Paul Burrell stunned his fellow I’m A Celebrity… South Africa campmates on Friday’s episode when he revealed he used to date Buckingham Palace.
The former servant to the British royal and lately butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, lived at the royal residence in London in the late 1990s when he worked closely with the late princess.
And the television personality talked about how he would bring people back to his shelter when security was not so strict.
Paul, 64, left his fellow show stars gaping when he told them bringing a date back to Buckingham Palace was ‘the biggest card you could ever draw’.
He explained, “I used to take dates back to the palace. I’ll tell you what, the biggest card you could ever draw is you go to London, find a date, you say, “Would you like to come back to my place?” They say, “Yes, of course.”
Surprise: Paul Burrell, 64, stunned his fellow I’m A Celebrity… South Africa camp mates on Friday’s episode when he revealed he used to date Buckingham Palace
Public secret: Paul, 64, left his fellow show stars gasping when he told them that bringing a date back to Buckingham Palace was ‘the biggest card you could ever draw’ (Amir Khan pictured)
“You get a taxi, you whisper to the taxi, ‘Take me to Buckingham Palace’, you get there, you get out and they say, ‘I thought you were taking me home.’ I said, “I have.”
Meanwhile, former nemeses Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith became the first two contestants eliminated from I’m A Celebrity… South Africa.
Friday’s episode of the ITV reality show saw six celebrities chained together in pairs to take part in the series’ first survival challenge – Savage Safari.
Andy Whyment and Jordan Banjo, Phil Tufnell and Georgia Toffolo, and Shaun and Gillian, all battled to break free from each other and hit a buzzer first.
Camp mates were surprised after Shaun announced he had selected the TV nutritionist as his partner, while Gillian exclaimed, “Oh no for God’s sake!”
The challenge consisted of removing keys from boxes filled with various creatures to untie the chains.
Andy and Jordan accepted the challenge and were the first to free themselves, while Gillian was paralyzed from touching snakes in the first box.
At the trial, when asked if he regretted his decision to choose Gillian as his partner, Shaun replied, “A little bit…but she’s my mate now and I can’t finish my mate.”
Exit: I’m a Celebrity In South Africa, Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith became the first stars to leave camp on Friday
Challenge: After choosing fellow celebrities to complete the challenge, with the losing pair leaving camp for good – while Shaun chooses former nemesis Gillian
The pair said they had “come full circle” after their fiery clashes during their previous appearances on I’m A Celebrity… in 2010.
“Now we’re getting married,” Shaun joked.
After her departure, Gillian said participating in the series had been “a very positive experience.”
“It was just a different feeling when I went into camp this time,” she said.
“People just seemed to be very open and getting along. There was no negativity, it felt positive from the moment I got there.
‘Everyone wanted to learn. I felt it was a very different experience than in 2010.’
Shaun said he “loved” the experience.
“I’m a bit of a slow learner to say the least so it takes me a while to adjust but I loved it,” he said.
Not impressed: I’m A Celebrity were divided during Friday’s episode when they watched Fatima Whitbread continue to grumble about contraband smuggled into the camp
“While you’re at it and doing it you don’t realize it and I thought when I left, god yes there were great moments there.” I was over the moon.’
Earlier in the episode, tensions briefly flared in the camp after several celebrities were arrested for bringing contraband into the camp.
Former royal butler Paul Burrell, Myleene Klass and Gillian were all found guilty of smuggling items into the camp.
Phil commented that the “drama” had “flattened” the camp atmosphere.
Georgia said in the Bush Telegraph: “There’s been a strange atmosphere in the camp. I hope everyone gets a great night’s sleep.’
Myleene had brought several spices, while Paul had brought “a little bit of coffee.”
However, campmates were shocked, even a little impressed, after Gillian revealed that she had “smuggled in a whole tuck shop” in her underpants.
The TV nutritionist took all kinds of products from her ‘spicy underpants’, including thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, bouillon cubes and 30 tea bags.
“She had a whole pack of tucks in her underpants,” former boxer Amir Khan told the Bush Telegraph.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa airs weeknights at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.