Joey Essex says his relationship with Sam Faiers has benefited from no longer being shown on 'The Only Way Is Essex'.
The reality TV star and his lover - who have had two breakups and a broken engagement - are in a better place without being on the show, and he insisted they are "a lot happier" with their romance.
He told The Sun on Sunday newspaper's Fabulous magazine: "When you're playing out a relationship on TV, you're in each other's faces all the time.
"Now it's a normal relationship and it's a lot more healthy. Before we used to see each other on telly. Now we see each other when we're watching TV on my sofa or hers.
"We're a lot happier, 100 per cent. We're a lot busier than we were on 'TOWIE', so we have to plan when we can see each other. Unfortunately, when I was in Ibiza, she was in Portugal doing a personal appearance."
Meanwhile, Joey opened up about their reunion in March following a split 10 months earlier, and admitted her being diagnosed with Crohn's disease prompted him to talk to her again.
He said: "[The illness] gave me, not an excuse, but [I felt] like I, 100 per cent, needed to talk to her.
"It was like, I can't not talk to her. As soon as we spoke to each other, it was like that.
"It's all or nothing with me and Sam. It's like every time we're talking [and then] we split up, but as soon as we start talking again, it's full on."

Simon Cowell expects One Direction to break up to pursue solo careers.
The media mogul was the mastermind behind the hugely successful boyband after putting them together on 'The X Factor' UK in 2010, and he has admitted while he thinks they will make two more albums as a group, their future isn't certain after those records have been released.
He told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: "Bands don't stay together forever.
"I think they will make at least two more albums together and they are in the middle of one right now."
While the 54-year-old star admitted the 'Story of My Life' hitmakers may go solo "eventually", he dismissed the idea Harry Styles would be quitting the band this year to pursue his own career.
He added: "No, I don't think that is going to happen for a while. Eventually I am sure they all will."
Harry, 20, has previously shot down speculation he would be leaving the group, and insisted he'll be part of One Direction until they're forced to go their separate ways due to old age.
He has said: "I'm 100 per cent in this band. I still want to be touring with One Direction in ten years. I'll be doing it until I'm old and people are telling me to stop."

Tom Fletcher has opened up about the "storm" of depression.
The McBusted singer - who explained how lucky he is to have people around him to help him through the illness - has blasted radio presenter Alan Brazil for his comments surrounding Robin Williams death on Monday (11.08.14) and written about his own experiences.
In an open letter on his website Tomplicated.com, he wrote: "Sometimes ... Alan, the storms come. I'm not talking about a light shower, I mean the full works. The darkest skies you have ever seen ... It's so completely consuming that it is suddenly not only the only thing you know but the only thing you have ever known.
"All those coloured memories are now black and white. But the really weird thing about it for me is that when you're in the middle of that storm it's almost as if you don't want a way out of it.
"You are in too deep, what's the point in even trying to get out. Alan, it's as though no one understands...When I'm not in a storm I can remember pretty well what it was like being in it, but when I am in the storm I can't remember what it's like ever being happy."
Alan had caused controversy with his comments about the late comedian, describing his death as "diabolical" and insisting he didn't "have a lot of sympathy" after he took his own life.
He previously said: "I believe he's got a daughter as well - what's she feeling like this morning? Now she's got to sort the arrangements out. I think it's just shocking, I really do.
"I don't have a lot of sympathy, I'm sorry ... What you leave behind is diabolical. I'm really annoyed about that."

Sir Cliff Richard is said to be angry at how long police are taking to investigate child abuse allegations made against him.
The 73-year-old star has strongly denied claims he sexually assaulted a young boy at an event in 1985, and he and his team will reportedly demand an explanation as to why the investigation has dragged on "for so long".
A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "Sir Cliff and his team want explanations as to why the investigation has gone on for so long and why they burst into his home without warning."
Meanwhile, the 'Summer Holiday' hitmaker is said to be keen to clear his name over the allegations, and he has felt "publicly humiliated" by the claims and the recent police raid on his home last week.
The insider added: "Sir Cliff feels publicly humiliated by the events of the past few days and is determined that this will not be repeated when he comes back to face the music.
"He wants to retain a sense of dignity in this whole very distressing situation."
It has also been reported he enjoyed a game of tennis last night (16.08.14) as he tried to relax with friends.

