Joey Essex has revealed that he dumped Jess Wright, because he knew she was always more interested in her friends than in their relationship.

The Only Way Is Essex star told Fabulous magazine that soon into their romance, he realised that things were never going to work between them and explained:

“I knocked that on the head, every time I went to see her, she’d be with her friends and so obviously that wasn’t going to work.”

But he’s not be sitting at home licking his wounds, in fact he has well and truly moved on and added:

“Recently I have been seeing lots of girls, it’s been fun and it’s funny but I think I’m better with a girlfriend.”

Fabulous then cornered Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario about their fiery romance. Could they be the new Mark and Lauren? Lucy laughed:

“Mario hates us being compared to Mark and Lauren, we are completely different.”

But is Mario over the Mark and Lucy saga?

“Yeah, otherwise he wouldn’t be with me, he’s definitely forgiven me.”

But Mario isn’t quite so sure, he conceded:

“I’m not going to say I trust her 100 per cent and I definitely have good days and bad days, but we’re OK.”

Mario also revealed just how well he is doing from TOWIE, saying:

“I bought a white Audi and a Rolex – I’ve earned about £80-100k since TOWIE so I’m not doing too badly.”

Neither is Jess Wright, who just spent £30,000 on a new Mercedes. It seems like they are all doing pretty well for themselves!