The silent star of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! has finally spoken, sharing his disappointment after his so-called 'jungle crush' was voted off the ITV reality show. Kiosk Kev, the enigmatic figure who runs the trials and doles out treats, broke his silence on social media following the departure of comedy legend Ruby Wax on Wednesday night, 4th December 2025.
A 'Sad Day' for the Silent Star
Mark Herlaar, the man behind the bushy beard and silent persona known as Kiosk Kev or 'Aussie Tarzan', took to Instagram to express his feelings. Reposting an image of the 72-year-old comic leaving the jungle via the iconic rope bridge, he wrote a simple but poignant caption: "Aw sad day for Kev." This marked a rare public statement from the character, who famously never speaks on the show itself.
In a separate, more effusive post, Kev gushed about the television icon, describing her as "fun and strength wrapped in an amazing woman." He went further, explicitly naming Ruby Wax as his favourite contestant of the entire series, praising her advocacy work for mental health charities Mind and Frazzleduk.
The Blossoming Jungle Romance
The bond between the pair became a highlight of this year's series, with Ruby Wax openly admitting her crush on the kiosk keeper. Viewers watched as she would become visibly giddy during visits to his ice cream van, whether for a Bushtucker Trial or a Dingo Dollar challenge. The 'romance' reached its peak during one challenge with fellow campmate Lisa Riley, when Kev shared a now-infamous cheeky wink with Ruby.
The moment sent Ruby into a fit of excitement. "You got a wink, you got a wink!" Lisa exclaimed. A thrilled Ruby, touching her heart, replied: "I did, I did," before blowing a kiss to Kev as they returned to camp. Lisa Riley later joked that Kev was "playing hard to get," a theory Ruby seemed delighted by.
Husband Ed Bye's Amused Reaction
The very public jungle flirtation did not go unnoticed by Ruby's husband of 37 years, film and TV producer Ed Bye. Reunited with his wife on the bridge after her elimination, he was asked about the situation on ITV's This Morning. With good humour, he remarked that he would "go and have a word with Kiosk Kev about all of this," but conceded it would be pointless given Kev's vow of silence on the show.
Kiosk Kev, reflecting on the series in his Instagram tribute, thanked ITV and the I'm A Celebrity production for putting the cast together. He signed off with a definitive statement of support for his favourite, writing: "Ruby gets my vote and wink every time." With Ruby now out of the jungle, fans are left wondering if Kev's silent support will transfer to another campmate, or if his 'sad day' marks the end of this year's most unexpected jungle connection.
