Jesy Nelson has reportedly withdrawn from I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! to care for her twin daughters, who are battling Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1.
The former Little Mix star was expected to fly to Australia next month to take part in the ITV show, where she would face insects, reptiles and vermin in Bushtucker trials. However, the 35-year-old has now stepped back from the series with a "very heavy heart".
Family Priority Over Jungle Adventure
A source told The Sun that Nelson was excited to enter the jungle to raise awareness of SMA1 and "show a side to her the public may not have seen before". The source said: "Ocean and Story are unwell and there is no way Jesy would leave them. Her family are her priority."
The source added that ITV have been "amazing" and that "the door will always be left open for Jesy" should she choose to return.
Campaign for Newborn Screening
In January, Nelson revealed that her twins Ocean and Story had been diagnosed with the rare condition, which means they will likely never be able to walk. According to the NHS, SMA1 is "a rare genetic condition that can cause muscle weakness" that "gets worse over time".
Nelson has become the face of a campaign for newborns to be tested for the condition, which affects one in every 10,000 babies in the UK. She set up a petition that gathered more than 150,000 signatures urging the government to bring forward a pilot scheme for newborn screening, with a nationwide trial launched last month.
Twins' Condition and Future Plans
The singer has described her children as the "strongest, most resilient babies" and said she believes they will "defy the odds". Speaking to Jamie Laing on the Great Company podcast, she said: "Their muscles are now deteriorating and wasting away, and if you don't get them treatment in time, eventually the muscles will all just die, which then affects the breathing, the swallowing, everything. And they will die before the age of two."
She added: "It's not okay, but it is what it is, and I just have to accept it, and now just try and make the best out of this situation."
Filming for I'm A Celebrity begins next month, with Wayne Rooney, Joanna Page and Chloe Burrows tipped as some of the names heading into the Australian jungle. The Standard has reached out to ITV and representatives of Nelson for comment.
