Boxer Conor Benn has been revealed as a last-minute drop-out from the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, scuppering plans for him to enter the jungle as a late arrival.
Logistical Nightmare Forces Jungle Exit
The 29-year-old son of former world champion Nigel Benn was scheduled to fly to Australia this Sunday, just one day after his high-profile boxing match with Chris Eubank Jr. However, producers and Benn's team ultimately decided the tight turnaround presented too significant a risk.
Concerns mounted that an injury sustained during the Saturday night fight could prevent Benn from flying the following day, making his participation in the ITV reality show impossible. A source close to the situation confirmed that while the boxer was 'really keen to make it work,' the logistics proved unviable.
'In theory, he could have done it, if he had gone in as one of the late arrivals,' the source told The Sun. 'But given how boxing matches are unpredictable, if he had been injured he wouldn’t have been able to fly. Neither ITV nor Conor could take that risk in the end, but the door is certainly open for the future.'
Political Jungle Drama: The Angela Rayner Saga
In another surprising development for the 2025 series, it has emerged that Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner came remarkably close to signing up. Podcast hosts Richard Osman and Marina Hyde revealed on 'The Rest Is Entertainment' that ITV bosses felt the former housing secretary was 'impossible to say no to.'
Talks reportedly advanced significantly before Rayner ultimately withdrew. Insiders suggested the politician was warned that a return to frontline politics would be off the table if she entered the jungle. This followed her resignation from Cabinet roles in September after a controversy over unpaid stamp duty.
Marina Hyde commented on the potential booking, saying, 'If you thought last week was chaotic for Labour, try and imagine this week if Angela Rayner was now basically running a proxy leadership campaign by the meme of eating kangaroo testicles on ITV prime time.'
Meet The Late Arrivals
With Conor Benn's withdrawal, Tom Read Wilson and Vogue Williams have been confirmed as the late arrivals for this year's series. They will join an all-star lineup including television personality Kelly Brook, former Spandau Ballet member Martin Kemp, and Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley.
Other celebrities braving the Australian jungle this year include media personality Jack Osbourne, rapper Aitch, former EastEnders star Shona McGarty, and sports presenter Alex Scott.
The 2025 series promises dramatic moments as these famous faces confront bushtucker trials and camp life, even without the anticipated appearances of Conor Benn and Angela Rayner.