Jenna Coleman will leave 'Doctor Who' at Christmas.
The actress has played the Time Lord's companion Clara Oswald since her debut episode 'Asylum of the Daleks' aired in September 2012, and it is said she has agreed with bosses that an exit later this year will be right for the science fiction show.
An insider told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "The conversations about Jenna's exit have started, and a plan is in place which is being ironed out.
"By the time she leaves she will be one of the longest-standing companions ever. She has been absolutely brilliant in the role but everyone agrees it is a part that should change after a period."
The decision to end Jenna's time on the show is said to have been "mutual", and all parties feel it will be "perfect" for a Christmas storyline.
The source added: "It was very much a mutual decision. It's important to keep the series moving and fast-paced, and the time is just starting to feel right and the feeling is that it could be a perfect Christmas storyline."
Meanwhile, the star has insisted she isn't thinking about "the future" and wants to simply "enjoy" her time on the show.
She told The Independent on Sunday newspaper's New Review magazine: "At the moment I'm really happy.
"It's one of those jobs that will onyl happen once - the whole adventure that it brings. The key is not to worry about the future, and enjoy it."

Danniella Westbrook has revealed she has started taking cocaine again.
The former 'EastEnders' actress has admitted she is struggling with her battle with addiction, and confessed she took the drug again in April after an argument her now ex-boyfriend Tom Richards.
She told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "I was out in Spain with Tom and we had a massive argument after his drink was spiked. He flew back and I was in the company of some people there.
"I was offered coke and took it. It was there and I did it. I'm a drug addict. In that moment I thought - f**k it, I'm going to do it.
"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it was the wrong decision. I should have known better. I took two or three lines. It wasn't loads but it was three lines too many."
Meanwhile, Danniella - who admitted she has taken the class A drug "five to six times since" - insisted she "felt like s**t" after accepting it without considering the consequences after being warned in the late 1990s she would die within two weeks if her habit continued at the same rate.
She added: "After Magaluf I went back home and cried in the bathroom. I thought about how I had thrown everything away. I was scared of being where I was and having two weeks to live.
"The most frightening thing was I didn't think about it at all. I just f***ing did it and that's probably more scary than planning it. I felt like s**t about myself.
"At that moment it numbed me for a minute. The next day I felt like crap and thought I was dirty and useless. I tried to forget everything that happened."

One Direction like to watch a film together after a show.
The 'Best Song Ever' hitmakers are currently in the middle of their stadium world tour 'Where We Are', but they admit they find it hard to sleep after they've been jumping around on stage all evening, so they try to unwind with a movie.
Liam Payne said: "It's quite hard to sleep afterwards, so we usually have a late night and sleep together."
Louis Tomlinson added: "And maybe watch a film."
The hunky five-piece - also consisting of Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik - have a ritual before they go on stage as well, which involves them huddling together and gearing themselves us for the buzzing crowd.
Niall explained: "We do this huddle where we all put our hands together and say something, but we change it up with every continent we go to. For South America it's been 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. "
Liam added: "We are quite strange."
Meanwhile, the 'Little Things' stars - who shot to fame on 'The X Factor' in 2010 - believe performing in a stadium gives off a different "vibe" to singing in front of an arena audience and they find it more daunting.
Liam said: "We've played at arenas before, but never any stadiums, so it's very different this year when we walk out and it's open air. It has a festival vibe."
Harry added to Top of the Pops magazine: "When you're doing these big stadiums, you're so conscious that if you stand still for more than a few seconds, you think, 'This stage is so big and I'm so small ... so I look really bad.' "

Zoe Saldana says Vin Diesel's Groot "stole the show" in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.
The 35-year-old beauty "fell in love" with the tree-like creature in the new Marvel movie - in which she plays Gamora opposite stars including Bradley Cooper and Karen Gillan - and can't remember feeling "moved" as much by any other fictional character.
She explained: "I think Grout stole the show, for me. I mean, I just fell in love with this big tree once we started filming.
"And even though I'm mature and I'm pretty sane, I can't really remember a fictional character that really moved me like that."
Director James Gunn, meanwhile, revealed that he is able to gain an insight into fan reaction to the film thanks to social media.
Gunn explained that he's received more tweets about Groot and Dave Bautista - a former WWE wrestler - than anyone else.
He added, jokingly: "Also, I like to say it's Bautista that steals the show because it embarrasses him. He's the one person I like to compliment as much as possible because he hates it."

