Jesy Nelson has reportedly withdrawn from a six-figure agreement to appear on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, with insiders disclosing the reason behind the decision. The pop star and former member of X Factor winners Little Mix delivered premature twin daughters Ocean and Story in March 2025. Both were born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1, and neither is likely to ever walk.
Campaigning for SMA Testing
Jesy garnered support as she openly chronicled her pregnancy, the arrival of the twins, and the challenges of raising two babies with SMA type 1. She successfully lobbied the government and campaigned to have all newborns tested for spinal muscular atrophy when her twin girls were diagnosed too late after irreversible nerve damage.
It is understood that the star had been anticipating using a stint on I'm A Celebrity to raise awareness of the condition, but with weeks remaining until the ITV reality programme returns to screens, it has emerged that she has pulled out.
Family Priority
A source said: "Jesy was so excited about joining I'm A Celebrity, mainly because it was giving her a platform to continue her campaigning for SMA. She has already helped change Government policy over testing newborns for the condition."
"I'm A Celeb was going to be where she could spread her message even further, and show a side to her the public may not have seen before. It's with a very heavy heart she has pulled out."
Doors Left Open
The insider also revealed that programme bosses remain open to considering Jesy, who would have become the first Little Mix member to venture into the jungle, for a future series. Speaking to The Sun, the source added: "Ocean and Story are unwell and there is no way Jesy would leave them. Her family are her priority."
"ITV have been amazing and are supporting her all the way. The door will always be left open for Jesy."
Back in September, producers were reportedly optimistic that Jesy would be signing within weeks and were "thrilled" to have progressed so far, though the singer informed bosses last month she was unable to commit to the programme. Producers were eager for her to discuss her time in Little Mix and her decision to suddenly quit in 2020 once she had entered the jungle.
The 35-year-old rose to prominence after winning The X Factor in 2011 and formed part of Little Mix alongside Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall. In recent years, she has parted ways with the group and recently separated from Zion Foster, the father of their twins, to whom she had been engaged for just under a year.
The reality programme, which launched in 2002, typically runs for three weeks in November and sees Ant and Dec present live from Australia's Gold Coast. Additional names speculated to have joined this year include footballer Wayne Rooney, ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova, cricketer Ben Stokes and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson.
A spokesperson commented: "Any names suggested for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! are just speculation."
