jungle nightmare
Inside the curse of I’m A Celebrity – from shamed stars to sudden illnesses
I'M A Celebrity has graced screens for the past 20 years - but along with the iconic jungle Kings and Queens there's been a whole host of controversial mishaps too.
With the news ITV has revealed it's first I'm A Celebrity spin-off series - I'm A Celebrity South Africa - as well as the full line-up, we take a look at the scandals that have embroiled camp.
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JACK-ING IT IN
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Back in 2017, I'm A Celeb hosts Ant and Dec shocked viewers by saying Jack Maynard had left the show.
The YouTube influencer, now 28, was rocked by suggestions that he had posted racist and homophobic slurs before he joined the show - and even more damaging revelations then emerged.
It said: "In the last few days Jack has been the subject of a succession of media stories which, given his position as a contestant on 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' - filmed in the Australian jungle, with no contact with the outside world, he has been unable to respond to.
"Since it is only fair that everyone should be aware of any allegations made against them and should also have the right to defend themselves, it was agreed that it would be better to bring him out of the show."
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It then emerged that as well as racist and homophobic tweets Jack had sent he had also begged a 14-year-old fan to send him nude pictures.
The Sun also uncovered that Jack once made a creepy YouTube video where he and his brother guessed the age of teenage girls.
Jack then apologised for his vile messages in a series of Twitter posts.
LIV'S LEFT
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Last year's major scandal came as Love Island star Olivia Attwood was forced to leave camp after just 24 hours.
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Olivia, 31 - who made history as the first person from the dating show to go in the jungle – was forced to withdraw on medical grounds.
At the time, a show insider said: "Olivia was involved in a medical drama overnight.
"She really wanted to go back into the camp but medics won't let her."
A rep for I'm A Celebrity said: "As a precautionary measure Olivia needed to leave the jungle to undergo some medical checks.
"Unfortunately the medical team has advised it is not safe for Olivia to return to camp as there needs to be a further investigation. She has been absolutely brilliant and she'll be very much missed on the show."
It later transpired she was told to leave the jungle after a routine blood test showed she was "dangerously anaemic" and she was rushed to A&E.
Yet the telly favourite may be set to return in 2023 after "signing up again."
DICKIE'S DEPARTURE
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Back in 2021 there was another medical drama when Good Morning Britain anchor Richard Madeley was forced to leave camp.
The Sun revealed the former This Morning host, 66, had been taken ill and seen to by doctors at 5am.
At the time, Richard posted the bad news on Instagram and explained he couldn't return to the hit ITV show because of strict Covid rules.
The star wrote: "Hello all! Richard here – firstly just to say that I’m absolutely FINE.
"I started to feel briefly unwell in the small hours of the morning and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
"By leaving the camp, I had consequently broken the Covid ‘bubble’ and as such I’ve had to leave the castle and all the wonderful celebs that remain in the camp.
"Obviously I’m gutted to be leaving so soon but the safety of all the campmates is the number one priority.
"I’m incredibly excited to watch their journey continue…even more so at the prospect of being somewhere a little warmer than Gwrych Castle.
"Thank you to everyone who supported me on my brief but completely unforgettable adventure – I’ve made some great friends and honestly had the time of my life."
Richard is a GMB regular and recently got caught up in a live on-air blunder.
GEM'S GOTTA GO
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Gemma Collins gave I'm A Celeb fans a giggle with her signature splash of GC sass before suggesting she would make her show comeback five years later.
Gemma made TV gold when she joined the ITV reality series in November 2014, but she quit after just 72 hours in the Aussie outback.
She got off to a rocky start when she refused to parachute into the camp with the other contestants.
The GC later admitted that she "never should have got on to the plane to go" and said that she would be donating her fee to charity.
GILL'S JAPES
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Nutritionist Gillian, famous for analysing poo on TV show You Are What You Eat, had an extremely rocky ride in camp.
She was pushed to the limit in 2010, collapsing twice and chosen to do six terrifying Bushtucker Trials.
At the time, hungry campmates were hugely critical of her.
Gillian eventually left the series in eighth place after spending 16 days in the jungle. Stacey Solomon won that year, with Shaun Ryder coming in second.
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Yet show evictees Gillian and Gemma have now become close pals partly due to their shared I'm A Celeb experiences.
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