Joey Essex swears live on This Morning after microphone mix-up

Joey Essex left viewers in shock after he swore live on This Morning after a microphone mix-up.

The former TOWIE star, 26, was heard complaining about a “f****** strawberry” backstage – but was unaware that viewers could hear his rant.

Essex was seen sipping on Champagne and eating a strawberry, which he dropped, as Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield promoted his upcoming interview.

But as the cameras cut back to Gino D’Acampo in the kitchen, Essex could be heard saying “f****** s***” as he dropped another strawberry.

On picking up his “dulcet tones”, Schofield said: “Can we still hear Joey Essex chatting away?”

Willoughby apologised to viewers, saying: “If any of you heard something that Joey Essex said that you found offensive we do apologise. He didn’t realise his mic was up so we are sorry for that.”

Schofield joked: “I didn’t know he knew words that big.”

The on air blunder entertained viewers, with one tweeting: “OMG that sound overlap on @thismorning @JoeyEssex_ talking about dropping a strawberry then saying, 'it's a f****** s*******' #thismorning.”

Another wrote: “#thismorning overhearing Joey Essex said 'f****** s*******' is the highlight of this show. Botched microphone @thismorning.”

Essex was on the show to talk about starring on Celebs Go Dating for a second series.

He described himself as a "weirdo" and said he needs a "brunette" woman who will "understand me".

This Morning is on ITV weekdays at 10:30am.