The I’m A Celebrity… South Africa all stars series is officially returning to ITV later in 2025 – and a legendary jungle star is in talks to come back.
Starting in 2024, I’m A Celebrity… South Africa reunites old campmates from the ITV gameshow and asks them to trade the jungle for the desert.
Last year saw the likes of Shaun Ryder, Gillian McKeith, Helen Flanagan, Phil Tufnell, and Jordan Banjo giving up luxuries for a gruelling challenge once more.
The competition was won by Myleene Klass, who had originally finished second during the show’s sixth series almost 20 years ago…and now the one and only Gemma Collins is rumoured to be joining the second season.
The Towie star and TV personality, 44, is one of the most loved faces on British TV, and ITV are apparently hoping she’ll boost viewing figures for the second all stars series.
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Gemma infamously only lasted three days in the jungle when she was last on the show and hated her time in the jungle.
Would you like to see Gemma Collins back in the jungle?
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Yes
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No
‘People who murder get treated better than this” she famously said before quitting. ‘That’s the truth. Even a murderer gets fed three times a day.’
A source told The Sun: ‘She hated it first time round, but knows it would be TV gold for her fans if she gave it another go. The discussions could go either way but signing her would be a huge win for execs.’
For Gemma fans hoping she’ll give I’m A Celebrity a second try, the recent rumours line up very nicely with comments the Dancing On Ice star made in 2019.
Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, she said: ‘I will never forget getting the call. Looking back, I don’t feel I was ready for that show. I was new to TV, I was the underdog on Towie.
‘I wasn’t the best looking girl, I didn’t have a model figure, I was this car girl from Romford selling cars. I was being put in the jungle and in hindsight I wasn’t ready for it.’
She continued: I felt hugely out of my depth – I was petrified. If I was to go back now, I’ve got more experience. I’ve got a tougher skin now and I think that’s where The GC came into play. If they asked me back, yes I’d go back.’
Things didn’t get off to a good start when Gemma went into the jungle in 2014, firstly refusing to parachute into camp with the rest of her teammates.
She then withdrew due to panic attacks and later said that her ex-boyfriend Alexander Moss had ‘severely beaten’ her the night before she joined the competition.
The reality star said that ITV advised against her entering the jungle at first, but Gemma insisted she didn’t want to waste the opportunity of a lifetime.
Alexander, now 44, was eventually jailed for 21 months in 2019.
Gemma told the Everything I Know About Me podcast: ‘[There was] all the embarrassment of like, you know what the TV programmes were saying, “Gemma Collins left the jungle, she was hungry, she was this.” And it wasn’t my fault.
‘I can remember laying in my flat where I lived and just thinking I just want to die. I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve left the jungle because of something that happened to me.’
Metro has contacted ITV and Gemma Collins’ reps for comment.
I’m a Celebrity… South Africa will return to ITV1 and ITVX.
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