of their future.”
Instagram mystery
Lauren has been happy to put Joey in the spotlight since they started seeing each other – even setting up and managing an Instagram profile for him.
But earlier this month, the star hit the headlines when pretty hairdresser Karis Butler claimed Lauren had accidentally “liked” one of her Instagram pictures after she started following Joey’s account.
However, Lauren categorically denies “spying” on attractive girls following Joey’s new account and says she won’t be worried when he has free rein outside of jail. She hits back: “I don’t care about other women making a play at Joey – he’s good looking and I’ve put him out there. He’s aware of it all but we’re a strong team together. I trust him 100 per cent – we’ve spoken a lot about it.
“I’ve actually since heard from Karis as she reached out to me to explain that it was only a joke. She’s a young girl – only 19. She got caught up in the whole thing and it was all blown out of proportion. I feel bad for her, really – it’s all so silly.”
UNBREAKABLE BOND
She adds: “Joey’s said that if he wanted to be a single boy and lead a wild single life when he came out of prison, he would – but he’s told me he’s committed to me. He’d never be in touch with his exes now we’re together. Obviously we’re all humans and if we bump into an ex, you can talk to them and vice versa.
“When he’s out, I obviously don’t want him having girl mates who he chats to on the phone or goes out with – and he would expect the same from me. We’ve changed our lives for each other – the way we are is an unbreakable bond.”
And despite reports that Joey is pushing her to lose weight, Lauren says she’s doing it for herself. She’s just completed three boot camps in the UK and Spain and dropped almost a stone in just over a month, going from a size 12-14 to a 12 .
The star – who has yo-yoed between a size 14 and an 8, and released her own fitness DVD in 2015 – says adamantly: “Joey is overprotective and oldfashioned and he wants to help. But I’m the one who’s always talking about my body. He often says: ‘We’re not still bloody talking about the body, are we?!’ I drive him mad if anything.”
MOVING IN TOGETHER
She adds: “He’ll just say to me: ‘Go to the gym, babe!’ He doesn’t care what I look like as long as I train and keep healthy. We’ll work out together when he’s released.”
Now Lauren says she’s busy moving Joey’s stuff into her Essex home – and admits she can’t wait to start living together as a proper couple. Lauren says: “Joey has to do chores in prison, like washing and cleaning, but I doubt he’ll be domesticated around the house. He’s told me we’re getting a cleaner!
“I’m sure we’ll end up living together straight away. People say to take it slow but we’ll have been together for ages by the time he’s released so it’s no different really – he’s got a lot of his stuff at mine already.
“We’ll spend the first couple of months settling in and then who knows what will come next? Maybe babies and marriage! It’s the most bizarre thing I’ve done in my life, but I don’t like doing things like everyone else!” Lauren recently returned from Trimmer You boot camp in Marbella, where she lost 1.5in off her waist and / st 1 2
‘We’re a strong team together’