I'm A Celeb's biggest divas ever - trial dropouts, quitters and huge pay cheques

30 November 2023 , 10:01

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This year's series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! has been rather dramatic

It's been somewhat of a cursed series for I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! this year, with boycotts, early exits and much more tainting the show.

ITV viewers haven't even had the chance to vote a celebrity out of the star-studded camp yet two famous faces have already fled the jungle. Not only that, I'm A Celebrity fans have missed out on being able to pick certain certain campers from facing Bushtucker Trials thanks to several stars being ruled out of challenges due to medical reasons.

The reason for so many stars struggling on the reality TV show has been revealed, with I'm A Celebrity bosses blaming the dismal weather in Australia at the moment for so many celebrities telling them: "Get me out of here!"

But the drama started before the likes of Josie Gibson and Fred Sirieix even touched down in Australia earlier this month, with thousands of I'm A Celebrity fans and critics vowing not to watch this years series and launching boycotts. From Chris Packham slamming hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly over the show's use of animals in trials, to campaign groups seething of Nigel Farage being paid a rumoured £1.5million to sleep under the stars.

Jamie Lynn Spears looked defeated before becoming the second celebrity to leave camp (ITV)

It was revealed Jamie Lynn Spears had become the second celebrity to quit the show prior to Wednesday night's show, just days after MasterChef star Grace Dent walked out citing medical grounds. Viewers had predicted Grace was a sure-fire quitter after noticing her become increasingly defeated. ITV bosses were said to have spotted the same signs and spoke to her about whether it was time to go before the decision was finally made.

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If that wasn't enough drama, the I'm A Celebrity camp almost lost a third star this week, when Nella Rose briefly left camp to see medics - just before she was about to take part in a Bushtucker Trial.

in the same chaotic episode, viewers saw Jamie Lynn say her goodbyes after spending days weeping over missing her children. A spokesperson for I'm A Celebrity said of Britney Spears' sister's departure: "Jamie Lynn Spears has left I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! on medical grounds. She's been a fantastic campmate who has triumphed at trials and bonded well with her fellow celebrities." Her fellow campmates are now aware that she will not be returning to the camp.

Sources close to the show revealed that Jamie Lynn's exit was linked to her missing her family. One said: "She has been struggling physically and mentally for some time. If you look back even last week this is not a complete surprise by any means." Having walked away from the show on Wednesday, the singer and actress becomes the second celebrity to quit this season.

Grace landed back in the U.K earlier this week after looking exceptionally glum in camp just hours before she quit the show. ITV confirmed Grace's departure from camp on Monday morning but didn't disclose the exact reason for the star's early exit. A spokesperson for the broadcaster said in a statement: "Unfortunately Grace Dent has left the show on medical grounds. She has been a great campmate and will be missed by her fellow celebrities and viewers alike."

It's since been claimed Grace's jungle departure was "mutually decided between Grace and show bosses" after ITV bosses grew concerned over her "visible deterioration in camp" and stepped in. Chatting to the MailOnline on Monday, an I'm A Celebrity insider claimed Grace made the decision to quit camp after being told she would be the next star to take on a Bushtucker Trial – claiming the thought of facing the challenge alongside Josie Gibson "the straw that broke the camel's back."

The official line from ITV bosses regarding Grace and Jamie Lynn's exit is that both women left camp due to medical reasons, but insiders have revealed it was the bad weather that led to them feeling the need to fly home early.

Speaking to the MailOnline, the source says: "The weather in the jungle this year has been terrible.

"The campmates have had barely one full day of sunshine and have had to contend with endless rain which has only made the already gruelling living conditions worse. The weather has really affected the mood in camp. Everyone is miserable and wanting to leave."

The exodus comes after rumours ITV paid some of its highest fees ever for the celebs to star in this years series. Nigel Farage was rumoured to have set a new record by negotiating a £1.5million pay cheque.

However, even before walking into camp Nigel warned viewers might not see that much of him as he'd be except from a number of trials on account of past health issues.

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Revealing which trials he won't be taking part in, Nigel said despite his whopping fee he expected his time in the jungle to be a 'car crash' given how much he would have to sit out.

"Anything involving weightlifting, I'd be out because I've obviously had some quite serious physical injuries and neck reconstructions and goodness knows what else," he told The Sun.

After Nigel's protests, his co-star Nella was ruled out of a trial this week and forced to leave camp. The TikTok star had to be treated by medics while the show was live on air on Tuesday night.

Insiders said it was due to a 'medical emergency'. A source has told The Sun: 'It was unfortunate timing that Nella had to be taken out of camp just before the live scenes.'

"She had to be seen by the team with a physical, medical emergency but it was dealt with swiftly. Nella has had a rough time so far but she is a tough cookie and will be back smiling and laughing with the other campmates in no time - this wasn't anything to do with her mental health."

Zoe Delaney