The jungle is back on our screens, but not every celebrity is cut out for Bushtucker Trials and meagre rations. While a fresh group of famous faces, including Lisa Riley, Martin Kemp, and Kelly Brook, are currently testing their mettle, history shows that some stars simply can't endure the experience.
Over the years, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here has witnessed a series of dramatic early departures. Some campmates have chosen to walk out, while others have been forced to leave due to medical emergencies or personal crises. With this year's contestants already facing contraband scandals and struggles, we look back at the most memorable exits from the jungle.
Voluntary Walkouts: When Stars Said 'Enough'
Some celebrities made the conscious decision that the jungle life was not for them. One of the most legendary departures belongs to Gemma Collins. Her stint in the 2014 series was short-lived and chaotic. After just three days, The GC decided she'd had enough, describing the experience as 'hell'.
Through the Bushtucker Telegraph, she pleaded: '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.' Announcing her departure, she declared no amount of money could keep her there, stating she loved herself too much to continue.
In 2009, Katie Price made a surprising return to the jungle after her successful first appearance in 2004. However, her second stint proved far less successful. After being selected for every single trial, she decided to walk away when the seventh one came around. She simply stated: 'I've done my challenges, people can see I'm genuine. I just don't want to be here any more.'
Medical Emergencies and Forced Exits
Not all departures are by choice. In 2023, food critic and MasterChef star Grace Dent withdrew from the series on medical grounds after nine days in camp. Sources suggested she was completely exhausted, with friends saying she appeared 'broken'. A source told The Sun that the cold, wet weather, punishing tasks, and lack of food had taken their toll, leaving her looking gaunt after losing a significant amount of weight.
Richard Madeley's 2021 appearance was cut short after he was rushed to hospital. Although he described feeling 'briefly unwell' as a precaution, he was unable to return to the Welsh castle camp because he had broken the strict Covid safety bubble. The Good Morning Britain host said he was 'gutted' but insisted he'd 'had the time of my life'.
The Most Explosive Exits in Jungle History
Perhaps the most chaotic exit belongs to Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten during the 2004 series. He became increasingly frustrated with the meagre food rations and even started a fire on the camp's edge as a form of protest.
His clashes with fellow campmate Katie Price escalated, particularly when she used precious drinking water to wash her hair. He completely lost his cool in the Bush Telegraph, kicking the camera during one of his explosive, expletive-laden tirades. He even branded the public 'f*****g c***s' on live television, forcing ITV to introduce a time delay to prevent further swearing from being broadcast.
Another emotional departure came from former EastEnders actress Danniella Westbrook in 2003. Despite being tipped as a favourite to win, she quit after nine days, having broken down in tears on multiple occasions. She pleaded with viewers to vote for other celebrities so she could escape, stating: 'I can't stand it. I really can't. I just hate it in here. I thought it would be fun but everyone is starving and starting to feel ill and really weak.'
Similarly, All Saints star Natalie Appleton decided she'd had enough in 2004 after the public voted her to face her fifth consecutive Bushtucker Trial. During one challenge, she experienced a breakdown while attempting to walk along a tightrope, sobbing: 'Help me mummy – I'm going to be sick!' On another occasion, she required emergency medical attention from Medic Bob.
These dramatic exits serve as a stark reminder that the jungle experience pushes celebrities to their absolute limits, both physically and mentally, with not everyone able to see it through to the end.
