Olivia Attwood shares real reason she didn’t go back to I’m A Celeb after ‘door was left open’ – and slams ‘big c**k up’
OLIVIA Attwood has lifted the lid on how emotional she was when she was forced to quit I’m A Celeb in 2022, as well as sharing why she hasn’t returned to the Australian jungle yet.
The former Love Island beauty was forced to quit the hit ITV show after just 48 hours when she starred on the show briefly in 2022.
Olivia was forced to quit the hit series, which is hosted by Ant and Dec, amid concerns that she was suffering from anaemia.
And now the Love Islander has opened up on her departure from camp and how it was a “big c**k up” while chatting to Pete Wicks on his podcast.
Chatting to Pete on the podcast he co-hosts with Sam Thompson, Staying Relevant, Olivia got candid.
Opening up about her departure from the jungle, Olivia said: “That is the worst thing that’s happened to me in this industry.”
She added: “I really wanted the jungle.”
The TV star then spoke of her joy when she finally got the call after the show said “We’re not going to do a Love Island jungle crossover”.
Talking about her jungle departure, Olivia said: “It was a big c**k up on so many levels.”
“[It was a] medical thing essentially,” Olivia added, on why she was forced to quit the show.
“I tried to fight them on it because I felt like I was fine,” she added, but later revealed that after some tests, it was clear she had to leave.
POSSIBLE JUNGLE RETURN?
“I would [go back and do it again],” she told Pete during the episode, adding how ITV and the show itself “left the door open”.
Olivia also said that “conversations have been had” about her potential jungle return.
Speaking about the recent series, she said: “I know I could have gone back,” but then spoke about how she decided against returning, in turn revealing the reason why she hasn’t headed back to Australia yet.
“I need time to settle on it because it was such an anticlimax for me,” she said before revealing she has had a lot of work, so technically could not return anyway.
‘WHEN I LEFT, I CRIED’
“When I left, I cried,” she then revealed, turning to Pete and saying: “I never cry, do I?
Olivia Attwood's Career History
From Monster grid girl and Love Island star to daytime telly panellist and respected documentary maker, Olivia Attwood has made a huge career pivot in recent years...
Olivia first started as a Monster grid girl at motorsport events in 2012 when she was 19-years-old, and did it right up until she went into Love Island in 2017.
After placing third in the reality show with then-boyfriend Chris Hughes, she starred in their own spin-off series, Chris & Olivia: Crackin’ On, in 2018.
Later that year, she appeared on Celebs Go Dating and then joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex in 2019, where she had a number of fiery on-screen rows.
In 2020, the reality TV veteran began starring in her own reality series on ITVBe titled Olivia Meets Her Match, which followed her wedding preparations with footballer Bradley Dack.
In 2021, the tide started to turn.
Olivia made appearances on household shows Lorraine, Tipping Point: Lucky Stars and Loose Women.
Then, in 2022, ITV commissioned her for her first ever documentary series.
She presented Olivia Attwood: Getting Filthy Rich, which explored women selling sexual content online.
In June 2023, ITV commissioned Olivia Marries Her Match and made her a regular guest panellist on Loose Women.
Her most recent docu-series, Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection, aired in January this year where she sensitively explored the cosmetic industry.
“I cried for like three days straight, I was like dehydrated. I was devastated.”
‘THE JUNGLE WILL BE GETTING FINISHED AT SOME POINT’
Speaking to us about a possible return to the jungle earlier this year, Olivia said: “The jungle will be getting finished at some point, one thousand per cent. I can’t rest until I’ve finished it.
“But probably not this year. From a purely logistical point of view, it would be almost impossible.
“Plus, being a contestant is not something I’m prioritising because I think I just want to really focus on being a host right now.”