I'm A Celebrity's Gillian McKeith shares three-word…

I'm A Celebrity's Gillian McKeith shares three-word response to surprise South Africa return as fans ask if they can 'sue' Ant and Dec

Gillian McKeith has issued a three-word message as she made a surprise return to I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here in the ITV reality show's new South African spin-off as the latest contestant to compete for 'legend' status.

The new edition of the popular show got underway on Monday night (April 24) and is set to keep fans captivated for the next couple of weeks. And the arrival of TV personality Gillian – who competed on the original series in 2010 – in camp for the all-stars spin-off show did not go down well with her fellow celebrities.

In the last few minutes of the first episode, Geordie duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who pre-recorded the series in South Africa last year, arrived saying they have a surprise announcement before . Gillian, 63, was then seen emerging from the container after being brought in by several men carrying a box.

In a preview for Tuesday, Happy Mondays' singer Shaun Ryder, who was known for his arguments with Gillian during his original run, could be heard saying: "I almost killed her." And speaking in the confessional moment, he remarked: "Gillian arrived in a box, she should have stayed in the box."

And viewers couldn't help but respond as they spotted Shaun's telling reaction. @munsonsmagic laughed: "I feel like Shaun was thinking something on the lines of 'oh for f*ck sake.'" @leenicola posted: "Poor Shaun. I really felt for him when he clapped eyes on [her]." @hihannahlouise tweeted: "The way shaun's face DROPPED #ImACeleb." @l_walsham1998 noted: "#ImACeleb Shaun’s face. Oh this is gonna be gold."

But some of those who tuned into the new series weren't impressed. @x_weelisamarie_x said: "That’s me turning over. Sorry @imacelebrity but out of all the great celebrities that could have been, you bring back her." @mypetpippa commented: "Seriously? Gillian Mckeith? Oh dear, oh dear. May not watch it now." @marko7678 shared: "Can we sue Ant and Dec for false Advertising? They said it was a good surprise and nope."

But in a post exposing her arrival - and Shaun's reaction - on I'm A Celebrity's Instagram, Gillian, who is famed for 'fainting' before a Bushtucker Trial during her original appearance Down Under, penned: "I am BACK!!!" alongside a number of flame emojis.

At the end of the first episode of the new series on Monday, presenters McPartlin and Donnelly revealed that there would be no “King or Queen of the jungle," but that contestants would instead be competing for the title of I’m A Celebrity… Legend.

Shaun didn't appear impressed by the surprise arrival (ITV)

Unlike the original format, the new pre-recorded show will also not feature a public vote so celebrities will progress as they take on challenges. Earlier in the premiere of the first season of the spin-off show, US supermodel Janice Dickinson went around camp asking how former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan and ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell are celebrities.

Other contestants former Countdown star Carol Vorderman, boxing champion Amir Khan and Diversity dancer and Kiss radio DJ Jordan Banjo, meanwhile, earned stars after individually falling from heights. However, Phil, Helen and Fatima did not bring home any stars after they had to turn a row of giant, swinging red balls into a bridge so they could leap and grab stars.

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