TV Choice Awards 2022: Joey Essex cosies-up to Vanessa Bauer… amid rumours they’re ‘growing close’

Joey Essex and his Dancing On Ice professional partner Vanessa Bauer posed arm-in-arm at the TV Choice Awards 2022 at the Hilton Park Lane hotel in London on Monday.

Former The Only Way Is Essex star Joey, 32, looked dapper in a black dinner suit and matching shirt as he posed with Vanessa, who gently rested her hand on his chest amid rumours the pair are ‘growing close’.

Figure skater Vanessa, 26, put on a glamorous display as she cosied-up to Joey, wearing an ice blue backless dress which was adorned with glistening sequins.

Cosy: Joey Essex, 32, and his Dancing On Ice professional partner Vanessa Bauer, 26, posed arm-in-arm at the TV Choice Awards 2022 at the Hilton Park Lane hotel in London on Monday

The garment reached right down to the ground and spread out behind her as she posed.

Vanessa wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty features and accessorised with a pair of pendulum earrings.

She sported a healthy glow as she glanced back over her should while Joey stood with his arm around her waist. 

In style: Joey looked dapper in a black dinner suit while Vanessa wore an ice blue backless dress which was adorned with glistening sequins

In style: Joey looked dapper in a black dinner suit while Vanessa wore an ice blue backless dress which was adorned with glistening sequins

The pair’s outing follows reports that they have been flirting throughout their time working together on Dancing On Ice.

A source told The Sun: ‘Joey and Vanessa have grown close incredibly quickly.

‘Right now they have managed to keep everything professional but it’s safe to say they are both super flirty.

Flirty fun: Joey has reportedly grown close to his professional Dancing On Ice skating partner Vanessa during rehearsals

Flirty fun: Joey has reportedly grown close to his professional Dancing On Ice skating partner Vanessa during rehearsals

‘They are going to spend a lot of time together over the next few months due to rehearsals so it’s easy to see how romance could blossom.

‘Joey is hoping to invite her to Essex for a night out with his mates and drinks at his.’

MailOnline contacted representatives for Joey for comment.

However, Joey was snapped locking lips with model and former Love Island star Maura Higgins during the National Television Awards last month.

Good pals: Former The Only Way Is Essex star Joey and figure skater Vanessa are said to have been flirting throughout their time working together

Good pals: Former The Only Way Is Essex star Joey and figure skater Vanessa are said to have been flirting throughout their time working together

Maura was seen leaning in for a passionate kiss with the TV star as they put on an amorous display at the glitzy event.

Maura and Joey looked very relaxed in each other’s company as they chatted together in the lobby area.

And it appeared that the two couldn’t stay away from each other as they went on to share a taxi before heading off along with other pals. 

During the evening, This Morning lost out on the Best Daytime Show gong for the first time in nine years.

The Holly Willoughby, 41, and Phillip Schofield, 60, fronted show had their winning streak ended by ITV quiz The Chase, hosted by Bradley Walsh and his brain-boxer chasers. 

This year’s winners were announced at a glittering ceremony on Monday – hosted by Jo Brand – at The London Hilton on Park Lane, where TV’s biggest names gathered for the much-loved event, held live for the first time since 2019. 

Missing out: This Morning lost out on the Best Daytime Show gong for the first time in nine years on Monday evening (Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pictured)

Missing out: This Morning lost out on the Best Daytime Show gong for the first time in nine years on Monday evening (Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pictured) 

The star-studded ceremony also saw Call The Midwife honoured, while stalwart star and national treasure Jenny Agutter won the Best Actress prize, a decade after the series made its debut.

And while Emmerdale was named Best Soap by viewers and readers yet again, there’s a first TV Choice Awards win for the show’s Mark Charnock, for his moving performance as stroke survivor Marlon Dingle, 26 years after he became the wayward clan’s latest member to arrive in the village.

Meanwhile, the storylines surrounding another troubled soap favourite – EastEnders’ Jean Slater – have led to Gillian Wright grabbing her first ever TV Choice gong for her portrayal of Stacey’s struggling mum, who first appeared in Walford 18 years ago.

