{"id":2378275,"date":"2026-04-17T22:03:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T22:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2378275"},"modified":"2026-04-17T22:03:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T22:03:54","slug":"gemma-collins-breaks-down-in-tears-as-she-threatens-to-quit-im-a-celeb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/gemma-collins-breaks-down-in-tears-as-she-threatens-to-quit-im-a-celeb\/","title":{"rendered":"Gemma Collins breaks down in tears as she threatens to quit I&#8217;m A Celeb"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_7646a0\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">TOWIE&#8217;s Gemma Collins broke down in tears in I&#8217;m A Celebrity&#8230; South Africa as she was on the verge of quitting.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<div class=\"Byline_author-and-badge-wrapper__2dsv1\">\n<p><span><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_7646a0\">Meghna Amin<\/strong> Screen Time Reporter<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">22:52, 17 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"10918604\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gemma Collins\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10918604.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_ECR_100426_gemmacollins.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10918604.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_ECR_100426_gemmacollins.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10918604.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_ECR_100426_gemmacollins.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10918604.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_ECR_100426_gemmacollins.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/div>\n<p aria-label=\"Gemma only lasted three days in the jungle back in 2014 \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gemma only lasted three days in the jungle back in 2014 (Image: ITV)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.essexlive.news\/news\/celebs-tv\/gemma-collins-bursts-tears-admits-10918605\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Gemma Collins<\/a> came within seconds of quitting <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.essexlive.news\/news\/celebs-tv\/im-celebrity-fans-predict-gemma-10917064\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">I&#8217;m A Celebrity&#8230; South Africa<\/a>, after breaking down in floods of tears.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.essexlive.news\/news\/celebs-tv\/essex-life-towies-gemma-collins-10906213\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">The Towie icon<\/a>, 45, has experienced several emotional moments in the jungle, having returned to tackle more of Ant and Dec&#8217;s infamous bushtucker trials following her unforgettable three-day appearance back in 2014.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite surviving considerably longer than her first stint, Gemma was on the verge of walking out in tonight&#8217;s episode, declaring, &#8216;I&#8217;m done&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The GC joins a stellar cast including Scarlett Moffatt, Adam Thomas, Harry Redknapp, Ashley Roberts, Beverley Callard, and Sir Mo Farah, with David Haye, Sinitta, Craig Charles, and Jimmy Bullard rounding out the line-up, alongside Seann Walsh, who became the first celebrity to be eliminated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gemma was on the brink of becoming the second star to depart this series when she dissolved into tears at the mere prospect of facing another gruelling trial, reports <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/lifestyle\/tv\/gemma-collins-tearfully-threatens-quit-33794120\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Wales Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-10922912\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"10922912\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa, Gemma Collins\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922912.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Image.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922912.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Image.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922912.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Image.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922912.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Image.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/div>\n<p aria-label=\"Gemma was moments from quitting I'm A Celebrity\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gemma was moments from quitting I&#8217;m A Celebrity(Image: ITV)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_7646a0\">READ MORE: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"10918605\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.essexlive.news\/news\/celebs-tv\/gemma-collins-bursts-tears-admits-10918605\" tabindex=\"0\">Gemma Collins bursts into tears as she admits &#8216;I feel down-trodden&#8217;<\/a><\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_7646a0\">READ MORE: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"10917064\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.essexlive.news\/news\/celebs-tv\/im-celebrity-fans-predict-gemma-10917064\" tabindex=\"0\">I&#8217;m A Celebrity fans predict Gemma Collins win after spotting &#8216;sweet&#8217; moment<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Believing the entire camp was about to be subjected to a challenge dubbed &#8216;Prison of Hell&#8217;, involving an assortment of creepy crawlies, including rats and snakes, Gemma cried out: &#8220;I&#8217;m A Celebrity&#8230; Get Me Out of Here!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;m done,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t do any more. I can&#8217;t go through any more.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As her fellow campmates rallied around her with words of encouragement, she tearfully continued: &#8220;I&#8217;ve done so much, I&#8217;ve been through so much, I can&#8217;t go in a prison. I just can&#8217;t do any more, guys.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-10922909\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"10922909\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"An individual with red-painted nails, their face partially concealed by their hands, appears to be in a state of emotional distress.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922909.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-16-at-223418jpeg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922909.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-16-at-223418jpeg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922909.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-16-at-223418jpeg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922909.