Gillian McKeith made a surprise entry at the I’m A Celebrity… South Africa camp at the end of Monday’s episode, leaving fellow campmate Shaun Ryder furious.
The arrival of the TV personality – who appeared on series 10 of the original I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2010 with Shaun – in camp for the all-stars spin-off show didn’t go down well, when Shaun told the other stars about their first run together, “I almost killed her!”
In the last few minutes of the first episode of this new series, Geordie duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly entered the camp to announce they had a surprise for the celebrities in attendance.
Television nutritionist Gillian, 63, was then seen emerging from a container after being brought in by several men carrying the box.
In a preview for Tuesday’s episode, Happy Mondays lead singer Shaun, who was known for feuding with Gillian during his original run, seemed to boil as he reflected on his time with her.
Not impressed: Gillian McKeith made a surprise entry at the I’m A Celebrity… South Africa camp at the end of Monday’s episode, leaving fellow campmate Shaun Ryder (pictured) furious
Comeback: The arrival of Gillian, 63 – who competed in series 10 of the original I’m A Celebrity in 2010 with Shaun – in the camp for the all-stars spin-off show was not well received
“Gillian arrived in a box, she should have stayed in the box,” he exclaimed.
During the duo’s raging quarrels in 2010, Shaun labeled the Scot “f****** annoying” before telling presenters Ant and Dec: “If Gillian were my wife she’d be in pieces in a plastic bag, deep in a hole in the backyard.’
Despite a potentially shaky start with Shaun, Gillian insisted she was determined to stay strong during her time on the show, which was pre-recorded in South Africa’s Kruger National Park last year.
After famously passing out during a live trial on I’m A Celebrity 12 years ago, Gillian admitted she only accepted an offer to return because she wants to represent “all the terrifying cats in Britain.”
Before stepping foot in the camp, Gillian revealed she was “absolutely terrified and terrified” of appearing for a second time in the series where she voted for eight consecutive trials.
However, Gillian insisted that her fainting was not made up, so she would not have to take another tough Bushtucker trial in 2010.
“I’ve had a history of fainting since childhood,” Gillian explained.
“The day before we did the live trial, I hadn’t eaten much and wasn’t feeling very well – which is the harbinger of fainting.
Special delivery: TV nutritionist Gillian was then seen emerging from a container after being brought in by several men carrying the box
War: The duo’s blazing rows in 2010 saw Shaun call the Scot ‘f****** annoying’ before telling hosts Ant and Dec: ‘If Gillian were my wife she’d be in pieces in a plastic bag’
Bold words: “Gillian arrived in a box, she should have stayed in the box,” Shaun said in a preview for Tuesday’s episode
“I passed out several times and not just in the jungle. I even passed out once at a wedding when I was the maid of honor.
“They were about to say, ‘Do you take this man for your husband?’ and I fainted.
“Sometimes you can hold yourself back when you get close to the ground, but the problem with the jungle is that there were all those leeches and so I would never throw myself on the ground.
‘But I never could forget my passing out in the jungle! I’ve been reminded every day that I’m a celebrity since I came out by taxi drivers and people on the street!
“They all talk about it like it was yesterday. They say I was amusing.
“It may have been for them, but it certainly wasn’t for me!”
Gillian added: ‘Now when I think about doing I’m A Celebrity again, I feel apprehensive and petrified.
“This time it gets more terrifying because then I didn’t know what to expect, but this time I can’t use that as an excuse.
Determined: Despite a shaky start with Shaun, Gillian insisted she was determined to stay strong during her time on the show, which was filmed in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
“What I felt before feels 1,000 times worse now and it’s driving me absolutely nuts, but I feel I have a calling to represent all the faint-hearted in Britain – which is why I said yes.”
While she may have had a strained relationship with Shaun, Gillian did make some friends during her first appearance on the show, revealing that she has kept in touch with her fellow camp mates, Sheryl Gascoigne and Lembit Opik, insisting that she is very “nice to me” goods. .
Unaware that actress Helen Flangan was at the camp before her arrival, Gillian said she would love for the former Coronation Street star to join her on this series as they could bond over their mutual anxieties.
“Doing the program hasn’t changed me,” she added. “And I learned that knowledge is fear. But one thing I would like to say is that when I look back on the experience, I was surprised to be able to sleep outside.
‘I never liked camping as a kid, but sleeping in the hammock in the jungle was peaceful – as long as you didn’t have bugs crawling all over you!’
Despite being terrified, the good-natured star admits that she would love to win the new all-star series. “My family thinks I’m crazy,” she said with a laugh. “But of course I’m in to win.”
“I think the reason I’m A Celebrity is such a hit is because it’s so outrageous in terms of what people are supposed to do. It’s so out of the ordinary. You see the raw emotion of people who participate.’
Laughing, she added one major positive to face her fears again: she was finally able to visit a country on her bucket list.
Theater? Gillian insisted her fainting was not made up so she wouldn’t have to go through another tough Bushtucker trial in 2010
Real? Gillian was labeled a ‘fake’ when she appeared to pass out on live television in 2010 when presenters Ant and Dec announced she had been voted to do a seventh Bushtucker Trial
Gillian said: ‘I’ve never been to South Africa and I know there will be twists and turns, but maybe because the public isn’t going to vote I’ll have a really good time!’
At the end of the first episode of the new series on Monday, presenters Ant and Dec revealed that there would be no ‘King or Queen of the jungle’, but contestants would instead compete for the title of I’m A Celebrity. . Legend.
In the final series of the original format, former England footballer Jill Scott became queen of the jungle.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa continues on Tuesdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm.
Celebs: The All Stars season returns Shaun Ryder, Helen Flanagan, Phil Tufnell, Jordan Banjo, Carol Vorderman, Paul Burrell, Amir Khan, Janice Dickinson and Fatima Whitbread