Singer Jess Glynne has expressed her heartfelt anticipation for girlfriend Alex Scott's early return from the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle, following the sports presenter's decision to break from tradition and leave Australia ahead of schedule.
A Supportive Departure
The 41-year-old football pundit is departing the reality television process early to fly back to the UK and stand by Jess as she copes with her mother's recent major stroke and subsequent brain surgery. While contestants typically remain in Australia for the entire duration of the series, Alex has received special permission to break protocol and provide crucial emotional support to her partner during this challenging family time.
In a moving Instagram post shared on Saturday night, Jess poured out her admiration for Alex. 'Forever a winner!' she penned. 'She walked in that jungle and was nothing but herself from start to finish. We see you, we saw you and we love you! I can't wait to have you home my woman.' The post was accompanied by celebratory photos of Jess in a green T-shirt emblazoned with 'Alex for the win!' and a video showing a group of their friends wearing matching supportive shirts.
The Emotional Backstory
This weekend, Alex revealed the profound personal struggle that preceded her jungle adventure. She disclosed that she nearly didn't travel to Australia at all after Jess's mother, Alexandra, suffered a devastating stroke that required urgent brain surgery. In an emotional interview, Alex explained that it was the Hold My Hand singer who insisted she should not miss this opportunity, despite the devastating family news.
'It's been a hard couple of months,' Alex confessed, 'but Jess was like I want you to go on the show and do it for my mum.' She spent her time on the ITV show grappling with anxiety, fearing that if Jess wasn't waiting for her on the famous jungle bridge upon her exit, it would signal that her mother's condition had worsened.
Speaking after becoming the first contestant voted off on Friday night, Alex shared her conflicted feelings. 'It's tough because I want to be here for the wrap party and I have to get home straight away. She's my Jessica, and I'm going home to be her rock.' She expressed deep gratitude towards her campmates and ITV for their understanding and support during this difficult period.
Breaking Their Silence
The couple had kept this family health crisis private while Alex was competing on the reality show. However, after her exit and subsequent questions arose about Jess's absence from the traditional bridge reunion, the singer felt compelled to break her silence.
In a heartfelt Instagram statement, Jess revealed: 'I wanted to share something personal, over the last few weeks my mum suffered a major stroke and needed urgent surgery. It's been a really serious, life-altering time for my family, and I've had to stay close to home.' She confirmed that Alex would always want her to be where she was needed most.
Despite the physical distance, the couple spoke immediately after Alex's exit interview with hosts Ant and Dec. Jess later voiced her pride in her partner while criticising the show's editing, stating: 'My woman might be out far earlier than she ever deserved, but I'm so unbelievably proud of her. She didn't get the airtime to show how incredible she really is.' Alex herself had previously joked in a candid confession that her edited portrayal might have suffered because she thought she was 'too boring' for dramatic television.
