I’m a Celebrity… South Africa viewers witnessed “TV gold” tonight after an iconic former contestant entered the camp. Tonight, former Coronation Street star Craig Charles became the series’ first late arrival, closely followed by none other than Gemma Collins.
The GC lasted just three days in the Australian jungle back in 2014, but now Gemma is in her redemption era and has entered the camp in South Africa.
Gemma wasted no time getting stuck in after being chosen to join the Savannah Scrub camp alongside Adam Thomas, Seann Walsh, and Beverley Callard.
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The TOWIE star then faced off with Craig in a head-to-head eating challenge named ‘Gut Instinct’.
The two contestants were presented with a dish and had to say how much of it they could eat. The campmate who picked the highest amount then had to eat the delicacy to win food for their camp.
Gemma won the first round, managing to eat eight ‘critter canopies’, before Craig scoffed down 10 portions of bull penis.
Both contestants then passed on some blended chicken hearts and intestines, with Craig next eating a fish eye pie.
Gemma then tried frozen springbok brain, but just when it seemed she might be able to finish her portion, she grabbed the sick bucket to spit it out.
She then told her campmates: “I’m sorry, I’m going to die. I can’t. I’m going to be hospitalised.”
On X, viewers were delighted to see the return of The GC, with one fan writing: “Gemma Collins carrying the entire show on her back already. Just like she does with every show she’s on. TV GOLD!”
Another added: “Gemma Collins has already revolutionised this series, we are so unbelievably BACK.”
Next for Gemma were pig testicles, and this time she had a strategy. As Gemma attempted to eat two testicles, she asked for a back rub, with Seann Walsh obliging, before Ant and Dec led the camp in a rendition of ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’.
One viewer commented: “Seann Walsh massaging Gemma Collins needs to win the BAFTA TV Moment Of The Year.”
While another added: “Gemma Collins making Sean Walsh rub her back while she smashes down some testicles and gets serenaded with Wind Beneath My Wings… An icon is back and we are truly blessed.”
The episode ended on a massive cliffhanger with both Gemma and Craig attempting to drink an entire tray of blended bull’s heart and bull’s blood shots.
I’m a Celebrity… South Africa season 2 premiered tonight (6 April) on ITV1 and ITVX, with I’m a Celebrity… Unpacked airing afterwards on ITV2 and ITVX, hosted by Sam Thompson and Kemi Rodgers.
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Stephanie is a freelance news writer, who previously covered WWE and AEW for Digital Spy.
After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.
Outside of her work at Digital Spy, she writes about pop culture, with a special focus towards Irish media and how it intersects with politics.
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