Former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Alex Scott has returned to the UK early, breaking the show's usual protocol, to be by her girlfriend Jess Glynne's side following a serious family health crisis.
Early Exit for a Personal Crisis
The sports presenter, 41, was the first celebrity voted out of the jungle on Friday night. However, she made the decision to leave the official post-show process in Australia ahead of schedule. This was to immediately fly back to Britain after learning that Jess Glynne's mother, Alexandra, had suffered a major stroke and required brain surgery.
Contestants are typically expected to remain in Australia until the series finale, but Alex prioritised supporting her partner. In an emotional statement, Alex explained, 'She's my Jessica, and I'm going home to be her rock.' She also expressed gratitude to ITV and her campmates for their understanding and support during the difficult time.
A Long-Awaited Reunion Over Coffee
The couple's reunion was a quiet and heartfelt one. On Wednesday, they enjoyed Alex's first post-jungle coffee together in the UK, a stark contrast to the warm Australian climate. Jess Glynne marked the occasion on her Instagram Story with a simple red heart emoji.
Alex also shared a tender snap of the pair holding hands, captioning it with the phrase, 'Home is where the heart is.' The image showed the presenter wrapped up warmly against the British winter, finally back with her loved one.
The Heartbreaking Reason Jess Wasn't on the Bridge
The family emergency also explains why singer Jess Glynne, 36, was notably absent from the traditional 'bridge' reunion when Alex left the jungle. Jess broke her silence last week, sharing the personal news with fans.
She wrote on Instagram: 'I wanted to share something personal, over the last few weeks my mum suffered a major stroke and needed urgent surgery.' She added that it had been a 'really serious, life-altering time' and she needed to stay close to home, confirming that Alex would always want her to be where she was needed most.
Alex revealed that it was Jess who had encouraged her to go on the show despite the devastating news, saying Jess told her to 'do it for my mum.' Alex admitted she spent her time in camp worrying that if Jess wasn't on the bridge, it would mean her mother's condition had worsened.
Following Alex's exit interview with hosts Ant and Dec, the couple spoke immediately. Jess reportedly told Alex she was proud of her but felt the show hadn't captured her 'fun' side. Alex herself later joked in a candid confession that she thought she might have been too boring for the reality TV format.
