I'm A Celeb's saddest tragedies from trial collapse to stars gone too soon
I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! star Tony Bellew almost backed out from joining the jungle after finding out his beloved nan, Rose, had passed away the day before he signed up.
The former boxing champion was one of two late entries and said his time in the camp would be tinged with sadness after the death of his 97-year-old nan who was looking forward to watching him on the ITV reality show. Sadly, it's not the first tragedy to have cast a shadow over the camp. From campmates who have fallen desperately ill to those gone too soon, The Mirror takes a look back at the most heartbreaking chapters surrounding the show...
Annabel Giles
Annabel Giles took part in the 2013 series (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)TV personality Annabel Giles was known for her role on shows such as Though the Keyhole and Have I Got News For You, and sadly passed away on November 20, 2023. Annabel took part in I'm A Celebrity in 2013 when Kian Egan was crowned King of the Jungle. She died from cancer after being diagnosed earlier this year.
A family statement said: "It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our incredible mother, Annabel Giles, who passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon at Martlets Hospice in Hove. "In July, Mum was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Glioblastoma, a fast-growing and highly aggressive malignant brain tumour. In the four months that followed, she displayed remarkable resilience and strength, despite undergoing brain surgery and countless radiotherapies.
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson was runner up I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2002 (PA)English socialite and TV personality Tara entered the jungle in 2002 and even tried to escape from camp because she couldn’t cope with the living conditions. However, she only made it as far as the studio. Speaking to Ant and Dec during her exit chat, Tara admitted: “I just thought, ‘What am I doing here, I seem to be irritating people, and I don't have that much confidence in myself'. It was a combination of so many things, I just thought - go!"
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Tara was only 45 when she died in her sleep from a perforated ulcer in February 2017, fifteen years after leaving the jungle. In her last interview before her death, Tara told Daily Mail's Weekend magazine how she wanted "to make my family proud". In her early career, Tara overcame an addiction to cocaine and had to undergo cosmetic surgery to have her septum rebuilt.
David Gest
David Gest entered the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here jungle in 2006 (PA)Music producer David Gest took part in I’m A Celeb in 2006 and Big Brother in 2016 - but had to quit the house after 13 days because of ill health. Just a few months later he was found dead in his room at London’s Four Seasons Hotel on April 12, 2016. It was later confirmed his death was caused by a stroke. Following his death it emerged that he’d racked up £500,000 worth of debt from a gambling addiction.
Back in 2002 he’d married Liza Minnelli back in 2002 before the couple separated a year later, with David then attempting to sue her for $10million. He claimed she was a violent and abusive alcoholic - something which Minnelli denies. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006 due to lack of evidence. His funeral was attended by famous pals including Kym Marsh, Stephanie Davis and Jeremy McConnell.
Bobby Ball
Bobby Ball taking part in a Bushtucker Trial (ITV/REX FEATURES)Cannon and Ball were one of the biggest comedy duos in the UK during the 1980s entertaining millions of TV viewers every Saturday night. One of Bobby Ball’s most memorable moments on I’m A Celeb was when he strutted his stuff in a tight pink catsuit for a jungle fashion show back in 2005. He entered the jungle with his comedy partner Tommy Cannon - who was the first to be voted out, leaving him to fend for himself.
Some 15 years later, Bobby died in October 2020 at Blackpool’s Victoria Hospital, aged 76, after suffering complications from Covid-19. His manager said: "At first it was thought to be a chest infection but a test proved positive for Covid-19." Tributes quickly began pouring in for the late star, with his comedy partner Tommy saying: “Rock on, my good friend, I can't believe this, I'm devastated."
Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr fell unwell in the jungle (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Comedian and impressionist Freddie actually collapsed during the 2011 series after an eating trial with Mark Wright where they scoffed a fermented egg, a pig’s anus and camel’s toe. Doctors believe he had had an extreme allergic reaction and he was taken off the programme over fears he "might die" on air. A source told The Mirror at the time: "Freddie is clearly not well and life in the jungle is tough.
"The last thing we want is for him to get really ill or, heaven forbid, die live on television. It felt irresponsible to allow him back in the jungle." Some eight years later, Freddie was found dead at his Spanish home on May 9, 2019, aged 76. According to a post-mortem, he died from heart disease. At the time of his death, money was tight and his funeral costs were covered by a Sheffield undertaker.
Eric Bristow
Eric Bristow starred in the 2012 series (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Professional darts player Eric Bristow finished in fourth place during the 2012 series but his partner Bex Gadd claimed the jungle had a massive impact on Eric’s health. "It changed him forever,” she said. “The Eric that went in the jungle was not the same Eric that came out, unfortunately. The total detox of going into I’m A Celebrity and then coming out didn’t do his body any good at all. Eric was really poorly when he came out."
However, it had no part in his death six years later on 5 April 2018. Eric passed away after suffering a heart attack while attending a Premier League Darts event at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Bex explained:: "It was literally a heart attack. It wasn’t anything to do with what happened in Australia. There was a small clot in Eric’s heart valve and he was dead before he hit the floor."
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here continues tonight on ITV X at 9pm
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