I’m A Celeb stars reveal their biggest drop out regrets – but why it was actually a SMART move for Tommy Fury

TOMMY Fury has pulled out of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! – just weeks before he was set to enter the jungle.

The boxer isn’t the only star to rethink the reality show, with countless contestants walking over the years, but they often express regret about their early departures.

Since the show began in 2002, 22 celebrities have made the decision to forfeit at least part of their fee and leave the jungle early.

But unlike Tommy, they DID all experience the show before pulling out.

From medical grounds and family bereavements to meltdowns and drug controversies, contestants have departed under a wide variety of circumstances.

And intentional or not, many stars have shared their regret over quitting the reality show.

JAMIE-LYNN SPEARS

The former child star left last year’s series after just 11 days due to “medical grounds,” and said she “regrets” not being able to stay longer.

“I do regret that my journey didn’t fully play out til the end,” the actress said in a statement shortly after returning to the outside world.

It was speculated that Jamie-Lynn’s appearance on the show was a response to criticism her family were facing over their role in her older sister Britney’s conservatorship.

GRACE DENT

Also leaving the jungle early the same year as Jamie-Lynn, food critic Grace Dent described her decision to leave the show as the “greatest regret of my life.”

“I didn’t want to go,” she said in an interview shortly after leaving the reality show.

“Leaving my campmates and the girls will be the greatest regret of my life.”

The former MasterChef UK star cited her mental struggles and the complete “lack of control” as the main reason for her premature exit on day nine.

“There’s no place to hide,” Grace explained on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Coming Out show.

 “And you’re in there with people who, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t share a sleeping space with. You know, Nigel Farage.”

OLIVIA ATTWOOD

The Love Island alum said she was “heartbroken” after having to quit the 2022 series due to “medical grounds.”

Blood tests carried out as part of the pre-show checks revealed that the reality star is anemic and was experiencing low sodium and potassium levels.

“To say Olivia is heartbroken would be an understatement,” Olivia’s team wrote in an Instagram statement.

“She dreamed of doing ‘I’m a Celeb’ for years, and was absolutely loving every second of the show and throwing herself into jungle life feet first (just as we knew she would).”

KATIE PRICE

During her second stint on the series in 2009, Katie reminisced about her famous 2004 jungle romance with Peter Andre.

However her time was also spent doing countless challenges and trials, which eventually led to her to quit the show early after just a week in camp.

“The only reason I left the second time, was everyday the public was getting me to do challenges,” Katie revealed.

While she described the constant voting as “torture,” the former model still expressed regret over her early departure.

“When Pricey makes a decision, she sticks with it. I’m really sorry for letting everyone down but I can’t continue this journey for personal reasons,” she said when leaving the show.

“I’ll walk with my head between my toes in shame and I’ll probably regret it.

“I feel sick for letting people down, I’m gutted myself I’m leaving.”

SPENCER MATTHEWS

The Made In Chelsea star was controversially booted from the jungle after entering as a later arrival alongside fellow reality TV alums Vicky Pattison, who went on to win the 2015 series, and Ferne McCann, who placed third.

Spencer spent just two days in camp before he was removed off camera after testing positive for steroids.

“Taking these pills was a serious error of judgment, which I hugely regret. I have disappointed my family, friends and fans and would like to apologise,” he said in a statement after leaving the jungle.

“I loved every minute of being in the jungle and wish the remaining contestants the best of luck. Hoping for another shot at it someday.”

GEMMA COLLINS

In 2014, the iconic The Only Way Is Essex star lasted just three days in the jungle before walking.

Speaking on the Everything I Know About Me podcast earlier this year, Gemma revealed the reasons behind her early departure from the show.

“[There was] all the embarrassment of like, you know what the TV programmes were saying: ‘Gemma Collins left the jungle, she was hungry, she was this.’ And it wasn’t my fault,” she explained.

Gemma shared that she withdrew due to suffering panic attacks, adding that her then boyfriend had “really badly” beaten her the night before she entered the jungle.

She described feeling “gutted” and “robbed” of her moment on the show.

“That’s my biggest kind of regret with the jungle because I probably would have gone on to win the show,” she continued.

“I would have been hilarious on there you can see from the first couple of days I was in there.”

RICHARD MADELEY

The TV presenter took part in the 2021 series, which was filmed in a Welsh castle due to Covid restrictions.

Richard described how he woke up one night “babbling” and suffered from the cold conditions before being removed for a hospital check-up.

Even though the medical examination found that there was nothing wrong with the TV host, he was unable to return to the show having broken the quarantine bubble.

“I felt really disappointed. I remember driving myself back from North Wales, back to London, really frustrated,” Richard said after leaving the show.

FREDDIE STARR

The comedian and impressionist has one of the briefest stints on the show, entering late due to “paperwork issues” and leaving on day three for health reasons during the 2011 series.

An ITV insider told the Mirror that show runners was so concerned about Freddie’s health, they worried he could die on live television.

“It felt irresponsible to allow him back in the jungle,” the insider said.

Shortly after his exit, Freddie described how “gutted” he felt after failing to pass a health check-up in the jungle.

“I was gutted myself, once you go to hospital, as you know, the artist’s welfare comes first,” he said during an appearance on This Morning.

JACK MAYNARD

Jack Maynard, brother of singer Conor Maynard, was removed from the 2017 series after his homophobic tweets were brought to light.

The DJ was removed by producers on day three and went on to apologise for his past actions.

“I think I would go back in to prove myself. I didn’t get the worst of it while I was in there, maybe I deserve it who knows, so maybe I should go in there to face my biggest fears,” he said during an appearance on Lorraine.

REPUTATION BUILDER

I’m A Celeb has proven to be a very smart career move for stars hoping to get in the public’s good graces.

