![\"STRICT](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_291898064-2c11.jpg\")
\n\t\tTwo I\u2019m A Celebrity contestants nearly quit before the show even began (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tTwo I\u2019m A Celebrity contestants nearly quit before the show even began (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
A prank pulled by a contestant on I\u2019m A Celebrity\u2026 South Africa nearly caused two contestants to quit the show before it even began.<\/p>\n
The ITV<\/a> reality series returns to screens on Monday with a new all-star cast including Gemma Collins<\/a>, Sinitta, Olympian Sir Mo Farah<\/a>, former Gogglebox<\/a> star Scarlett Moffatt<\/a> and Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts.<\/p>\n However, the series, which is pre-recorded, nearly saw Gemma quit the series early after falling for a practical joke by former football manager Harry Redknapp<\/a>.<\/p>\n Recalling the prank at a press roundtable, Sinitta said: \u2018I think we\u2019d done really hard trials all day, or some sort of game, so we were physically exhausted.<\/p>\n \u2018We got back, and we\u2019re all relieved [that] nothing else can happen now, because they\u2019ve exhausted us; it\u2019s getting dark now, it\u2019s getting late, so that must be it, we can relax.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on I’m A Celeb\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n \u2018And Harry [Redknapp] comes in and says, \u201cGuys, you\u2019re not going to believe this,\u201d and he\u2019s got the board, and he starts reading this awful trial; I think it\u2019s called something like the House of Hell, Prison of Hell, or something.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t The 62-year-old singer and actress said Harry, who won the show in 2018, told his fellow campmates the challenge would involve rats and being tied up, among other things.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019re already broken [and] literally before he could finish reading it out, Gemma was like, \u201cI\u2019m a celebrity, get me out of here\u201d,\u2019 she continued.<\/p>\n \u2018I have to admit, my hand went up that I was like, \u201cYou know what? me too, I\u2019m too exhausted, gotta go\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n However, before he let things get any further, Harry revealed that he was pranking them.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWho’s taking part in the 2026 series?\t\t\t<\/p>\n The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma, 45, famously appeared on the series in 2014 \u2013 but lasted a mere three days in the Australian jungle. <\/p>\n She did, however, give us memes that have truly stood the test of time and has since admitted that, despite \u2018hating it\u2019, her scenes made for \u2018TV gold\u2019, prompting her to give in and try again.<\/p>\n As a result of her very premature exit, though, former boxer David Haye, who also appears in the upcoming series<\/a>, did not have high hopes for her second stint.<\/p>\n Praising her for taking part in some \u2018real heavy challenges\u2019, he did say: \u2018She was the one that I was told going into it that she kind of flaked out the first time around, and I didn\u2019t have high hopes.<\/p>\n \u2018But of all the people watching her go through what she went through, she doesn\u2019t have an ounce of quit in her at all.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018Whatever she did the first time round, she obviously looked back; a few years have gone by, and she\u2019s like, \u201cI\u2019m going to give it everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Fortunately for the show, she did, because she was part of some real heavy challenges that she should be proud of herself.\u2019<\/p>\n Gemma, however, exclusively told Metro a major spoiler<\/a> ahead of the new series, which also stars comedian Seann Walsh<\/a>, Red Dwarf\u2019s Craig Charles, ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard, Coronation Street star Beverley Callard<\/a>, and actor Adam Thomas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hosted by Ant and Dec<\/a>, this time, the show will give the public the power to cast their vote for the winner in a live grand final broadcast direct from London, which will crown the \u2018ultimate legend 2026\u2019.<\/p>\n In the first series, Myleene Klass emerged victorious, with her win decided by a challenge. Ultimately, she defeated\u00a0series 16\u00a0campmate\u00a0Jordan Banjo\u00a0in the final survival trial, but this time, it\u2019s down to the viewers.<\/p>\n I\u2019m A Celebrity\u2026 South Africa starts on April 6 at 9pm on ITV1 and airs every weeknight, Monday to Friday.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"EMBARGOED](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_291131587-ef19.jpg\")
\n\t\tSinitta said that former football manager Harry Redknapp pulled a cruel prank (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"EMBARGOED](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_291131753-392c.jpg\")
\n\t\tHarry\u2019s \u2018fake challenge\u2019 nearly saw Gemma Collins quit the series before it even began (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"STRICT](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_291897897-3c64.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe first episode of the new series looks set to cause carnage, as David Haye takes part in a challenge (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"STRICT](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_291898048-8f54.jpg\")
\n\t\tGogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt is put through the wringer in the opening episode (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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