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I’m A Celeb hit by another row as Gemma Collins hits back at Sinitta’s ‘joke’ remark

TOWIE star Gemma Collins and singer Sinitta clashed in camp over musical theatre jobs in the latest episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa

15:02, 09 Apr 2026

Gemma Collins wasn’t happy with Sinitta’s comments about her musical theatre career(Image: ITV)

Things turned tense between Sinitta and Gemma Collins in camp on the latest episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa on Thursday night (April 9).

Fans have already seen boxer David Haye get on the wrong side of Beverley Callard on the all-stars spin-off, which kicked off again this week. Gemma and Sinitta had a tense chat about the musical Chicago, which Sinitta has starred in and Gemma had been due to appear in back in 2022. Both women had the role of Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.

After the two I’m A Celeb camps merged, Sinitta said: “What happened with Chicago? Because you were supposed to follow me as Mama Morton in Chicago, it was like announced and everything.”

Sinitta said she’d thought it was a “joke” when Gemma was announced as her replacement in Chicago(Image: ITV)

Gemma replied: “I had a terrible injury… it was something to do with the insurance.” But Sinitta offended the TOWIE star when she admitted she’d not believed Gemma had actually bagged the role.

Sinitta explained: “I’m sorry, but I’m going to admit it, when I heard you were going to do it, I thought it was a joke announcement. I think you’d just presented something at an awards show and fell off the stage. It was like you were more of a comedian.”

The comments from Sinitta appeared to hurt Gemma, who hit back: “Not a joke, Sinitta. I auditioned for it and got it fair and square. Did all the training, everything. Had the voice coach.”

Scarlett was clearly feeling the awkwardness between the pair(Image: ITV)

Scarlett Moffatt seemed taken aback and mouthed “What is happening?” to Seann Walsh as the pair came to blows. The row is expected to continue with more details shown on ITV when the episode airs tonight (April 9).

Gemma has already been seen getting emotional on screen but unlike, her last appearance in the jungle, she has not quit as things have got tough. She left after just three days when she appeared Down Under in 2014.

Gemma had to drop out due to injury(Image: PA)

Sinitta first played the role of Mama Morton for three months in 2021 and has joined a touring production several times since then. Gemma was announced to play Mama Morton in 2022 and had been due to play the role beginning in Sunderland in the summer of that year.

But a statement at the end of May 2022 said: “Gemma Collins’ management have informed the producers of Chicago she will no longer be appearing in the UK tour of the show due to a knee injury. The producers of Chicago wish Gemma all the best for the future.”

Collins’ was announced for the role in March 2022 after a period of speculation on social media that she could be up for the role.

At the time it raised eye-brows in the theatre world but Producer David Ian said they “were completely stunned by Gemma’s audition”. Sadly theatregoers never got to see her perform.

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