TOWIE star Joey Essex made Christmas come early for more than 100 girls with a festive kissing challenge at Lakeside Shopping Centre.
 

The reality TV star, who is a regular on ITV 2’s The Only Way Is Essex, was kissed by 118 girls who queued to meet him at the shopping centre’s Virgin Media store on Saturday.
 

Hordes of fans turned up for Joey, who was there to celebrate the mobile phone network’s new unlimited pay as you go tariffs,
and organisers had to stop the queue when it reached 250 people.

The unlucky 132 who didn’t get to kiss the heartthrob got his autograph instead.

Speaking after his appearance at Lakeside, Joey said: “Taking part in the kissing challenge with Virgin Media was totally reem and all the other boys on TOWIE were well jel when I told them about it, especially the single ones!

“I don’t think I have ever been kissed by so many girls in one day before.
“It’s definitely a personal record.”