Behind the Jungle Exit: A Family Crisis
Former Lioness and football presenter Alex Scott has shared the heartbreaking personal crisis that nearly prevented her from entering the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! jungle. The 41-year-old, who became the first contestant voted off this series, revealed her partner, singer Jess Glynne, experienced a devastating family emergency just before filming began.
Jess Glynne's mother, Alexandra, suffered a major stroke requiring urgent brain surgery, creating what Scott described as an incredibly difficult decision about whether to participate in the ITV reality show. In an emotional interview following her Friday night exit, Scott explained that it was Glynne who insisted she shouldn't miss the opportunity despite the family trauma.
The Emotional Toll and Missing Reunion
Scott admitted she spent her entire time in the Australian Outback worrying about whether her partner would be able to meet her at the famous jungle bridge upon her exit. "I knew there was always a possibility of her not being across the bridge, if her mum hadn't got better or if things had been getting worse, which they have been," she told the Daily Mail.
The couple had kept their family struggle private during Scott's time on the show, which explained why Glynne wasn't present for the traditional family reunion when Scott became the first celebrity eliminated. Instead of being greeted by her partner, Scott was met by a close friend while Glynne remained in the UK supporting her mother through recovery.
Shortly after Scott's exit, Glynne broke her silence on Instagram, writing: "I wanted to share something personal, over the last few weeks my mum suffered a major stroke and needed urgent surgery. It's been a really serious, life-altering time for my family, and I've had to stay close to home."
Reality TV Editing and Camp Dynamics
The couple spoke immediately after Scott's post-exit interview with hosts Ant and Dec, and Glynne expressed disappointment with how her partner had been portrayed in the final edit. According to Scott, Glynne felt ITV hadn't shown her "fun side" adequately during the broadcast episodes.
Scott herself reflected on her time in camp, suggesting she may have been too reserved in sharing personal stories compared to more prominent personalities like Martin Kemp and Ruby Wax. "There were moments where people would be sharing stories, and I'd be like, 'Oh, I don't feel like my stories are even worthy at the level of, like a Martin Kemp or a Ruby Wax,'" she admitted.
The Football Focus presenter hopes viewers saw more than just her football background, noting she took on the role of "game's master" and tried to bring laughter to the camp. However, she acknowledged the reality of television editing, saying "we know it's a TV show and that's the edits."
Scott also addressed the brewing camp romance rumours between EastEnders star Shona McGarty and rapper Aitch, clarifying that all campmates had developed a "soft spot" for McGarty as they watched her overcome pre-camp anxieties following her recent split from fiancé David Bracken.
Scott will now wait for all her former campmates to exit the jungle before returning to her £1.5 million London townhouse to support Glynne and her family through this challenging period.
