I’m A Celebrity… South Africa returns to screens on Monday (March 6) with another all-star cast, but two of the celebrities wanted to walk away from the jungle
09:07, 06 Apr 2026Updated 09:08, 06 Apr 2026
Gemma nearly quit the jungle again on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa
Two I’m A Celebritity… South Africa stars tried to quit the show before the jungle chaos even began.
The I’m A Celeb spin-off involving past campmates returns to ITV tonight (April 6) at 9pm on ITV1. The likes of TOWIE legend Gemma Collins, footy favourite Harry Redknapp, Corrie’s Beverly Callard and Sir Mo Farah will be on the spin-off.
However, it’s been revealed that both Gemma and pop star Sinitta tried to quit the star-studded series, which is pre-recorded, very early on indeed. It was all thanks to a prank from former football manager Harry, who won I’m A Celeb in 2018.
Sinitta was right behind the TOWIE legend in wanting to leave
Sinitta recalled the practical joke ahead of the show. She said: “I think we’d done really hard trials all day, or some sort of game, so we were physically exhausted.
“We got back, and we’re all relieved [that] nothing else can happen now, because they’ve exhausted us; it’s getting dark now, it’s getting late, so that must be it, we can relax.
She continued: “And Harry [Redknapp] comes in and says, “Guys, you’re not going to believe this,” and he’s got the board, and he starts reading this awful trial; I think it’s called something like the House of Hell, Prison of Hell, or something.”
Harry Redknapp had pranked them
Sinitta said Harry had told them that the horrific trial would involve rats and being tied up, and it was all too much for Gemma and Sinitta. SHe admitted: “We’re already broken [and] literally before he could finish reading it out, Gemma was like, ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here'”.
“I have to admit, my hand went up that I was like, ‘You know what? me too, I’m too exhausted, gotta go'”. However, Harry confessed to them that it was all a prank, much to their relief.
But wouldn’t be the first time Gemma has quit the jungle. She had a nightmare of a time during her original series in 2014, which culminated in her leaving after just three days.
THe spin-off airs tonight (April 6) at 9pm on ITV1
She told the Bushtucker Telegraph: “I’ve got to go. Three days. I’ve just got to get out of here. You have to get me out of here. It’s making me feel panicked and stressed. It’s not normal.”
Announcing her exit, Gemma declared: “It’s hell, this is hell. I just can’t do it. It ain’t for me. I’ve found it really difficult, waking up and feeling panicked every day. I love myself too much to put myself through this… I have to look after number one. I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! I have to go. I have to start living my life the way I want to live it and this isn’t it.
“It’s a personal decision that I’ve had to make for myself, but it’s the right one. This is right for me and I have to go with that. I’m so out of my comfort zone that it’s made me realise the girl I always was. I’ve become a character, a puppet of Gemma. That is not the real me. No amount of money would keep me here. I feel so amazing and strong and me that I will never, ever regret this. I believe this is the start of me now and nothing’s going to change it.”
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