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-16-at-223418jpeg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/div>\n<p aria-label=\"Viewers shared their concern after Gemma's comments\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Viewers shared their concern after Gemma&#8217;s comments(Image: INSTAGRAM\/imacelebrity)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Fortunately for Gemma, she needn&#8217;t have worried, as Harry subsequently revealed he had been winding up the entire camp. As they responded to his joke, she said: &#8220;For me, that&#8217;s claustrophobic, I would just have to say them fateful words!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Viewers were left concerned, with one sharing on X: &#8220;I was so worried Gemma was gonna leave for a sec, she can&#8217;t leave yet.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I hope they don&#8217;t use Gemma as a cop out vote off decision, she&#8217;s got so much value in there and deserves to get further,&#8221; another said, as another laughed: &#8220;HARRY, THAT&#8217;S NOT FUNNY I THOUGHT WE WERE ABOUT TO LOSE AR GEMMA.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-10922910\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"10922910\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gemma Collins\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922910.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Im-A-Celebrity-Get-Me-Out-Of-Here-South-Africa-TV-show-Series-2-Episode-4-09-Apr-2026.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922910.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Im-A-Celebrity-Get-Me-Out-Of-Here-South-Africa-TV-show-Series-2-Episode-4-09-Apr-2026.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922910.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Im-A-Celebrity-Get-Me-Out-Of-Here-South-Africa-TV-show-Series-2-Episode-4-09-Apr-2026.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922910.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Im-A-Celebrity-Get-Me-Out-Of-Here-South-Africa-TV-show-Series-2-Episode-4-09-Apr-2026.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/div>\n<p aria-label=\"Gemma has already lasted more than her three-day stint in 2014\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gemma has already lasted more than her three-day stint in 2014(Image: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This comes after Gemma wept over washing up in last night&#8217;s programme, while she spoke to Adam as they completed their chore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The pair had been talking about burnt food and carcinogenic risks, as Gemma began: &#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t eat burnt food, honestly, it&#8217;s making me feel so ill, even the smell of that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Breaking down into tears, she then said: &#8220;It&#8217;s been a difficult day, I don&#8217;t know why, and obviously I&#8217;ve got close with Adam, I just had to break down and let it all out.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She added that she did feel good in herself &#8220;mentally&#8221;, but needed to let it all out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s just I can&#8217;t wash properly, I can&#8217;t have anything nice, I&#8217;ve got to wash up every five f**king minutes&#8230; I&#8217;m not used to this, I&#8217;m so not used to this, it&#8217;s not f**king me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-10922911\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"10922911\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"I'm a Celebrity South Africa star Gemma Collins became emotional after the challenge\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922911.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Im-a-Celebrity-South-Africa-star-Gemma-Collins-became-emotional-after-the-challenge.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922911.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Im-a-Celebrity-South-Africa-star-Gemma-Collins-became-emotional-after-the-challenge.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922911.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Im-a-Celebrity-South-Africa-star-Gemma-Collins-became-emotional-after-the-challenge.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/article10922911.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Im-a-Celebrity-South-Africa-star-Gemma-Collins-became-emotional-after-the-challenge.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/div>\n<p aria-label=\"Gemma was left in tears\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gemma was left in tears(Image: ITV)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When Adam tried to tell her it was all part of &#8220;character building,&#8221; she replied: &#8220;How&#8217;s washing up building my character? I just feel like a downtrodden person right now.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Things only got worse for Gemma, as she was later forced to endure a nighttime trial with Scarlett, and despite facing critters, crocs, and coal, she came back defeated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She later sobbed: &#8220;I feel like you&#8217;re trying to kill me, you&#8217;re going to kill me, it&#8217;s not even funny.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I feel like you&#8217;re definitely trying to kill me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">I&#8217;m A Celebrity airs weeknights at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.<\/strong><\/p>\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.essexlive.news \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TOWIE&#8217;s Gemma Collins broke down in tears in I&#8217;m A Celebrity&#8230; South Africa as she was on the verge of quitting. Meghna Amin Screen Time Reporter 22:52, 17 Apr 2026 Gemma only lasted three days in the jungle back in 2014 (Image: ITV) Gemma Collins came within seconds of quitting I&#8217;m A Celebrity&#8230; South Africa, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2378276,"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":[410458,450405,53058,27065,440778],"class_list":["post-2378275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists","tag-ant-dec","tag-gemma-collins","tag-im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here","tag-itv","tag-the-only-way-is-essex"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gemma-Collins-breaks-down-in-tears-as-she-threatens-to.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378275","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=2378275"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2378277,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378275\/revisions\/2378277"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2378276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2378275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2378275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2378275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}