GK Barry’s girlfriend Ella Rutherford says it was ‘hell’ while presenter was away on I’m A Celeb as she addresses THAT ‘awkward’ bridge kiss

GK Barry’s girlfriend Ella Rutherford has opened up about the presenter being away for I’m A Celebrity and shared details about their ‘awkward’ bridge kiss.

The presenter, 25, whose real name is Grace Keeling, finished in fifth place and was evicted on day 20 of the competition, while McFly’s Danny Jones went on to win the ITV show.

Speaking on the latest episode of Grace’s Saving Grace podcast on Wednesday, Ella said: ‘I tried to hold my s**t together, but I was actually in hell. I never want that to happen again.

‘I was a shell of myself. My mum was worried about my health – my mental health.’

Ella went on to explain how Grace managed to ruin the surprise of their reunion on the bridge by repeatedly asking producers if she was there.

Grace said: ‘I managed to find out that Ella had flown over. Before I left, I didn’t know if she was coming or not because if she was allowed from football.’

GK Barry’s girlfriend Ella Rutherford has opened up about the presenter being away for I’m A Celebrity and shared details about their ‘awkward’ bridge kiss

The presenter, 25, whose real name is Grace Keeling, finished in fifth place and was evicted on day 20 of the competition, while McFly ‘s Danny Jones went on to win the ITV show

The presenter then described their reunion, revealing: ‘The woman before I went on [the bridge] was like, “Three-second hug, turn to the cameras.” So in my head, I was like, “Three-second hug”.

‘Then I told Ella, “Turn around,” and she said, “No.”‘ Grace burst into laughter as she shared the story.

Ella added: ‘I was like, “No,” because I literally hadn’t seen you.’

Grace chimed in: ‘I know, and then we did a really awkward kiss on the bridge.’

Ella replied: ‘Oh, babe, the fact they aired that as well – it’s criminal from everyone involved.’ Grace laughed, adding: ‘I was squeezing your head.’

Ella also explained her nervousness when stepping onto the bridge: ‘I had to hold onto the railings because I thought it was going to collapse underneath me. 

‘If you watch it back, you’ll see I grabbed onto the railing before I even saw you because I was sh*tting myself.’

However, reflecting on the moment, Ella gushed: ‘That was the best day ever, really. Nothing will ever top that feeling. 

Speaking on the latest episode of Grace’s Saving Grace podcast on Wednesday, Ella said: ‘I tried to hold my sh*t together, but I was actually in hell. I never want that to happen again

The presenter then described their reunion, revealing: ‘The woman before I went on [the bridge] was like, “Three-second hug, turn to the cameras.” So in my head, I was like, “Three-second hug”

However, reflecting on the moment, Ella gushed: ‘That was the best day ever, really. Nothing will ever top that feeling

Grace and Ella on the I’m A Celeb bridge 

‘I was quite sad though, like good sad. And the first thing you said when you stepped off was, “Do you still love me?” And I was like, “I’m literally here.”‘

Grace admitted: ‘When I was in there, I was having dreams that you were cheating on me and all sorts – I didn’t know what you were doing.’

Ella reassured her: ‘Babe, little did you know, I was crying and crying again in my bed. 

‘Every night I was getting the cats and dogs into the bed just to fill the void.’

It comes after after months of keeping her girlfriend’s identity under wraps, Grace finally opened up about their relationship and even brought a subtle reminder of her into the I’m a Celeb camp during her recent stint on the show.

Fans also spotted a sweet dedication to the Ipswich football star on GK’s nails as she has a tiny white E on the fingernail where a wedding ring would go.

Before heading into the Jungle got a set of French-tipped nails and asked the manicurist to paint an E for Ella on them.

Speaking in camp, the social media star said: ‘Obviously online I’d been like I’d slept with girls or whatever as well, but I’d only dated men.

The pair got together in early 2024 

‘It was by accident I found Ella, through a mutual friend and then I really liked her the first day I met her but I’d never told my parents.

‘I’d mentioned, ‘Oh I’m just going to see my friend Ella’ or ‘I’m staying round Ella’s’ so they’d heard her name.’

After her parents visited London from Cambridge and saw them together, they asked who Ella was and Grace confessed: ‘Oh. she’s my girlfriend’. They just love her, they never had an issue with it.’

She added: ‘To be fair I feel like the closet may have been made of glass. But they’ve always said whoever you end up with we do not care, boy or girl we don’t care, as long as they’re not a d*ck.’

The Loose Women panelist had previously been in a long-term relationship with fellow TikTok sensation, Billy Hunt, who featured on her podcast, Saving Grace, and her social media pages.

The pair were introduced by Gogglebox’s Joe Baggs and speaking about how they met, Grace said: ‘So my version of events. Joe Baggs had a party. [Billy was] the only straight man there, [I] launched myself at him. It’s been history ever since.’

The pair broke up in 2022 and Grace spoke on Young Filly’s about coming out as a lesbian, she said: ‘I feel like I went very wrong with men. I don’t like men anymore.

‘I will never go back to a man. God forbid. Yeah, I just love it. I just love it. I feel like I’ve got spring in my step. I feel like I’m glowing. It’s the lesbian glow. I’ve got it. And yeah, that’s my life update.’