Iconic Moments and Feuds in I’m A Celebrity’s Return

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is set to make its hotly-anticipated return to the Australian jungle on Sunday.

Hosted once again by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the show will see 12 unsuspecting stars live in the outback for three weeks of creepy crawlies and Bushtucker Trials.

Leading this year’s lineup are model Kelly Brook, comedian and presenter Ruby Wax and rapper Aitch. 

This year’s series is shaping up to be another drama filled TV spectacular, with the show previously featuring an array of sensational moments, from Gillian McKeith’s live trial faint to Myleene Klass’ famous shower scene and Ferne McCann eating a live spider.

There have also been plenty of huge feuds on the show including between Kim Woodburn and Katie Price and Janice Dickinson and Lynn Franks.

So what are the most explosive and iconic moments as the series returns?

GILLIAN MCKEITH FAINTING DURING A LIVE TRIAL

I’m A Celebrity 2010 is remembered for one thing and one thing only: the moment Gillian McKeith fainted on live television.

Viewers delighted in watching her scream with terror as she face trial after trial after trial, bringing back barely any food which led to rising tensions in the camp.

But Gillian was then shockingly forced to pull out of one trial for ‘fainting’, with  

But it was clear the stars were thrilled when Gillian was forced to pull out of the trial for ‘fainting,’ with Linford Christie then taking her place and earning close to a full house.

It’s been disputed over the years whether Gillian’s faint was real, with Britt Ekland declaring: ‘She’s maybe as good of an actress as I am.’

Gillian proved to be one of the series’ standout stars as she was also exposed for smuggling condiments into camp using specially-made underwear, but Stacey Solomon’s ever-sunny disposition, even in the face of a horrific Trial, saw her overwhelmingly voted to be crowned series champion.

MYLEENE KLASS’ ICONIC SHOWER SCENE 

Myleene Klass originally appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2006 and her white bikini shower moment is an iconic part of the reality show’s history. 

Myleene made headlines with her incredible white two-piece as she cleaned herself under the jungle shower in a steamy moment.

In the jungle, Myleene finished on second place, behind Matt Willis, and after her stint on the show, she put her white bikini on auction, raising £7,500 for charity. 

Myleene has now reportedly signed up for the upcoming I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here spin-off show – 16 years after her original stint on the programme.

The singer, 44, is said to have joined the line-up for the ITV all stars spin-off show and is reportedly ‘in hiding’ ahead of jetting off to South Africa to begin filming.

FRED SIRIEIX COOKING FEUD 

In 2023 Fred and Josie Gibson became embroiled in a feud during their stint on the ITV show.

The First Dates star became embroiled in a ‘sexism’ row after viewers accused him of presenting ‘misogynistic’ behaviour towards Josie in the jungle.

Tension had started between the pair after Fred had to relinquish his role as camp chef, with many remarking that he was acting ‘controlling’ towards Josie when she took over the job. 

Yet defending his actions in his exit interview, Fred claimed the reason behind their fallout was because a culinary mistake Josie was consistently making. 

Speaking to hosts Ant and Dec during his exit interview, he said: ‘She’s just making it up as she goes along. So I think there’s a lot at stake with the food.

‘And it’s not just what you’re cooking at the moment which of course is going to be good, because the produce is incredible, it is what you can do the next day with the leftovers of the bones.’

He continued: ‘You really need the calories, and you’ve got to find them whenever you can. I think we missed out on quiet a few meals [by not recycling ingredients],’ he added.

Viewers had been seeing less manners and more ‘misogyny’ in Fred in the episodes after his behaviour towards his female co-stars left fans branding him ‘unbearable’.

When asked why he didn’t get involved as much with Sam Thompson and Nick Pickard’s cooking, he said they were a ‘dream’ and there was ‘no need’ for him to do so.

As his rift with Josie grew, Fred was seen cosying up with Nigel Farage on the show, despite once calling him a ‘coward who likes money, attention and the sound of his own voice far too much’.

Fred, also a trained chef, had relentlessly criticised single mother Josie’s cooking abilities and he told hosts Ant and Dec at a trial: ‘There is no method, there is no technique.

‘She’s just making it up as she goes along. If she just let me take her through it step-by-step clearly, we would be ok.’

Viewers were quick to hit back at Fred at the time and wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘Fred Sirieix is controlling and misogynistic. He may be a trained chef but it doesn’t mean he has to make everyone feel less than.’ 

Josie meanwhile was praised online for her calm response when she said: ‘You’ve just got to give me the reins my love, I know it’s hard.’

Others online told him to ‘back off’ from Josie and one person wrote: ‘How Josie has not ripped Fred’s head off I don’t know. How conceited and patronising. Get him out!’

In addition to his clash with Josie, three days into the show YouTuber Nella Rose, 26, and Fred had an argument during which she accused the Maitre’d of ‘little-girling’ her. 

LADY C AND TONY HADLEY FEUD 

In 2015 Lady Colin Campbell launched a tirade of abuse at singer Tony Hadley.

