Donald “Donny” Essex is the father of reality stars, Joey and Frankie. An ex-boxer, Donny was left to take care of his two children alone after the untimely death of his wife.
Who Is Donny Essex?
Donald “Donny” Essex is the father of reality stars, Joey and Frankie an ex-boxer,
When Joey was young, his mum Tina developed an infection called candida, a crippling yeast infection that can cause stomach problems, fatigue, and depression. Tina succumbed to her symptoms and committed suicide when Joey was just ten, with his father initially telling his kids that their mum had fallen and tragically died.
In 2013, Donny spoke of his past embarrassment at his son’s inability to serve tea, sell fish or blow his own nose, jokingly branding him “useless”. He said: “Even I’ve been gobsmacked. I mean, I didn’t even know he couldn’t tell the time, and as for not knowing how to blow your nose.”
“Joey’s a one-off. You won’t find another like him, believe me.” Donald told of how Joey was sacked from a job his father landed him at Billingsgate Fish Market in East London, after only three months.