Gemma Collins is set to face emotional turmoil and a heated confrontation with pop star Sinitta in the upcoming episode of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa. Sinitta directly questioned Gemma Collins' career and talent, referring to her as a 'comedian' and bringing up her planned role as Matron 'Mama' Morton in the musical Chicago, from which she withdrew in 2022 citing a 'terrible injury'.
According to The Independent - Main, Sinitta described the casting announcement for Chicago as a 'joke announcement'. In response, according to The Independent - Main, Gemma Collins described that it was not a joke, saying she auditioned fairly, did all the training, and had a voice coach. According to The Independent - Main, Sinitta elaborated that she thought Collins had presented awards and fallen off stage, making her seem more like a comedian, and compared her to US socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor, saying she didn't know Collins could actually sing and dance.
We shouldn’t be suffering. Like, let’s get real, we are celebrities – do you know what I mean? No one should have to suffer like this, let alone a celeb.
According to The Independent - Main, Gemma Collins defended herself by stating that one wouldn't get cast as Mama Morton in Chicago without passing the audition. Gemma Collins tearfully admitted her fear of appearing vulnerable to her fellow campmates. According to The Independent - Main, Gemma Collins described that no one else knows her there and she doesn't want them to think she's weak.
She also complained about the living conditions in the Savannah Slum camp, with The Independent - Main reporting that she described that celebrities shouldn't have to suffer like that. Craig Charles reassured Gemma Collins, with The Independent - Main noting that he described she would fit right in by being herself. The feud has escalated with accusations of WhatsApp leaks.
No one else knows me here and I don’t want them to think I’m weak.
Gemma Collins accused Sinitta of being a 'rat' in the I'm A Celebrity All Stars' WhatsApp group and leaking stories about her, according to reports. According to Daily Mail - Home, Sinitta described being accused of selling WhatsApp stories, saying the only rats were those in the jungle and suggesting Gemma might be hallucinating from animal parts. A source close to Sinitta claimed she was left 'dumbfounded and incredibly upset' by the accusation being levelled at her without proof.
The source added that the feud is said to have caused tension within the wider cast as they fear they will be next to be accused of feeding stories from the chat. I'm A Celebrity South Africa viewers are convinced the unnecessary cliffhanger on Tuesday night may have cut off the moment where Sinitta will quit her Bushtucker Trial. Fans think Sinitta might quit the trial after the cliffhanger, with one saying they reckon one more snake and Sinitta will freak out.
You’re going to fit right in, just be yourself.
Another fan said they were surprised Sinitta didn't wave the white flag, noting Sean was very calm in comparison. A third fan said they definitely don't think she's going to survive until the very end of the trial. A further comment read that it felt like Sinitta's screams would go on forever, and they reckon after the cliffhanger, the next episode will start with her shouting 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' to end the trial.
A final post read that there's no way she's making it to the end, and one more snake would make her quit. Fans complained about the ending to Tuesday's episode, calling for the pre-recorded format to be axed entirely. Sinitta explained why she decided to return to the jungle, with Daily Mirror - 3am Showbiz reporting that she described it as a crazy, awful experience that she wanted to revisit to feel positive this time.
It’s not a joke, Sinitta, I auditioned for it fair and square. Did all the training and everything, had a voice coach.
She claimed producers ignored requests she made about the types of challenges she was willing to take part in this time around, with Daily Mirror - 3am Showbiz noting that she described making her limits clear but said producers ignored everything when they arrived. Sinitta explained that the format of the show is slightly different from the usual series, with campmates deciding who faces trials instead of public voting. ' to exit a challenge.
The series was pre-recorded in September 2025 in Kruger National Park, South Africa. A live, public-voted final will take place later this month. Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt and comedian Seann Walsh appeared visibly shocked by the exchange between Gemma Collins and Sinitta.
I think you had just presented something, some awards, and fallen off the stage – it was like you were more of a comedian.
The Savannah Slum contestants face the 'petrifying plunge' bushtucker trial, which requires retrieving keys from boxes submerged in water and filled with aquatic creatures including crocodiles and catfish.
Very camp, very glamorous. You don’t really do anything, but you make a great entrance and make everybody laugh. I didn’t know you could actually sing, dance and all that jazz.
I don’t think you’d get cast as Mama Morton in Chicago if you didn’t pass the audition.
I've been accused of being the rat who's been selling the WhatsApp stories... the only rat amongst us were those in the jungle. Gemma might be suffering a little hallucinogenically from all the, er, animal scrotums.
It was such a crazy, awful experience that I wanted to go back and come away feeling positive about it this time.
I made it clear - I know now what I can and can’t do and what I will and won’t do, and I laid all that down. I thought they would take it on board and it would be fine, because there were lots of interviews and things. But when we got there, they ignored everything I said.