Gemma Collins is returning to I'm A Celebrity: South Africa after quitting the original series after three days in 2014. She is one of 12 stars signed up for the series, joining Adam Thomas, Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, David Haye, Beverley Callard, Seann Walsh, Sinitta, Sir Mo Farah, Craig Charles, Jimmy Bullard, and Harry Redknapp. I'm A Celebrity: South Africa is pre-recorded, with a live grand final in 2026 where the public decides the winner. The premiere of 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' South Africa is tonight, according to multiple sources.
Gemma Collins is a reality TV legend in the UK, having first appeared on ITV's 'The Only Way is Essex' in 2011. She has since appeared on shows like 'Celebrity Big Brother', 'Dancing on Ice', and 'Celebs Go Dating'. Collins appeared in the 14th season of 'I'm A Celeb...' in November 2014 but left the show because she couldn't hack the living conditions and stayed the minimum time for her payout, as she later admitted.
I'm A Celebrity experience as the 'best digital detox and spiritual healing'.
'I'm a Celebrity... South Africa' is an ITV reality TV series that is an all-star edition featuring campmates from previous series. The programme is presented by Ant & Dec and is pre-recorded instead of live. ITV commissioned the spin-off in April 2022, with filming in South Africa. The first series was pre-recorded between September and October 2022. It was reported in April 2024 that the spin-off had been shelved, but ITV confirmed a return for a second series in 2026. Filming for the second series is expected in September 2025, and the lineup was officially announced by ITV on 9 March 2026.
Speaking to OK! magazine, Gemma Collins revealed she lost 1st 4lb (8kg) during the show, which was filmed in September 2025. According to major media reports, she briefly took Mounjaro injections ahead of the show but was forced to stop due to a gallbladder attack. Those same reports indicate she had an epiphany about family life and realized she needed hormone replacement therapy for perimenopause during the show. She also arranged for exotic animal handlers to bring snakes and creepy crawlies to her home to acclimatise before the show, according to multiple sources.
Someone call my agent.
Gemma Collins was reportedly offered £100,000 for I'm A Celebrity: South Africa, according to major media outlets. For comparison, Noel Edmonds was paid £600,000 for a nine-day stay on I'm A Celebrity in 2018, making him the highest-paid campmate ever at the time, as reported by multiple sources.
Other notable contestants include Ashley Roberts, who initially rejected appearing on I'm A Celebrity: South Africa but changed her mind to challenge herself, as she stated. Scarlett Moffatt was Queen of the Jungle in 2016, Harry Redknapp won in 2018, and David Haye made the final in 2012, according to research. Jimmy Bullard was the first campmate voted off in 2014, multiple sources confirm.
I feel like you're trying to kill me.
The pre-recorded series will begin on Monday, April 6 and air on ITV1, STV, and ITVX, according to research. 'I'm A Celebrity... South Africa' is back for the first time since 2023 and will air in April, and it is the second season of 'I'm a Celeb South Africa', swapping the Australian jungle for Kruger National Park. The trials in South Africa are even tougher than in the jungle, sources indicate. The new run will feature fresh trials and challenges in South Africa, ITV confirmed.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will return as hosts, ITV announced. The winner will be decided by the public during a live grand final from London on Friday, April 24, research shows. The second series will give viewers the final say over the 2026 winner, according to ITV.
Sinitta has to go through PAs to contact Simon Cowell.
Gemma Collins regretted coming back to I'm A Celebrity, according to her conversation with Adam Thomas as reported by major media. Viewers predict Gemma Collins might quit I'm A Celebrity: South Africa early again, with some betting on her exit.
Fans complained about ITV revealing trial outcomes in teasers, ruining suspense, according to fan reports. The series was described as a 'reliable ratings winner' but criticized for missing a spark due to pre-recording, according to Anita Singh and Rebecca Nicholson.
I have regretted quitting the show and it haunted me.
Unresolved questions include the exact premiere date, as sources imply April 6, 2026, but there is potential timing confusion. It is also unclear why Gemma Collins was offered £100,000 for the show and how this compares to other contestants' pay, given the reported discrepancy with Noel Edmonds' £600,000 fee. The current status of Gemma Collins' participation in the show is unknown, as viewers predict she might quit early again, but it's unclear if she has done so. How the tension between Gemma Collins and David Haye resolved is also uncertain, given conflicting reports on their relationship. Specific trials and challenges featured in the South Africa series are not detailed, though sources mention they are tougher.
I was 'bricking it' but went in strong for the South Africa series.