An almighty war of words broke out between the pair after Tony – who hadn’t been fond of Lady C since the start – criticised her for putting a ‘beautiful’ beetle on the fire. 

She retorted: ‘I don’t need any input from you. You are a hypocritical pretentious arsehole. I’ve had enough of you. It’s none of your f**king business, arsehole.’ 

She continued: ‘You’re a chippy oik with a mouth of diarrhoea. My opinion of you is that you are the lowest of the low, a bore. 

‘Let me tell you something, boy, you are of no significance to me. You’re so used to creeps and dollybirds, tarts.’

She finished: ‘You don’t even have a good voice.’

Ferne McCann managed to stop Lady C continuing with her tirade and Tony explained he wanted to continue to not speak to her, as they were before.

The rest of the campmates took to the Bush Telegraph to share their disappointment about Lady C’s shocking outburst, with Vicky Pattison saying: ‘I don’t agree with what Lady C said.’ 

Even Kieron Dyer – her BFF in the camp – said: ‘I’m her biggest fan, but I know what’s right and what’s wrong, and that was bang out of order. I can’t keep defending her.’

FERNE MCCANN EATS A LIVE SPIDER

Ferne McCann was part of the star-studded cast of I’m A Celebrity back on the 15th series in 2015, arriving as a late arrival alongside Vicky Pattison and Spencer Matthews and finished in third place.

In the final, the reality TV star, 32, was filmed eating the live arachnid during the Bushtucker Bonanza challenge in the very gruesome moment which sparked more than 600 Ofcom complaints at the time.

The challenge saw The Only Way Is Essex star forced to pick between a delicious meal for her and her fellow finalists or a Bushtucker dish.

She was presented with 8 dishes – four featuring disgusting insects and animal body parts, and alternatives of mouthwatering dishes the celebrities have been craving for the last three weeks.

For each disgusting challenge she had the chance to earn a star – and therefore a meal – but if she went for the delicious alternative, she would win nothing.

Faced with a live water spider, she was told she had to eat it all, or her favourite, a roast chicken dinner.

As the spider reared up inside the glass the reality star began screaming – before host Ant McPartlin told her that if she swirled the glass round it would get into a smaller ball ‘then down the hatch’.

She was filmed swirling the spider around to encourage it to roll into a ball before saying, ‘I’ve come this far I’m going to give it a go’. She then knocked back the spider and crunched down on it until it had been chewed up and swallowed.

Host Ant called Ferne a ‘hero’ for eating the spider, which she said ‘smelled of cockroach, tasted dirty – the body was mushy and gunky and the legs were spiky and crunchy’.

EDWINA CURRIE AND KENDRA WILKINSON ROW 

On the series in 2014 Edwina Currie and Kendra Wilkinson bumped heads in a very fiery – and public – fight.

It all started when the former MP took exception after hearing the American tell Michael Buerk she thought it was best to ‘live in a moment’ and ‘never live your life for other people’.

‘Did I hear you say you should never live your life for other people, ever. Count me out. I don’t agree with you,’ said Edwina from her bed.

‘But you can’t say you should never ever live your life for other people ever. Sometimes you have to make decisions that benefit other people but put you at a disadvantage. You’re a mother. I’m sorry sometimes you put other people first.’

Kendra defended herself, saying: ‘Being here is the right decision and I’m not going to let you or anyone tell me that’s the wrong decision.’

Edwina said ‘I’m going to tell you it’s the wrong decision and you can’t stop me doing what I think is right. That’s the problem with that philosophy because you have anybody say I’m going to do my thing and nobody does anything together.’ 

The former model tried to explain herself, before losing control – and her dignity.

She subsequently replied: ‘Get your heartless ass out of our conversations, shut the f*** up and go back to sleep where you belong’, before breaking down in tears.

‘You come in here with your piece of sh-t ass and make people for feel bad. Who are you? The Queen of England? The Queen of the jungle? Just shut your f**king mouth, you f**king piece of sh-t. Shut your mother-f**king mouth.’

Kendra wouldn’t let it go and Edwina said: ‘Kendra you can’t dominate me so don’t try. I’m allowed to disagree with everybody here. 

‘We are all free people we live in a free society and we’re allowed to disagree. I am allowed to disagree with you.’ 

It was left to the other campmates to try and make the peace, with Melanie Sykes – perhaps ironically – trying to restore good relations.

‘The last thing I wanted to do is upset anybody, but it was light setting of a rocket,’ Edwina later said to the cameras. 

‘We have discussed some of the most important issues debates, so we shouldn’t have to compromise to others who can’t join in,’ she told Michael Buerk. 

FATIMA WHITBREAD vs COCKROACH

In 2011 Olympic champion Fatima Whitbread made headlines when a cockroach made its way up her nose during the Fill Your Face Extreme trial.

A medic had to help remove the cockroach from Fatima’s nose after the stomach-churning moment in the intense trial. 

