He firmly believes she is up there looking down on him': Joey Essex's grandmother speaks out on how I'm a Celebrity star's tragic past after mum's suicide

He’s already emerged as the stand-out star of I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and according to Joey Essex’s grandmother the camp's champ believes he’s getting a little extra help from his mum.

Joey has swapped The Sugar Hut in Brentwood for the Australian jungle and so far has managed to triumph in three of the dreaded Bushtucker Trials.

Whilst the Essex boy might be having the time of his life down under, his grandmother has opened up on how a young Joey coped with the tragic suicide of his mother.

New adventures: Joey Essex has emerged as the star of this year's I'm a Celeb camp but has faced a tough battle in coping with his mother's suicide

Joey’s mother Tina committed suicide when the star was just 10 years old after years of battling medical conditions.

The young mother, who was just 38 when she died, suffered from post-natal depression after Joey’s birth, then developed candida, a yeast infection causing pain and exhaustion.

Joey and his older sister Frankie came home from school one day to the family house in Chigwell,  Essex to find their mum had gone to a hotel to kill herself.

Childhood tragedy: Joey and his older sister Frankie, who also stars on The Only Way is Essex, were just young children when their mother Tina committed suicide

Tina’s mum Linda Sims has spoken out on the tragic events, telling The Sun that Joey believes his mum, who she describes as a ‘doting’ parent, is watching down on him every day.

‘It was terrible’, Linda says of the time after Tina’s suicide. ‘Joey told me that for five years he
‘Joey firmly believes she is up there looking down on him, helping him and watching over him. And I believe it myself.'

Budding romance: Joey's grandmother has also spoken out on the star's blossoming relationship with gorgeous Miss Universe contestant Amy Willerton

Linda adds that she has been watching Joey’s every move in the jungle, declaring: ‘I must be the proudest grandmother in Britain at the moment, He is doing so brilliantly. But I can’t help being sad as well because I wish Tina could be here to see him. She would be so over the moon and so proud of her boy.’

As for Joey’s blossoming romance with Miss Universe contestant Amy Willerton, Linda says: ‘She’s gorgeous and seems nice. Joey seems fond of her so we’ll see.’

Joey had another triumphant day in the jungle on Thursday as viewers watched the Fusey store owner win seven stars in his third Bushtucker Trial.

Camp champ: Joey emerged victorious from another Bucktucker Trial on Thursday night's episode which saw him submerged in a submarine with crocodiles

Despite admitting to a fear of crocodiles, Joey emerged the champion of the camp after being submerged inside a submarine with a host of unwelcome companions.

Earlier though Joey doubted that he would do so well, telling his bemused campmates: 'I don’t even know what submerged means. I don’t really have baths. I have showers.'

But his flirty friend, Amy did her best to reassure him.

Submerged: The Essex boy managed to scoop seven meals for camp in his third trial of the week

She said: 'You’re good at pushing yourself and I know you can do it. You’re good at getting the stars.  You’re very good at it. There’s a lot of inner strength.'
Joey will get a day off from the Bushtucker Trial clearing on Friday though as hosts Ant and Dec revealed that Amy would face the day’s challenge, The Handglider From Hell.