Joey Essex has bought Stephanie Pratt a puppy.

Joey Essex

Joey Essex

The former 'The Only Way is Essex' star refused to divulge whether him and the blonde bombshell are now an official item but, despite his silence, proved that he's very serious about her after he let slip that he has given her a fluffy friend.

The reality TV hunk couldn't stop squirming on 'This Morning' on Thursday (08.09.16) when hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby grilled him and Stephanie on their romance.

He said: "Well, we have been on a date ... I have bought her a puppy. It is a little puppy called Charlie. I don't know [why I did it] I just thought I'd buy her one. We do go on a date."

The giddy pair sparked rumours they were dating three months ago after they were spotted getting cosy at a party in London.

A source said at the time: "At one point they crept away to the back of the bar's terrace together and were being very tactful. He was telling everyone how much he fancies her and was following her around like a puppy."

The stars initially hit it off while filming the new E4 show 'Celebs Go Dating' and have been in contact ever since.

The insider said: "They started chatting as a result of the show and have got quite flirty. They've been in constant contact by text ever since."

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old beauty - who found fame on the US TV show 'The Hills' - is no stranger to English men as she previously dated Spencer Matthews before she was dumped in 2013 because the heartthrob felt "trapped" after she moved into his lavish home in Chelsea, London.