{"id":2361612,"date":"2026-04-06T22:35:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T22:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2361612"},"modified":"2026-04-06T22:35:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T22:35:29","slug":"what-happened-last-time-and-why-she-left-show-so-early","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/what-happened-last-time-and-why-she-left-show-so-early\/","title":{"rendered":"What happened last time and why she left show so early"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-journey-body=\"standard-article\">\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"5\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">If you&#8217;re sad the long bank holiday weekend is over (hard relate), then the premiere of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/im-a-celebrity-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/im-a-celebrity-news\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!\" data-node-id=\"5.1.0\" class=\"body-link css-ohbdae emevuu60\">I&#8217;m A Celebrity&#8230; Get Me Out Of Here!<\/a> will no doubt perk you back up. The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/entertainment\/a70916585\/im-a-celebrity-south-africa-release-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/entertainment\/a70916585\/im-a-celebrity-south-africa-release-schedule\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"hit show returns tonight\" data-node-id=\"5.3\" class=\"body-link css-ohbdae emevuu60\">hit show returns tonight<\/a> for its &#8216;All Stars South Africa&#8217; edition, with a host of former <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/entertainment\/a69659076\/im-a-celebrity-2025-final-voting-figures-revealed\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/entertainment\/a69659076\/im-a-celebrity-2025-final-voting-figures-revealed\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"I'm A Celeb...\" data-node-id=\"5.5.0\" class=\"body-link css-ohbdae emevuu60\">I&#8217;m A Celeb&#8230;<\/a> campmates in the line-up. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Along with the likes of Sir Mo Farah and Scarlett Moffatt, reality TV legend Gemma Collins will also be making her way back into the I&#8217;m A Celeb&#8230; camp. But, many viewers might be wondering, when did she appear on the show previously? And, more importantly, why was her <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/body\/a69494291\/why-did-spencer-matthews-leave-im-a-celebrity\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/body\/a69494291\/why-did-spencer-matthews-leave-im-a-celebrity\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"stint in the jungle so short\" data-node-id=\"10.3\" class=\"body-link css-ohbdae emevuu60\">stint in the jungle so short<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"14\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Ahead of tonight&#8217;s premiere of I&#8217;m A Celeb&#8230; South Africa, here&#8217;s everything you need to know about Gemma Collins.<\/p>\n<h2 title=\"Who is Gemma Collins?\" data-anchor-id=\"who-is-gemma-collins\" class=\"body-h2 css-yth5d6 emt9r7s1\">Who is Gemma Collins?<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"20\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Gemma Collins is, for lack of a better word, a reality TV legend in the UK. She first made a name for herself on ITV&#8217;s The Only Way is Essex, making her debut on the second season in 2011. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"25\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Since then, she&#8217;s gone on to appear on countless TV series (more on those in a moment), launch several businesses, and firmly cement herself as a British icon. Head to Love of Huns on Instagram for more evidence of that, if you don&#8217;t believe us.<\/p>\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-uwraif e1fodxfw3\">\n<div class=\"css-p7qblm e1mlxuuw0\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"i'm a celebrity south africa's gemma collins\" title=\"I'm a Celebrity South Africa's Gemma Collins\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2100\" height=\"1390\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?crop=0.663xw:1.00xh;0.155xw,0&amp;resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?crop=0.663xw:1.00xh;0.155xw,0&amp;resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?crop=0.663xw:1.00xh;0.155xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?crop=0.663xw:1.00xh;0.155xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?crop=0.663xw:1.00xh;0.155xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?crop=0.663xw:1.00xh;0.155xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?crop=0.663xw:1.00xh;0.155xw,0&amp;resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-theme-key=\"base-link\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/entertainment\/a70939386\/im-a-celebrity-south-africa-gemma-collins\/&amp;description=- CosmopolitanUK&amp;media=https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/db8c2892-1473-4ad9-86ae-ffc0af68d212.png?resize=1600:*\" class=\"pinterest css-on9hn5 e1socmtw0\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-dynamic-svg=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/pinterest.e8cf655.svg?primary=%2523ffffff\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"dynamic-svg-base\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" alt=\"pinterest\" class=\"css-4lml0h e1mlxuuw1\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"css-1pzw7j5 e1geg53v1\">ITV<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 title=\"How old is Gemma Collins?\" data-anchor-id=\"how-old-is-gemma-collins\" class=\"body-h2 css-yth5d6 emt9r7s1\">How old is Gemma Collins?<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Gemma Collins is 45 years old.<\/p>\n<h2 title=\"What else has Gemma Collins been on?\" data-anchor-id=\"what-else-has-gemma-collins-been-on\" class=\"body-h2 css-yth5d6 emt9r7s1\">What else has Gemma Collins been on?<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"36\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">After starring in several seasons of TOWIE, Gemma Collins was also booked for Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice, and Celebs Go Dating. Gemma has also featured in her own reality TV series, called Diva Forever, and is currently working on another. Gemma Collins: Four Weddings and a Baby is scheduled for release this year on Sky.