I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! will be welcoming a slew of new stars hoping to be crowned the next King or Queen of the Jungle, but one winner is speaking out about his regrets of appearing on the show at all.
Busted star Matt Willis won the sixth season nearly two decades ago and has since referred to his stint on the show as a ‘mistake’ .
The musician famously beat Myleene Klass and Jason Donovon to become King of the Jungle in 2006, but his initial plan for the show was to boost his solo career, but that didn’t really go according to plan.
Matt Smith and wife Emma after he was crowned King of the Jungle on I’m a Celeb in 2006 Pic: ITV
Upon leaving the Jungle, all anyone wanted to talk about was his time on the show as opposed to his music career, which he was trying to relaunch following the breakup of Busted.
Speaking about the reality series on his On the Mend podcast, he said: ‘I was thinking of a time when I lost my own narrative. And the one thing that springs to mind the most was leaving I’m a Celebrity.
‘I was in a pretty bad place. The record company basically wasn’t going to release my solo album… They said, “You’ve got to do something to raise your profile. Will you go on I’m a Celebrity?”
Emma Willis and husband Matt Willis host Love is Blind: UK Pic: Netflix/Zoe McConnell
‘I went, “Yep, absolutely. Anything, please release my album!” Once I came out of that show, I realised no one cared that I had a record out.
‘Everywhere I went, they just wanted to talk about I’m a Celebrity. And it really bummed me out. Before I went on that show, I was only really famous to Busted fans.
‘Then I came out and everyone knew who I was. When you’re in [an] active addiction – which I was at the time – and you just want to hide, that’s the worst thing that can happen.
Matt Smith after he was crowned King of the Jungle Pic: ITV
‘Suddenly there were paps everywhere I went. I’d get in a cab and the driver would say, “Hello Matt”. It was such a weird experience. It was probably a bit of a mistake going on that show.’
This year’s batch of celebrities includes stars from Emmerdale, EastEnders, comedians, musicians, footballers and reality stars from other shows.
Ireland’s own Vogue Williams is rumoured to be appearing but wasn’t among the list of initial campmates, so if she is going in, it’ll be as a late arrival.