Television presenter Vogue Williams is braving the Australian jungle for I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! while her husband, Spencer Matthews, embarks on a separate global endurance challenge, leading to an extended period apart for the couple and their three young children.
Clashing Schedules and Family Sacrifices
Vogue, 40, arrived at Brisbane Airport on Monday evening, preparing to join the celebrity lineup as a late arrival. Meanwhile, Spencer, 37, is currently attempting to complete seven full Ironman triathlons across seven continents in just 21 days. The former Made In Chelsea star is aiming to secure a Guinness World Record with this gruelling feat, having already completed races in Europe and Arizona. He is now en route to Cape Town, South Africa, for his third triathlon.
This ambitious timing means the couple will be separated for a significant period and will also be away from their three children, Theodore, seven, Gigi, five, and Otto, three, who are remaining at home in London. A source close to the pair described the situation as 'unfortunate' but unavoidable due to their clashing professional commitments.
'The timing isn't ideal at all, but sometimes these things happen,' the source explained. 'Of course, Spencer would want nothing more than to support Vogue in Australia... but both committed to their own projects, and unfortunately, the schedules overlap.'
Spencer's Extreme Challenges and Personal Transformation
Spencer's current 'Project Seven' is his latest in a series of extreme physical tests. In July, the father-of-three earned a Guinness World Record after running 30 marathons in 30 days in the desert. He is documenting his current triathlon journey on his podcast, Untapped.
This focus on ultra-endurance marks a significant transformation for Spencer, who has spoken openly about his past struggles with alcohol. The now-owner of the alcohol-free brand CleanCo told the Mail in July, 'I have come from having a shocking relationship with alcohol... to now being in a position where I'm really happy and comfortable.'
He admits he has effectively 'swapped one addiction for another' but insists his obsession with running is a purely positive one, telling Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, 'It's kind of great.'
Jungle Jitters and a Missed Opportunity
For Vogue, the challenge ahead involves facing the infamous Bushtucker Trials and navigating camp life. Ironically, Spencer was due to be a late arrival on I'm A Celebrity himself back in 2015, two years before he met Vogue. He was forced to withdraw after admitting he had taken steroids to 'bulk up' for a charity boxing match, with producers ruling it 'unsafe' for him to continue.
Now, with both committed to their respective adventures on opposite sides of the world, neither will be able to watch the other's challenge unfold in real-time. Spencer won't see Vogue tackle the jungle trials, and she won't know if he successfully completes his world record attempt. While there is a small chance Spencer could finish early, it's considered unlikely he would then fly to Australia.
The couple, who met on Channel 4's The Jump and married in 2018 on Spencer's family estate in Scotland, will be supporting each other from afar as their children cheer them on from London.