Taking the trophy: The Holly Willoughby, 41, and Phillip Schofield, 60, fronted show had their winning streak ended by ITV quiz The Chase, hosted by Bradley Walsh (pictured)

Taking the trophy: The Holly Willoughby, 41, and Phillip Schofield, 60, fronted show had their winning streak ended by ITV quiz The Chase, hosted by Bradley Walsh (pictured) 

For some, it is business as usual – with I’m A Celebrity… gaining yet another Best Reality Show award – its 17th – for the second series which swapped Australia’s bush for Wales’ Gwrych Castle.

There’s cause for Channel 5 to break out the bubbly as its On The Farm shows defeat 24 Hours In A&E, Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad and The Repair Shop to win Best Factual Show. Over at Channel 4, there’ll be celebrations thanks to another win for Gogglebox and Celebrity Gogglebox in the Best Entertainment show. 

Meanwhile, streaming giant Netflix are reflecting how our viewing habits are changing, grabbing three awards. TV Choice readers have taken After Life to their hearts with two previous wins, and this year its star and creator Ricky Gervais is rewarded with our Best Comedy Performance prize, for the bittersweet series’ third and final run. Smash hit period romp Bridgerton follows its Best New Drama win with a first triumph as Best Drama Series. 

And touching coming-of-age drama Heartstopper beats another Netflix hit, Squid Game, The Larkins and This Is Going To Hurt to be named Best New Drama, completing the Netflix hat trick. 

TV CHOICE AWARDS 2022: NOMINATIONS

BEST DRAMA SERIES 

All Creatures Great And Small 

Bridgerton – WINNER

Death In Paradise 

Outlander

BEST FAMILY DRAMA 

Around The World In 80 Days

Call The Midwife – WINNER

Casualty

Doctor Who

BEST NEW DRAMA 

Heartstopper – WINNER

The Larkins 

Squid Game

This Is Going To Hurt

BEST ENTERTAINMENT SHOW 

The 1% Club

Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway

Gogglebox/Celebrity Gogglebox – WINNER

The Graham Norton Show

BEST REALITY SHOW 

Freeze The Fear With Wim Hof

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – WINNER

Love Island

Pilgrimage: The Road To The Scottish Isles

BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE

Brenda Blethyn in Kate & Koji

Ricky Gervais in After Life – WINNER

Lee Mack in Not Going Out

Siobhán McSweeney in Derry Girls

BEST TALENT SHOW 

Britain’s Got Talent

The Great British Bake Off/Bake Off: The Professionals/The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer/Junior Bake Off

The Masked Singer

Strictly Come Dancing – WINNER

BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW 

Antiques Roadshow

DIY SOS: The Big Build

Holidaying With Jane McDonald

Long Lost Family/Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace – WINNER

BEST DAYTIME SHOW 

The Chase – THE CHASE

Pointless/Pointless Celebrities

Steph’s Packed Lunch

This Morning

BEST ACTOR 

Jonathan Bailey in Bridgerton

Daniel Laurie in Call The Midwife

Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders – WINNER

Ben Whishaw in This Is Going To Hurt, 

BEST ACTRESS 

Jenny Agutter in Call The Midwife – WINNER

Simone Ashley in Bridgerton

Jodie Comer in Killing Eve

Nicola Walker in The Split

BEST FACTUAL SHOW 

24 Hours In A&E 

Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad

The Repair Shop

This Week On The Farm/Springtime On The Farm/Summer On The Farm/Winter On The Farm – WINNER

BEST FOOD SHOW 

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

The Hairy Bikers Go North

James Martin’s Saturday Morning – WINNER 

Sunday Brunch 

BEST SOAP 

Coronation Street

EastEnders

Emmerdale – WINNER

Neighbours

BEST SOAP ACTOR 

Max Bowden as Ben Mitchell in EastEnders

Mark Charnock as Marlon Dingle in Emmerdale – WINNER

Danny Dyer as Mick Carter in EastEnders

Alan Halsall as Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street 

BEST SOAP ACTRESS 

Kellie Bright as Linda Carter in EastEnders

Sally Carman as Abi Webster in Coronation Street

Paige Sandhu as Meena Jutla in Emmerdale

Gillian Wright as Jean Slater in EastEnders – WINNER

 

 

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk