Joey Essex 'confirms' relationship with Vanessa Bauer while Holly and Phil are ... trends now
Joey Essex seemingly confirmed rumours of a relationship with Vanessa Bauer during Sunday's Dancing On Ice, after being grilled by hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
However, the presenters were subsequently slammed by viewers for being 'totally inappropriate', 'disrespectful' and leaving Vanessa visibly 'uncomfortable'.
Phil, 60, attempted to coax the former TOWIE star, 32, and his professional partner, 26, into revealing whether they were an item or not, before Holly, 41, announced the pair as as 'Joey Essex and his skating-slash-real life partner Vanessa'.
Couple? Joey Essex seemingly confirmed rumours of a relationship with Vanessa Bauer during Sunday's Dancing On Ice, after being grilled by hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby
It comes after The Sun reported Joey and Vanessa had been 'super flirty' during rehearsals - before the pair each shut down claims of a relationship.
During the latest installment, in which they dressed as Grease's leading characters, Holly said: 'You're like a real life Sandy and Danny out there, have you got something you want to tell us, you two?'
Joey cheekily replied: 'Danny and Sandy are getting on pretty well, if you know what I mean,' before Holly asked if they're 'going steady'.
The reality star responded, 'Of course, always steady,' while Vanessa looked mortified.
Awkward! However, the presenters were subsequently slammed by viewers for being 'totally inappropriate', 'disrespectful' and leaving Vanessa visibly 'uncomfortable'
When Phillip pressed, 'Are you confirming this?' Joey said, 'I'm not confirming anything,' while holding his hands up.
Viewers soon wrote on Twitter: 'As someone who works in TV, quite disappointing to see DOI encourage speculation about a partnership being more, should be left alone and be between them if it is the case - needs to be more respectful #DancingOnIce.
'It's was very uncomfortable viewing especially for the professional, who has trained hard to be where she is.
'And @hollywills is hardly an inexperienced presenter… "Are Sandy & Danny going steady?" Totally inappropriate. Felt sorry for Vanessa. Joey has a huge ego so he'll be fine.
Uh-oh: Viewers soon wrote on Twitter: 'It's was very uncomfortable viewing especially for the professional, who has trained hard to be where she is'
'Totally agree. Why it's even relevant or anyone's business I do not know. And maybe they're just very good at performing.
'I feel like Vanessa could not look anymore uncomfortable when everyone's talking about her and Joey's relationship, and it really doesn't have anything to do with how well they skate? #DancingOnIce.
'So unprofessional from schofield and Willoughby the comments they mate 2 joey Essex and Vanessa #doi #dancingonice.
'She looked really uncomfortable bless her.'
Denial: It comes after his professional dance partner Vanessa, 26, shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and the TOWIE star, 32
Joey's ex-girlfriend Lorena Medina recently claimed they have been exchanging 'romantic' messages after Vanessa Bauer shut down rumours of a romance with him.
The model, 30, said they are still in touch and claimed Joey told her that he 'always' thinks about her.
Now, Lorena has claimed Joey told her that he hasn't had a 'connection' with anyone since their romance, but geography has proved to be a hurdle for them.
She told The Sun: 'We have been speaking a bit romantically, Joey told me he always thinks about me.
Rumours: Vanessa admitted that they are 'having a lot of fun' but shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and Joey
'He said that he hasn't been able to find that connection with anyone since me and I said, "Me too. I haven't found it yet either", and Joey said, "Well, if you come to London I'll come to see you".
'We both know the attraction is there - the constant love is still there - but I am in different countries working on my singing career and he is in England.'
Joey and Lorena enjoyed a whirlwind romance for a few months in 2020 before she broke up with him after he had a 24-hour partying
