Viewers of ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! were left utterly gobsmacked during Thursday night's episode as campmate Martin Kemp finally departed camp to face a challenge. The surprise came just days after eliminated contestant Vogue Williams suggested the Spandau Ballet star had been secretly exempt from trials.
The Long-Awaited Trial
In a moment that sparked a frenzy on social media, the 64-year-old music legend teamed up with 39-year-old Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson for the latest nerve-shredding task, named 'Lethal Libraries'. The challenge involved retrieving stars from a bookshelf teeming with snakes and other creepy crawlies.
However, while Kemp's participation was a landmark event, fans quickly noted that the lion's share of the physical work fell to his partner. Tom was the one tasked with rummaging through the serpent-infested shelves, while Martin answered questions from a safer distance.
Fan Reaction: From Elation to Disappointment
The sight of Kemp leaving camp prompted an immediate and excited reaction on platform X (formerly Twitter). One stunned viewer wrote: 'Martin Kemp is doing something!!! This is not a drill!' Another added: 'Martin having a conversation AND a trial in the same episode? Who would’ve thought.'
Yet, the initial euphoria soon gave way to a degree of disappointment for some, who felt the trial's structure let the star off lightly. Critical posts included: 'Martin not really doing the trial even when he's doing a trial' and 'Of course martin finally does a trial and he just gets to stand there.'
Off-screen, support came from a familiar source. His son, presenter Roman Kemp, shared his own celebratory post online, simply exclaiming: 'Let's go!!!'
Vogue Williams' Exemption Revelation
The trial took on added significance due to claims made earlier in the week by Vogue Williams. The 40-year-old Irish presenter, who was voted out of the jungle on Monday, hosted a live Q&A on Instagram from her plush hotel in Surfer's Paradise.
During the session, she told fans: 'Martin did want to do the trials, but Martin was exempt from some. I think that because Martin is a bit quieter he was kinda happy to let everybody else go ahead.' She was quick to praise him, adding: 'Martin's sound, such a nice guy. He's really, really lovely.'
It is standard procedure for the show's producers to grant exemptions based on factors like a celebrity's medical history or age, though ITV did not comment on this specific situation.
The episode has certainly set the conversation alight, proving that even when a much-anticipated trial finally happens, it can still leave the audience fiercely divided.
