Former football star turned sports presenter Alex Scott is preparing for her most challenging test yet as she enters the Australian jungle for I'm A Celebrity, but her biggest concern isn't the creepy crawlies - it's being separated from girlfriend Jess Glynne for the first time since they began dating.
The Longest Separation Since Finding Love
Alex Scott has confessed that her upcoming two-week stint in the Australian outback will mark the longest period she and singer Jess Glynne have spent apart since they started their relationship in 2023. In an emotional revelation to Daily Mail, the 41-year-old admitted: "It's going to be a test for both of us."
The former Lioness revealed that her popstar partner will be waiting to greet her on the famous jungle bridge when she eventually leaves the show, providing a much-needed light at the end of the tunnel. Scott shared intimate details about what she'll miss most about her girlfriend during their separation, highlighting the simple domestic pleasures they've built together.
Guarding Their Private World
The couple deliberately kept their relationship away from public scrutiny initially, with Alex explaining their cautious approach. "From the start, we were very guarded and private because we wanted to get to know each other and figure out ourselves before it was out there for the world," she revealed.
This protective instinct extends beyond her relationship, with Scott acknowledging she's developed "big armour up" in recent years due to public perception. The sports pundit received horrific racist and sexist abuse from online trolls when rumours surfaced about her replacing Sue Barker on Question of Sport in 2020, an experience that clearly left its mark.
"For me, opening up is going to be the tough part," Scott mused. "I've always been so guarded and had this big armour up as a way of protection and not letting people in. I think I've managed to let it down over the years but I feel like, over the last couple of years, my armour's come back up again because of how the public perceive me on certain things or shows."
Jungle Challenges and Personal Struggles
Beyond missing her girlfriend's cooking - specifically Jess's pasta, which Scott described as "absolutely everything" - the presenter anticipates struggling with the lack of personal space and downtime. "Not being able to have me time or being able to go home at the end of the day" will present significant challenges for someone who describes herself as "actually really quite shy."
Scott hopes to use her jungle experience to break out of her shell, acknowledging that people often mistake her television confidence for her true personality. "I think people have a perception of me when you work on TV, you're the most outgoing, loudest one in the room. I think my challenge is going to be trying to come out of that shyness amongst a group of big personalities."
As she follows in the footsteps of fellow Lioness Jill Scott, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2022, Alex Scott faces not only the traditional bush tucker trials but also the personal challenge of letting down her guard in front of millions of viewers.
The emotional stakes were already high as the couple shared an emotional goodbye at Heathrow Airport before Alex's departure for Australia. Now, with the show's producers promising the "toughest" series yet with new measures to ensure celebrities "fight more" and "earn their keep," Scott's emotional resilience will be tested alongside her physical endurance.
