TOWIE star Joey Turner has opened up about the vile abuse he's received from trolls that lead to him making a panicked 2am phone call to the show's counsellors.
The 19-year-old - who has now quit the ITV series - was devastated by the horrendous messages he's received from strangers online, with one cruelly saying he should be 'shot' and 'put down.'
Joey said he tried to develop a 'thick skin' and ignore the nasty comments but sought support from experts when the trolling intensified.
"I called the Towie phsychologist at 2am in the morning because of it," he revealed.
Joey thanked the team at the ITVBe show for helping him cope with the emotional turmoil, telling The Sun, they have been 'absolutely brilliant.'
"They have said I can call them anytime I have a problem, and they will always answer the phone," he said.
Joey recently shocked fans by announcing he was leaving the glamorous reality series after just two years.
Explaining his decision, he said: "I'm leaving at the right time, for me.
"I was only 17 when I joined the show, and it has been the dream job."
Joey admitted he also felt the huge age gap between some of the older stars in the cast which led to him going down the cosmetic surgery route.
"Most of the stars are around 10 years older than me, sometimes I felt like I didn’t fit in.
"Botox and dermal fillers help me look and feel more mature.
"I really like how it looks. It was about enhancing the features I already have. I'm really pleased with it."
The star had botox injected into his chin to lengthen his face and has also had filler in his cheeks and lips.
According to Joey, TOWIE have left the door open for him to make a return in the future, as past stars including Amy Childs, Gemma Collins and Lauren Goodger have done.
