The first two celebrities were sent packing from I'm A Celebrity South Africa in Friday night's episode (April 29) with a row over a 'stitch-up.' Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly arrived in the 'all-stars' camp of the I'm A Celebrity ...Get Me Out Of Here! spin-off to reveal that Coronation Street star Andy Whyment, cricketer Phil Tufnell and Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder would be taking part in a survival trial.
They added a twist that all three would have to pick another celeb to team-up with and the losing pair would be heading home for good. Shaun, 60, who took part in the 2010 series of the ITV reality show, had viewers and his campmates in stitches when he revealed that he had chosen nutritionist Gillian McKeith who he famously locked horns with with when they were in the Australian jungle together.
"I'm going for my best mucker," he decided. And when he told Gillian, 63, she was annoyed. "Oh for God's sake no. I don't want to do that," she told him. Janice Dickinson exclaimed: "Oh my God! the old enemies." But Olympic javelin throwing legend Fatima Whitbread smiled: "Well done Shaun."
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Speaking in the Bush Telegraph Gillian protested: "I don't know why he did it. He obviously hates me. I feel someone has stitched me up completely."
Gillian told him: "This is deliberate Shaun. This is passive aggression." And Janice agreed: "It is." Gillian continued: "I can't believe you did this Shaun. Why did you do this? Why did you pick me?" "Why did I pick you?" he replied. "You're clever Gillian." But she argued: "No I'm not. I'm too weak now."
The pair later came in last place and fans were convinced Shaun deliberately picked Gillian as he wanted to go home, while also saving his other campmates from the axe. lindsayg.26 commented on an exit photo of the pair shared on the I'm a Celebrity Instagram: "He knew what he was doing, didn't he and we thank him."
gb_759 agreed: "He knew what he was doing, probably wanted to go home himself, and thought, if I’m going out, I’m taking her with me to save everyone else." And ingrid.murphy93 commented: "Shaun sacrificed himself so those other contestants he said were strong didn't go home! Now, that's a legend!"
Emmiesue_x said: "I feel like Shaun picked Gillian deliberately knowing he’d go home, such a shame loved him but he definitely took one for the team there!" And maxin_badenhop commented: "Yes I think Shaun knew he was going to be leaving being against the other two guys so did the decent thing and took her with him - well done Shaun and thank you."
After leaving the jungle Gillian said she was surprised that they had buried the hatchet this series when they were brought together on a previous challenge. "We had to do a Chest Challenge together and got on brilliantly. He sang my praises. I was like ‘who is this guy?’. He was like she’s brains, she’s so intelligent, she’s this, she’s that - every compliment you can imagine flying out of his mouth. It was crazy," she recalled.
She added: "Who knows what was going on. I thought has he had a brain transplant, what’s happening? But yes, we hit it off. We’ve come full circle. And it shows you, you can go full circle with a relationship and it doesn’t need to be stuck in the past. It’s a life lesson for everybody."
Asked if she was pleased to have returned she said: "Yes, I’m delighted I did it. And I also see a full circle story. This couple [Shaun and Gillian] that were nemesis, coming full circle and going off in the sunset together.
"It’s a great life lesson. Things can change. You can overcome challenges, not necessarily about the jungle or insects or anything. But other types of challenges or confrontations that you think are going to be hanging there forever, actually can be turned around. It wasn’t even a major effort to do that, it was fairly seamless, which is a huge result."
And Shaun said about his former 'nemesis', who made a surprise late arrival to camp popping out of a box: "To be honest, I wasn’t too surprised to see Gillian. She made such an impact last time I thought, if anyone is coming back, she’ll be there.
"The only difference is I’m 12 years more mature, I’m such a mature guy now [laughs]. I’m a mature dude now, not like I was 12 years ago.
"I was all peaceful and nice with Gillian as soon as she walked in. I think she was a little bit ‘woo’, a little bit ‘whey’ as she had all these memories going on. But we got on. We went and did a Chest Challenge together and then I obviously picked her for this last Trial. You know, Gillian’s Gillian. I mean, last time, I didn’t not like Gillian. I kept telling her that."
I'm A Celebrity...South Africa airs weeknights at 9pm on ITV & ITVX.
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