I’M A Celebrity’s reigning jungle king Sam Thompson has admitted he sought medical attention before heading back Down Under.
The Made In Chelsea alum is fronting the ITV reality series’ spin off show, I’m A Celebrity Unpacked, live from the Aussie jungle camp.
Staying RelevantSam Thompson revealed he booked in with the doctor before heading Down Under[/caption]
ITVSam will front I’m A Celeb spin off show, I’m A Celeb Unpacked with Kemi Rodgers and Joel Dommett[/caption]
Staying RelevantSam, 32, told how he asked for a dose of sleeping pills as his ITV filming will be on UK time[/caption]
Yet in an attempt to accommodate his tough filming schedule – which will see him record in UK time not local daylight – Sam admitted he’d asked his doctor for sleeping pills.
In the latest episode of his Staying Relevant podcast, which was released after he hopped on his long-haul flight on Saturday, he opened up on the issue.
He said: “The timings are quite awkward because obviously we are live in UK time.
“So we go to bed at 4pm every day in Australia and wake up at midnight.
“Which is going to be wild.”
His podcast co-host Pete Wicks agreed and added: “Yeah you’re going to be all over the shop, and you don’t cope well with change,” as Sam agreed: “I really don’t.”
Pete – who is competing on Strictly this year – continued: “You don’t cope well with change and what Sam said to me when he told me this last week is ‘I’ve just been to the doctor and I’ve got 24 sleeping pills.'”
Sam giggled and said: “Just in case.”
Pete continued: “That was the first thing you did, he literally came out of the meeting with ITV or off the phone and went straight to the doctor and said ‘I need pills.'”
“Sam has also come in this morning and he’s flying to Australia next week and said ‘what are cataracts?”
Sam went on to say he had a “weird sensation” in his eye and Pete joked he would be spending all of his time worrying about health issues.
Pete then suggested Sam “doesn’t do well on his own” before he admitted he would be going running with Joel Dommett after each spin off show.
As well as Sam and Joel, Kemi Rodgers will also be fronting the spin-off show.
As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year...
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.
Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.
GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he’ll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.”
Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”
He added: “That dance meant everything to him your nan would be so proud mate and putting yourself out there like that takes so much guts.
“I am so proud of you sir, and if you want to see the measure of the man look at the next slide.
“Stressed and emotional about his dance but always there to help out my family whilst I’m away. For lack of a better term Pete…‘You’re simply the best.’
“Please get voting for Peter Johnathan Joseph wicks!!! The competition needs him to stay in!!!”
RexThe Sun exclusively revealed the return of the spin-off series[/caption]
ITVPete was on hand to greet Sam after his jungle win in 2023[/caption]
instagram/@samthompsonukSam recently revealed his sweet message from Pete ahead of his trip[/caption]
