Singer and television personality Peter Andre has suggested that Jack Osbourne's upcoming appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! could serve as a form of 'therapy' for him following the death of his father, Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne, earlier this year.
The Therapeutic Value of the Jungle
Andre, who became a household name after appearing on the show's third series in 2004, shared his unique insight during an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Friday. He explained that the jungle environment, despite being filled with people, offers significant 'downtime' for self-reflection.
"I probably think that’s why someone like Jack Osbourne doing it is a good thing for him," Andre stated. "I don’t know his reasons for doing it, but it probably could be a bit of therapy for him."
He elaborated on the unique conditions contestants face, noting, "Because it is just you, you’re in the wilderness. Yes, you’re surrounded by people, but there’s a lot of downtime, a lot of time that you’re on your own. And even though there are cameras everywhere, you can’t see them."
A Distraction and a Challenge
Andre emphasised the psychological impact of the isolation, pointing out that cameramen are forbidden from interacting with contestants. "The cameramen – you can’t talk to them, they won’t answer you[...] It brings a lot out of you. You’re just you, and there are no phones," he said.
This perspective aligns with Osbourne's own revelation that he was heading into the Australian jungle to distract himself from recent events. He has said that his mother, Sharon, and sister, Kelly, are supportive of his decision to take part.
Andre, who famously met his former wife Katie Price on the ITV programme, also confirmed that the hunger experienced by contestants is authentic. "Hunger is one of those things that I had never experienced before, and for anyone that hasn’t experienced it, you genuinely get it there. It’s the real deal," he confessed.
Practical Advice for New Contestants
Drawing from his own experience, Andre offered crucial advice for the new intake of celebrities. He warned against the instinct to overeat before entering the camp.
"The dreaded thing which I always tell them never to do, is to keep eating so much before you go in," he advised. "Because you think well, 'I’m not going to eat, so I may as well stock up'. But the problem is then your body goes into shock. So it’s actually better to get your body used to it."
Jack Osbourne will be joining a star-studded line-up for the show's 25th anniversary series. Fellow contestants include:
- Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp
- Model Kelly Brook
- Former England footballer Alex Scott
- Comedian Ruby Wax
- Rapper Aitch (Harrison Armstrong)
- Social media star Morgan Burtwistle (Angryginge)
- EastEnders star Shona McCarty
- Comedian Eddie Kadi
- Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley
The new series, once again hosted by the iconic duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, will return to ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday. Last year's series was won by McFly singer Danny Jones.