Brand expert Nick Ede spoke exclusively to Fabulous about I’m A Celebrity’s ability to mould the careers of male contestants.

“Men are always seen to be a bit more closed and a bit more guarded, and show like this are actually a great way of exposing people as they actually are,” he explains.

“You can’t keep up a persona for so long in those different environments, even last year with Fred Sireix, we kind of saw him in maybe not the best possible light.

“So I think that men going into the jungle, it’s good for them if they want to change people’s opinion of them or to show people that they aren’t just one dimensional, they’re got other sides to them.”

However, Nick revealed why he thinks it was wise for Tommy Fury to steer clear of the jungle.

“He’s obviously a character that’s being played as a villain because of his split from Molly-Mae and I think there could be a lot of people criticising him being away from this child for three weeks,” he says.

“I think that from a PR point of view, it could have been good for him to show off his personality and who he actually is.

“But I suspect that when they’ve deliberated and when he was given the offer, he probably decided that actually maybe this wasn’t the best way for him to redeem himself.

[Tommy] also could be given all these tasks and maybe fail them and actually come out of the jungle with his tail between his legs.

Nick Ede

“To concentrate on his sport and to look at how he can train and get ready for a [potential] rematch, I think is probably the best way forward.”

Nick pointed out that if Tommy was in the jungle, it would be easier for him to be portrayed “as a villain”.

“[He] also could be given all these tasks and maybe fail them and actually come out of the jungle with his tail between his legs.”

The brand expert also explained that the potential for a jungle romance would likely play on viewers’ minds if Tommy were to compete in the show.

“There’s probably going to be some really gorgeous people going into the jungle that he might have his eye on and he is a Love Island veteran.

“It might be that he strikes up a friendship with somebody and then all eyes will be on him and he’ll still be seen as a villain.”

While Tommy won’t appear on this year’s series to tell his side of his shocking split from Molly-Mae, the jungle has provided a useful platform for past contestants.

Peter Andre paved a successful TV and music career after leaving the show, going on to have estimated net worth of £16 million.

The Mysterious Girl singer made the most of his time on the show, penning hit single Insania and wooing his first wife Katie Price.

“I think for someone like Peter Andre, who everybody thought was a bit washed up and being a pop star who wasn’t really doing very much, for him it completely turned around his career,” Nick says.

And Peter wasn’t the only one to win over the public during his stint in the jungle.

In 2017, Boris Johnson’s father Stanley became the oldest ever contestant on the show at 77 years old.

The former Conservative politician managed to sway the public’s view on him through his joking personality and unlikely friendship with series winner Georgia “Toff” Toffolo.

Despite his divisive politics and past allegations of spousal abuse, Stanley lasted 18 days in the jungle before being voted out by the public.

And back in 2011, Lembit Opik entered the camp just months after the MP’s infamous expenses controversy.

While he may not have faired as well as other politicians on the show, Lembit managed to distract the public from his political drama.

Instead he focused on sharing more about his personal life, including his break up with Cheeky Girls star Gabriela Irimia.

“He was quite a quirky character anyway and I think what happened was that we actually saw him for who he was,” Nick explains.

Lembit was the third person to leave his series, and the second to be voted out by the public.

Perhaps one of the most controversial entries into the jungle, former health secretary Matt Hancock had the whip suspended after announcing he was entering the jungle in 2022.

Despite his infamous breaching of Covid social distancing regulations the previous year, Matt was a popular contestant among the British public.

His presence caused a stir with fellow campmates, including Boy George, who didn’t shy away from confronting the politician about his past actions.

“I think what’s great about I’m A Celebrity is the public have the ability to put them through all those tasks and that’s the reason why he lasted so long,” points out Nick.

“But I think also, as we know, some of the voting public actually really supported him and they saw another side of him, which I think sort of endeared him to some people.”

He went on to finish in third place behind footballer Jill Scott and actor Owen Warner.

Following in Matt’s footsteps, former UKIP leader Nigel Farage faced campmates, critters, and the British public in the show’s 23rd series.

“I think a lot of people wanted to learn a bit more about him,” Nick explains.

“It sorts of strips away, yes they may be politicians that you don’t agree with but they are human beings and that comes through.

“So it can potentially give them a bit more longevity in their careers or it can give them a whole new career, which could be in the entertainment business rather than politics.”

He also proved to be popular with campmates and viewers alike, finishing in the top three behind Sam Thompson and Tony Bellew.

Pop icon Boy George also appeared in the 2022 line-up, alongside Matt Hancock.

The 80s singer, who was denied participation in Celebrity Big Brother back in 2009 due to his probation from assault charges, lasted 18 days in the jungle.

During his time he gained public sympathy during a conversation with Matt Hancock about his mother’s hospitalisation during the Covid pandemic.

“Someone like Boy George is actually seen as a softer character and people got to understand him more,” explains Nick.

“They potentially just thought about what he was like as a singer, his sexuality, and the allegations against him from a while ago.

“I think what was really good was they saw him for being a pretty nice man who, stripped of everything, was quite caring and someone who challenged Matt Hancock.

“It was a positive outcome for Boy George and from that, he’s actually done pretty well, he’s back doing Culture Club and also he’s doing pantomimes.”

Finishing just two places ahead of Boy George was radio DJ Chris Moyles.

The presenter is no stranger to controversy, having been accused of sexism, homophobia, and antisemitism on different occasions.

Despite this, he won the admiration of viewers during a difficult Bushtucker trial that saw him buried with snakes and he also formed an unlikely friendship with Olivia Attwood before her departure.

“I think people softened again to him, understanding that his personality was pretty brutal on the radio,” Nick says.

“Even him being slimmed down shocked a lot of people as well.

“I think his attitude and his way of making relationships [in the jungle] actually made him seem a lot softer.”