Jesy Nelson has reportedly pulled out of a six-figure deal to appear on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, with sources revealing the heartbreaking reason behind the difficult decision. The pop star and former member of X Factor winners Little Mix hit the headlines last year when she gave birth prematurely to twin daughters Ocean and Story in March 2025.
Both of them were born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1, and neither of them are likely to ever walk. Jesy won huge support and new fans as she candidly documented her pregnancy, the birth of the twins, and the reality of caring for two babies with SMA type 1.
Campaigning for SMA testing
Jesy successfully lobbied the government and campaigned to have all newborns tested for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) when her twin girls were diagnosed too late after irreversible nerve damage. It's thought that the star had been hoping to use an appearance on I'm A Celebrity to raise awareness of the condition but now, with just weeks to go until Ant and Dec's ITV reality show is back on screen, it's emerged that she has pulled the plug.
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."
Family first
However, the insider also claimed that bosses will always consider Jesy, who would have been the first member of Little Mix to enter the jungle, for a slot on the show in the future. 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."
In September, bosses were said to be hopeful that Jesy would be signing her contract in a matter of weeks and were "thrilled" that they have got this far, although the outlet now claims that the singer told bosses last month that she could not commit to the series.
Background and future prospects
It was reported that producers were keen for her to speak about her time in Little Mix and her decision to suddenly quit in 2020 when she had arrived in the jungle. The pop star, 35, shot to fame when she won The X Factor in 2011 and was part of Little Mix alongside Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall.
But in recent years, the singer has been through a tough time - breaking up with the band and recently splitting from Zion Foster, the father of their twins, whom she had been engaged to for just under a year. The hit reality show, which began in 2002, usually airs for three weeks in November and sees Ant and Dec broadcast live from the Gold Coast in Australia.
Other names rumoured to have signed up this year include footballer Wayne Rooney, former Strictly Come Dancing pro Nadiya Bychkova, cricketer Ben Stokes and Kaiser Chiefs star Ricky Wilson amongst a host of others. A spokesperson said: "Any names suggested for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! are just speculation."