When she was evicted from the jungle, she said of the challenge: ‘It shot up my nose straight away. But quitting was not an option.’ 

GEMMA COLLINS’ TEARS 

Despite admitting she ‘could be like Bear Grylls’ once she got into the jungle, Gemma struggled to make it that far, as she broke down in tears mere seconds after stepping into the helicopter.

After eventually arriving in the jungle in 2014, Gemma failed to settle in the camp life, admitting she was convinced she had malaria, and quit after a mere three days.

The star had previously expressed her desire to lose weight and find love on the show.

The TOWIE star hoped to emulate the success of former cast-mates Mark Wright and Joey Essex, but her jungle experience got off to a bad start when she broke down ahead of a helicopter ride into camp.

Shortly after she found herself banished to the ‘Celebrity Slammer’ with Coronation Street star Craig Charles, ‘Allo ‘Allo actress Vicki Michele and Irish model Nadia Forde.

Surviving on a basic ration of rice and beans, an emotional Gemma complained of feeling unwell – hours before making the decision to leave.

‘STRAWBERRYGATE’

Series 17 was dominated by ‘strawberrygate’ as Amir Khan and Iain Lee opted to eat the strawberries and cream they’d won during the Dingo Dollar challenge.

They hit the headlines when Amir and radio host Iain decided to eat the Dingo Dollar Challenge prize unbeknown to their hungry campmates.

Adding to the betrayal, Amir then later left pal Iain to take much of the blame despite the boxer being the one to instigate the situation and subsequently caused mass outrage amongst their fellow celebrities.

The pair were picked to take part in the daily challenge – which saw the boxer get dressed up as a giant cat while Iain led the blindfolded boxer through the Jungle Pawn Shop.

Despite a few close shaves, the pair triumphantly won the challenge and headed off to the Outback Shack to spend their dingo dollars on strawberries and cream with Kiosk Keith.

KATIE PRICE AND PETER’S ANDRE’S ROMANCE 

I’m A Celebrity’s third instalment is thought by many to be the one that took it from popular reality show to ITV juggernaut, as it saw the birth of the one of the most iconic marriages in celebrity history.

Singer Peter Andre and glamour model Katie Price (known then as Jordan) fell in love in front of viewers’ eyes despite being from polar opposite worlds, and went onto marry a year after leaving the show, before divorcing in 2009.

It was a series full of big names including The Sex Pistols’ Johnny ‘Rotten’ Lydon, who angrily quit the show after 11 days when viewers failed to vote him out, and BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond.

A record-breaking 14 million viewers saw Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona be crowned series champion, making her the show’s first Queen of the Jungle.

PAUL BURRELL’S HILARIOUS TRIAL

The fourth series created one of the most hilarious and iconic moments in the show’s history with campmate Paul Burrell’s performance in a trial.

Paul – who served as a butler for the late Princess Diana – squealed and trembled his way through the Hell Holes trial, which left hosts Ant and Dec in hysterical laughter.

With an array of animated facial expressions and bush-tucker screams, the now 67-year-old made it all the way to be the Series Four Runner Up.

Paul lost out to Joe Pasquale by just two per cent of the vote over 15 years ago, and was known for his hilarious facial expressions during challenges – with fans even using them as memes to post about later seasons.

RHONA CAMERON’S EXPLOSIVE RANT ABOUT HER CO-STARS 

Series one was the one that started it all, with eight unknowing celebrities, including socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and comedian Rhona Cameron dropped at a remote campsite in Northern Australia to face two weeks of trials and hardship.

Compared to recent years the series is relatively tame, with stars facing challenges such as being covered with gunge and having to spend an entire night sat under a tree.

But it wasn’t without drama, with comedian Rhona Cameron launching into an explosive rant about her fellow celebrities. 

When she was accused of being ‘patronising’, she fumed: ‘Sometimes I’m patronising, sometimes I’m sarcastic, sometimes he’s hot-headed, sometimes Nell says nothing! Sometimes Uri dramatises little things like a fart, like an alien’s just landed and he’s never seen it before.

‘Sometimes Tony misses things cos he’s slightly slower, sometimes Tara is like a child, whose never made a cup of tea! Sometimes, sometimes we are all like that, OK?’ 

But it was DJ Tony rose above the petty rows, and after winning the hearts of viewers with his love of logs, 11 million saw him be crowned the first King of the Jungle.

NATALIE APPLETON LEFT NEEDING OXYGEN DURING A TIGHTROPE TRIAL 

During series four, All Saints’ Natalie Appleton was left needing oxygen after struggling to complete a tightrope trial. 

She became the second celebrity to quit the reality TV show and walked out just hours after the departure of former East 17 frontman Brian Harvey, who quit following a row with Janet Street-Porter.

Her exit came after Natalie was voted to take part in her fifth Bushtucker trial by fans and was forced to face her fear of heights, claiming she had no energy left due to hunger.

‘You have got to be kidding,’ she said after being voted for the task. ‘I have nothing left.’