Jesy Nelson has reportedly pulled out of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! to care for her twin daughters following their diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1. The former Little Mix star, 35, is thought to have withdrawn from the six-figure deal with the ITV show with a "heavy heart."
Family takes priority over jungle appearance
New reports have claimed "there is no way" Jesy would leave her children to go into the Australian jungle. A source told The Sun: "Jesy was so excited about joining I'm A Celebrity, mainly because it was giving her a platform to continue her campaigning for SMA.
"It's with a heavy heart she has pulled out. Ocean and Story are unwell, and there is no way Jesy would leave them. Her family are her priority.
"ITV have been amazing and are supporting her all the way. The door will always be left open for Jesy," they added.
ITV responds to speculation
When approached for a comment, an ITV spokesperson told us: "Any names suggested for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! are just speculation." Express.co.uk has reached out to Jesy's representatives for a comment.
In September, bosses were said to be hopeful that Jesy would sign the contract within weeks and were "thrilled" to have got this far, although the outlet now claims that the singer told bosses last month that she could not commit to the series.
It is understood that producers were keen for her to speak about her time at Little Mix and her sudden decision to quit in 2020, when she had arrived Down Under.
Background on the show and Jesy's recent news
The hit TV show, which began back in 2002, usually airs for three weeks in November and sees Ant and Dec broadcast live in the jungle from the Gold Coast of Australia.
Other names rumoured to have signed up for the show this year include footballer Wayne Rooney, former Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova, cricketer Ben Stokes and Kaiser Chiefs star Ricky Wilson.
The Boyz chart-topper announced in January that her daughters, whom she shares with her ex, Zion Foster, were diagnosed with SMA. She has been praised for helping persuade the government to announce a national rollout to screen newborns for SMA.
Last month, the doting mum revealed her new romance with boyfriend Ben Davies, who was her date to the National Television Awards. The singer walked the red carpet alone earlier that evening, but it was only when the camera panned to her during the ceremony that there was a quick flash of her new man, Ben, sitting next to her.
In the clip, he looked at her proudly when her documentary, Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, was shortlisted for an NTA Award in the Authored Documentary category. Our Girls The Southport Families won the category.
The musician "hard launched" her new relationship with Ben when she shared the first snap with him on Instagram at the end of August. She shared a snap of him driving a Range Rover while holding her hand.
It is understood that her ex, Zion, is also in a new relationship following their separation. In her Amazon Prime documentary, Jesy spoke about her split with Zion in detail, saying: "It's a very traumatic thing that we've both been through.
"I think it's quite inevitable for things like this to happen to couples; I don't think it's a shock that we've broken up... You'll either be a team or it'll tear you apart and unfortunately, I feel that's what it's done to me and Zion.
"We still get on, there's no bad feeling. My main priority is them. I just want to be the best mum with the best energy and positivity possible..."
