John Grimes has disclosed that the Celebrity Ex on the Beach villa required a security lockdown after several incidents of people attempting to break in. The fourth series of the popular reality show, which returned to Paramount+ in March, is filmed in Tenerife.
Star-Studded Cast and Security Concerns
This year's cast includes Coronation Street's Helen Flanagan, Love Island stars Toby Aromolaran and Curtis Pritchard, TOWIE's Dani Imbert, MAFS UK star Amy Kenyon, and Jedward's John, 34. Grimes revealed that eager fans and locals tried to sneak into the grounds, prompting security intervention.
"People knew the location of the villa," he told The Sun. "Fans and people in the local area were trying to come into the grounds. Things kept happening. It was the only lit up place in a desolate area, so people were like, 'What's that? Let's try to get in.' Producers were like, 'We're trying to film a show.' Security stopped anyone from getting in."
John's Social Media Spoiler
This news follows Grimes angering Ex on the Beach bosses by spoiling on social media that he had rekindled his relationship with ex-girlfriend Sarah Carragher. In the trailer, the couple shared a steamy kiss, but their relationship was left on a cliffhanger. However, days before the March premiere, John posted two photos of himself and Sarah in front of Tower Bridge at the launch party, captioning: "Here's to a new chapter and making memories with the best girl xxx."
A source told The Sun: "John posting that he's back with his ex was terrible timing as it makes his whole storyline on the show pointless. Cast were asked to keep a bit of mystery around who got back with their ex and who hooked up with who so people tuned in, but clearly John was so thrilled he just went ahead and posted without thinking. Bosses are fuming but it's not like he did it on purpose."
Reason Behind the Post
The publication later revealed that John risked the wrath of bosses to support Sarah, who was nervous about being thrust into the spotlight. A source said: "Sarah has been quietly telling her pals, as well as John, that she's really nervous to be thrust into the spotlight and so John wanted to throw his support behind her all the way. He knew that posting a photo of them loved-up would ruffle some feathers with MTV bosses but he wants to make sure Sarah knows that he has her back now that news of their romance has become so public. He is fiercely protective and won't hear a bad word about her."
John's Reflections on the Show
Ahead of the new series, John told the Daily Mail about his relationship with Sarah. He admitted that going on the show helped them "deal with love life regrets" as they are now in different places in life. Speaking about reuniting with Sarah on the show, he said: "It was a really good feeling because we always got along even after we weren't together. She has tried dating different people and so did I, but then at the same time you don't know all you had until they're gone. I know it's a classic saying, but then you realise that she's come all the way out here [to Tenerife] and she's taken time off work to be here, so that speaks volumes for me."
John insisted the show helped him "deal with his love life regrets" and approach the relationship differently. "I'm sure a lot of my exes have regrets for not doing enough to keep me around, you know, I'm a keeper," he joked. "I think going on this show dealt with those love life regrets though because it gave me the chance to be reunited with an ex and then go about it differently in the way that you possibly didn't before. So you put yourself in the right space to go, well, I'm in a different place in my life and maybe I didn't make the moves that I needed to or put a label on it back then. So now here I am, going back differently."
John's Dating Life Since X Factor
Away from Ex on the Beach, John opened up about his surprising love life since finding fame on The X Factor in 2009. He and his identical twin Edward finished sixth on the show. John revealed that his favourite date was a last-minute trip to a Beyonce concert in Amsterdam. He also admitted to sliding into DMs on social media but has been forced to "unsend" a message after being ghosted. Despite always being with Edward, John said they have never been on a double date as "you can only go so far with your brother there."
