I’m A Celebrity was thrown into chaos after two of its most talked-about stars, Gemma Collins and David Haye, were dramatically evicted in a shock double exit that left the camp stunned.
Their departure marks a major turning point in the competition, with two huge personalities suddenly gone and the race to be crowned King or Queen of the jungle now tighter than ever. Both stars dominated headlines during their time in camp, but for very different reasons, making their joint exit one of the biggest twists of the series so far.
David appeared calm after leaving and insisted he had no regrets about his time in camp. Reflecting on the experience, he said: “I’m ok. I’m happy. I’ve had an amazing time, great new friends and lots of experiences. You’ve cranked up the trials and the challenges. Ten days it was fun, I enjoyed it.”
He also addressed the tension that had been building in camp, especially after his clashes with Adam Thomas. David admitted: “Today and yesterday people started cracking, there was a bit more beef between people. Me and Adam had a bit of back and forth, but the banter, he didn’t really like the banter, he kind of got to the limit he was willing to receive.”
When asked whether he had pushed things too far, David did not shy away from the question. “Probably… I’m an extremist and I can’t help myself. It’s all love, I love him really. He’s a cool guy. It’s all perfect now,” he said.
Gemma, meanwhile, struck a far more emotional tone as she reflected on what the jungle had meant to her. She made clear there was no bitterness over David or the way events unfolded, saying: “I’ve got no bad feelings to David, everyone has their time. I’m so happy I’ve got to relive this whole experience again, last longer, I was much more determined this time and had a lot to prove.”
For Gemma, simply completing a Bushtucker Trial was a personal victory. She said: “Just to do a trial was such a moment in my life because I never thought I could do it. It’s always easy to be outwardly confident but sometimes inside you’re a little bit less confident. I’m going back GI Jane, I’m going back yeah baby. God knows what I’m going to do next. I just don’t think I’ll be as scared of everything.”
Her appearance on the All Stars version of the show had already been framed by Gemma as a chance to rewrite the past after quitting early during her original stint. Before entering camp, she described the series as her opportunity for redemption.
“Going on All Stars is a real moment for me in my career – it’s redemption. To be able to do this again is the greatest honour ever. I am going to be the best campmate and get those stars. None of us will be starving under my watch,” she said.
She also admitted the challenge terrified her, but insisted she wanted to prove her critics wrong. Gemma said: “I am dreading the whole lot, I don’t think anyone goes into the jungle going ‘woohoo’. It’s not normal to be faced with animals, but I am going in as Gemma Collins. Gemma Collins is a self-made woman. I have been to hell and back to get to where I am today. I am just looking forward to proving to people I can do it.”
While Gemma’s storyline became one of redemption and resilience, David’s time in camp was overshadowed by mounting controversy. He sparked backlash earlier in the series over offensive remarks about women, including his infamous comment about his girlfriend having “the personality of a proper ugly bird.”
In one rant, David said: “Most ugly girls realise they don’t they’re not pretty enough to… they gotta have a personality to banter and to tell jokes and s**t, so people overlook the fact that they’re not aesthetically amazing, straight away. Which is what’s called Ugly Duckling syndrome, where girls are ugly, when they start off, and then they and then they kind of they, they get pretty as they get older. But they still got the personality of when they’re ugly. Does that make sense?”
He also faced criticism over his treatment of Adam Thomas, with tensions between the pair becoming one of the defining dramas of the series.
Now, with both Gemma and David out, the jungle has lost two of its loudest and most unpredictable figures in one fell swoop. Their exit could completely reshape the mood inside camp — and with the final getting closer, the battle for the crown has suddenly become even more intense.