<\/p>\n<h2 title=\"When was Gemma Collins on I'm A Celeb?\" data-anchor-id=\"when-was-gemma-collins-on-im-a-celeb\" class=\"body-h2 css-yth5d6 emt9r7s1\">When was Gemma Collins on I&#8217;m A Celeb?<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"41\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Gemma Collins appeared in the 14th season of I&#8217;m A Celeb&#8230; all the way back in November 2014. However, she only lasted three days in the Australian jungle.<\/p>\n<h2 title=\"Why did Gemma Collins leave I'm A Celeb?\" data-anchor-id=\"why-did-gemma-collins-leave-im-a-celeb\" class=\"body-h2 css-yth5d6 emt9r7s1\">Why did Gemma Collins leave I&#8217;m A Celeb?<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"46\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Since quitting I&#8217;m A Celeb&#8230; back in 2014, Gemma Collins has been open about her reasons why. Essentially, she just couldn&#8217;t hack the living conditions, and only stayed for three days as that was the minimum amount of time required to get her payout. <\/p>\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-uwraif e1fodxfw3\">\n<div class=\"css-p7qblm e1mlxuuw0\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"i'm a celebrity south africa's gemma collins\" title=\"I'm a Celebrity South Africa's Gemma Collins\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2100\" height=\"1311\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?crop=0.625xw:1.00xh;0.154xw,0&amp;resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?crop=0.625xw:1.00xh;0.154xw,0&amp;resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?crop=0.625xw:1.00xh;0.154xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?crop=0.625xw:1.00xh;0.154xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?crop=0.625xw:1.00xh;0.154xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?crop=0.625xw:1.00xh;0.154xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?crop=0.625xw:1.00xh;0.154xw,0&amp;resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-theme-key=\"base-link\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/entertainment\/a70939386\/im-a-celebrity-south-africa-gemma-collins\/&amp;description=- CosmopolitanUK&amp;media=https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/28313340-c697-4351-abf4-107bb3134526.png?resize=1600:*\" class=\"pinterest css-on9hn5 e1socmtw0\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-dynamic-svg=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/pinterest.e8cf655.svg?primary=%2523ffffff\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"dynamic-svg-base\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" alt=\"pinterest\" class=\"css-4lml0h e1mlxuuw1\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"css-1pzw7j5 e1geg53v1\">ITV<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"51\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Leaving the show after 72-hours has been one of Gemma&#8217;s biggest TV regrets, however. Ahead of the South African series, she admitted that quitting the show back in 2014 had &#8220;haunted&#8221; her ever since. <br data-node-id=\"51.1\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"55\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">&#8220;I thought whatever happens to me in my life, I must go back into that jungle; it was one regret I had,&#8221; she said in the lead-up to the new season. Be that as it may, Gemma revealed she was &#8220;bricking it&#8221; nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"59\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">&#8220;I was petrified, but you know what? I took a deep breath, I went in strong,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;It\u2019s not the GC in there, it\u2019s Gemma Collins, as you\u2019ve never seen her before.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"63\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Gemma went on: &#8220;You\u2019ll see me vulnerable in there, you\u2019ll see me thinking I\u2019m Lara Croft, but I am delighted with who I got to do it with because we did have a good crack.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"69\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">I&#8217;m a Celebrity&#8230; Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa season two starts on 6th April on ITV1 and ITVX.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-pc3nh9 e94w1mj11\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-before\" class=\"css-0 e68yk9k0\"\/><span class=\"css-0 e94w1mj10\">Related Stories<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-after\" class=\"css-0 e68yk9k1\"\/><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cosmopolitan.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re sad the long bank holiday weekend is over (hard relate), then the premiere of I&#8217;m A Celebrity&#8230; Get Me Out Of Here! will no doubt perk you back up. The hit show returns tonight for its &#8216;All Stars South Africa&#8217; edition, with a host of former I&#8217;m A Celeb&#8230; campmates in the line-up. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2361613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25173],"tags":[458706,436417,274717,458705,285977,308600,458704],"class_list":["post-2361612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists","tag-collection-im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here-news","tag-collection-reality-tv","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-7907288f-0036-43c6-bf1a-997296fa0eb8","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-what-happened-with-gemma-on-im-a-celeb-last-time"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/What-happened-last-time-and-why-she-left-show-so.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2361612"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2361614,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361612\/revisions\/2361614"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2361613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2361612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2361612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2361612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}