JOEY ESSEX GETS POLITICAL
As Joey Essex heads Stateside to investigate the world of US politics (yes, really), Lucie Cave puts his knowledge to the test
Joey Essex is trying to decide what Donald Trump would be if he was an animal. After a confused few minutes, he chooses “hamster” while Hillary Clinton, Trump’s rival in the upcoming US presidential election, is “a squirrel” (but really, he insists, “She’s just a normal person with longish hair”.)it’s these child-like observations on the world that have led to Joey becoming an unlikely investigator of important cultural events for his ITV2 series
Educating Joey Essex. Having been catapulted like a startled rabbit into the UK elections in 2015 – the most memorable moment of his show
General Election, What Are You Saying? being when he told Nick Clegg that he thought the Liberal Democrats were called the Democats – he went on to meet Prince Philip in Reem Queen
At 90 (“He’s cool, with a good sense of humour”). He then tried to fathom what Brexit meant in the brilliantly titled What EU Saying? (FYI: he once thought it was a biscuit) and now, for three-part series American Reem, he’s been plunged into “one of the most confusing things ever” – the landscape of US politics.
Having left TOWIE back in 2013, Joey, 26, recently dipped his toe back into reality TV in E4’s Celebs Go Dating, during which he fell for fellow reality star Stephanie Pratt. But when
heat meets him, he’s on the cusp of their break-up
and doesn’t want to say too much for fear of hurting her feelings.
Today, Joey is more focused on showing off his knowledge of America (check out our video on
heatworld.com – it’s very funny). Incredibly, he knows the number of states (50) and that there are consequently 50 stars on the US flag. He can also remember who the current President is. But that seems to be as far as it goes…
Who is Barack Obama married to?
[Long pause.] Patricka?
Michelle. What’s the current political climate in the US?
Very hot.
Do you know who Hillary Clinton is married to?
Bill Clinton. He cheated on her with another girl.
What was her name?
Sandra.
What do you think of Trump?
The word “trump” makes me think of an instrument. But I’ve learnt that his fans really love him. Hillary’s fans spend all their time just slagging off Trump, but they find it hard to say how good Hillary is.
Who do you think will win?
I think Trump will win. He’s causing so much havoc and getting so much press that I think he will. I don’t know if I want him to win, but I feel like he might.
He has said some pretty awful things, though?
He doesn’t really care what he says, does he? Donald Trump isn’t afraid to say anything, no matter whatever anyone else thinks.
What makeover would you give him?
I’d bleach his hair blond and make him come down the gym with me for a few weeks. He’d look ripped and then he’d do a shoot for Torso Of The Week in heat.
You’ve hung out with a lot of UK politicians, too. Have you met Theresa May?
Is she an artist? [Looks at his PR, who is as baffled as us.] I thought she was that lady in the Picasso drawing… What’s that famous picture? Isn’t it called The Theresa May?
Do you mean the Mona Lisa?
Yes, that! Isn’t that the same one?
No – she’s the UK Prime Minister who took over from David Cameron…
Oh. You’re meant to be the barometer of popular culture these days… Is that something that goes up and down? So, I’m like a thermometer?
Sort of. How would you describe yourself to someone who’s never met you?
I don’t really know what I do. I started on a reality show and now I just roll up to places. I get sent to meet people like politicians and I just ask them
‘Trump is causing havoc – he might win’