Kelly Brook likes "sweaty" men.
The model-and-actress is engaged to former 'Gladiators' star David McIntosh and she admits she prefers her partner's "natural" scent than the aftershaves he uses.
She told new! magazine: "I like him just coming back from the gym. I like the sweat smell to be honest. I think that's the best smell on a man - natural."
Meanwhile, David likes to splash out on expensive perfumes for his 34-year-old fiancee.
She said: "I've never bought expensive perfume. David bought me some really expensive perfume from Harrods recently. He's obsessed with fragrance so he always buys me really high end perfume."
The brunette beauty insists she is "low maintenance" when it comes to her appearance, but she splurges a lot on expensive treatments.
She said: "I'm low maintenance I think, but in terms of investment I'm high maintenance. I always have facials and massages.
"I have treatments on my hair to keep it thick and I always have my nails done. I do take care of myself."

Jeff Bridges says his family is his biggest accomplishment.
Despite racking up a prolific career with 62 films and six Oscar nominations, the 64-year-old actor is most proud of his wife of 37 years, Susan, and their children, Isabelle, 33, Jessie, 31, and Hayley, 28.
He said: "I have three wonderful daughters - and I give that credit to Sue.
"I love being with them. We have such great times."
Jeff admits he went through some difficult moments growing up and these days he can't imagine going through life without his wife as a steadying influence.
He said: "I went through the drug stuff and upset my parents when I was growing up, like all kids. My parents were my example when I looked for my own spouse. I can't imagine not having Susan and her support."
The 'Giver' star is now determined to make the most of every day.
He told People magazine: "My goal is to be alive and experience what that means. On a good day I'm up for the challenge."

Jennifer Lopez wants to move in with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
The 'On The Floor' hitmaker, who previously insisted she was just friends with the professional dancer, is reportedly ready to go public with their romance and she wants to take their relationship to the next level.
A source told America's Star magazine: "They can't get enough of each other. Her chemistry with Maks is electric.
"She's never felt this way about any man in the past."
The 'American Idol' judge - who has twins Max and Emme, six, with ex-husband Marc Anthony - was previously said to be taking her romance with Maksim slowly.
A source said recently: "She does not want to get her kids involved in meeting another guy yet.
"This is so new. There has been a date here and there, but really they are good friends before anything else. Maks asks her for advice and she thinks he is super-talented and very hot. Obviously that is hard to ignore."
While things may not be romantic between them yet, the 45-year-old beauty - who has been married three times - is said to be "open" to finding lasting love.
The source added: "They do text and communicate and she is open to dating in general right now.
"She still believes true love exists and wants to find that someday."

Neil Patrick Harris has shot down rumours he's splitting from his fiancé.
The 41-year-old actor has silenced speculation his relationship with David Burtka is on the rocks by posting an adoring picture on Instagram of his beau and their four-year-old twins Harper and Gideon.
He accompanied the snap with the caption: "I couldn't be more in love with my family. Any reports to the contrary are woefully mistaken. #grateful (sic)."
However, the 'How I Met Your Mother' star admitted recently that his relationship with David, whom he has been dating for 10 years, has changed over time.
He told Glamour magazine's September issue: "Honeymoon phases end. They just do. We're animals, and animals aren't inclined to copulate with just each other for the rest of their lives.
"So here's a challenge: How do you keep redefining your relationship? I think you have to find new elements that turn you on, and not only sexually. Having kids was one of those great moments for me.
"Watching David become another level of person, mastering this other domain, made me look at him with a whole other set of appreciative eyes. That sort of made me re-fall in love with him.
"That's another important thing to realise. Everyone falls out of love with everything. You fall out of love with your house. You fall out of love with your job. You just have to figure out ways to keep [the love] alive."