Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt has said her return to the jungle for I’m A Celebrity… South Africa was a lot more “intense” than she had anticipated and camp life was not as “harmonious” the second time around.
The 35-year-old TV personality won the 2016 series of the hit ITV reality show filmed in Australia and returned to camp for its all-star spin-off alongside reality star Gemma Collins, Olympian Sir Mo Farah and Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts.
Despite being crowned Queen of the Jungle a decade ago, Moffatt said the pre-recorded follow-up series was not as easy as she had imagined.
Speaking at a media roundtable, Moffatt said: “Because we’ve all done it, I was like ‘oh, this is going to be a doddle’!”
“It was a lot more intense, it was hardcore.
“It wasn’t as harmonious as the first time I went in, only because I think we were all such big characters.
“If we’d all just got on the whole time when we’re such big characters, I don’t think anyone would have believed it, but I think it’ll make for good entertainment.”
Also returning to camp with hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are former football manager Harry Redknapp, singer Sinitta, comedian Seann Walsh, retired boxer David Haye, DJ and Red Dwarf actor Craig Charles, ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard, Coronation Street star Beverley Callard and Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas.
Moffatt said at times she forgot she was being filmed and the show felt like a “weird social experiment”.
She said: “Compared to Australia, I think in South Africa I forgot that it was being filmed.
“I don’t know if it’s because, like, Ant and Dec didn’t come in every day… you didn’t know what was happening in terms of how the public are perceiving you, but you sort of do.
“I felt like I was sort of just in a weird social experiment, rather than on the telly.”
The second all-star series will introduce a new element allowing the public to cast their vote for the winner in a live grand final broadcast from London to crown the “ultimate legend 2026”.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa starts at 9pm on April 6 on ITV1 and then airs every weeknight.
