Aitch has finally opened up about the whirlwind of romance rumours that followed him and Shona McGarty throughout their I’m A Celebrity journey — and insists the truth is far more ordinary than viewers imagined.
Speaking for the first time since leaving the jungle, the 25-year-old rapper said the pair bonded over music, nothing more. He explained that he hasn’t watched the episodes back, so he has “no idea what’s been put out there,” but stressed that whatever fans thought they saw “was nothing like that.”
He described Shona as someone “cut from the same cloth” with the “same sense of humour,” adding that their connection was rooted in creativity rather than chemistry. Aitch said Shona is trying to pursue a music career after leaving the jungle, and since he works in the same industry, he was simply one of the only people she could talk to about it.
He joked that because of his age, viewers were always going to assume a spark: “No one’s going to say she had a romance with Martin, so unfortunately I’m the next option. Romantic? No, not at all.”
Aitch revealed he has even offered to introduce her to people in the music business. He told her she sings “like a madwoman — in a good way,” and urged her to “stop being so scared” of following her passion. He recalled how she would finish a song and instantly hide her face in embarrassment, and how he reassured her that “everyone’s in awe” when she sings. According to him, “95 percent” of their chats were about how talented she is.
Rumours intensified after he admitted to Angry Ginge that he had “a bit of a soft spot for Shona,” prompting Ant and Dec to campaign for their first proper jungle romance in years. Even the presenters were stunned, with Dec saying the confession came “out of the blue” and Ant adding that they “would celebrate” a jungle love story.
But both stars entered the jungle single — Shona after splitting from musician fiancé David Bracken earlier this year, and Aitch after parting ways with Lois Cottam — adding fuel to the speculation.
Ruby Wax, however, remained unconvinced. She previously said Aitch isn’t Shona’s type at all, claiming Shona prefers “hunky, bigger men so she feels female,” dismissing the rapper from the start.
For now, the rapper is firm: they’re friends, they share music, and the romance talk is nothing more than TV fantasy.
