The Wanted have replied to a quote made by Joey Essex that slagged off the group.

As previously reported, the Only Way Is Essex star said that the group are "annoying" and that he would rather join One Direction.

Essex added that he used to know one member of The Wanted by association and that they didn't see eye-to-eye.

Band member Nathan Sykes took to Twitter in response, tweeting:

"I wake up to find out that Joey Essex isn't actually a place but is instead a wannabe off a terrible TV show! Learn something new every day!"