I'm A Celebrity 2024 campmate scandals – from Ofcom complaints to collapsed drugs trial
After a year of waiting, a whole new host of celebrities will be swapping their home comforts for the creature comforts of the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle. From embarking on gruelling Bushtucker Trials to tackling Kiosk Kev’s tricky conundrums, this year’s cohort will be looking to take the jungle crown away from 2023 winner Sam Thompson.
And while the initial camp line-up has been confirmed, with stars including Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones and Oti Mabuse, it’s reported that, like in previous years, there may be some late arrivals entering the camp. According to reports, Love Island star Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles could be set to star in the jungle too. So, as the cast of 2024 gears up for a challenge like no other, we take a look at some of the scandals that have hit the contestants…
Tulisa’s collapsed drugs trial
In 2013, N Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs. It was part of a sting operation by an undercover reporter known as the Fake Sheikh. The reporter claimed Tulia had brokered a deal to sell him drugs as he posed as an influential film producer. The case went to court, though the trial collapsed after a judge said they thought the journalist had lied in giving evidence. Later the journalist was tried on related charges and sentenced to 15 months in prison.
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After the charges against her were dropped, Tulisa, who denied the drug charges, said: “Let me be perfectly clear, I have never dealt drugs and I have never been involved in taking or dealing cocaine. This whole case was a horrific and disgusting entrapment by Mazher Mahmood.”
Jane Moore’s Ofcom complaints
Back in March 2021, the Loose Women panel discussed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ’s memorable interview with Oprah Winfrey. As part of the panel discussion, host Charlene White opened up about her own experiences and explained that she related to Meghan, adding that she’d been labelled as “aggressive” when discussing race. However, as she made her point, fellow panellist Jane Moore interjected and said that she gets called “aggressive” and that it was “something you have to put up with as a woman”.
The episode received 341 Ofcom complaints from viewers. “We received 240 complaints about Jane Moore's comments about casual racism,” a spokesperson for the TV watchdog told the Express. They added that they’d received a further 84 complaints about Charlene’s presenting.
Barry McGuigan’s legal battle
In 2020, a legal battle between Barry McGuigan and boxer Carl Frampton, who was previously managed, was settled. After their partnership broke down in 2017, Carl and Cyclone Promotions sued each other, with Carl suing Barry and Cyclone Promotions for alleged withheld earnings. Meanwhile, in a counter suit, Barry claimed against Carl for breach of contract. Both denied the allegations against them. The dispute was resolved out of court in a confidential settlement in November that year.
GK Barry
Grace Keeling, better known as GK Barry, is known for hosting her Saving Grace podcast and has interviewed guests including Alan Carr and Olivia Bowen. However, one recent podcast episode sparked a huge backlash as Grace spoke to controversial OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue. The interview went viral and some were critical of the choice of guest, who once made headlines for bedding 100 men in a day.
In one particularly controversial moment from the episode, adult content creator Bonnie spoke about sleeping with a father and son, saying: “When the son first saw me with his dad, I thought he was going to tell me off but he wasn’t, he was jealous and wanted to join in.”
Coleen Rooney’s Wagatha Christie
In 2022, the Wagatha Christie trial made headlines when Rebekah Vardy launched legal action after Coleen Rooney claimed that Rebekah’s Instagram account was linked to stories about her leaking to the press. When the trial reached its conclusion, the judge ruled that Coleen’s accusation was “substantially true”.
Soon after the ruling, both Rebekah and Coleen released statements, with mum-of-five Rebekah doubling down on her claim she knew nothing of the leaks, and saying the judge “got it wrong and this is something I cannot accept.”
Meanwhile, Coleen said she was “pleased” with the outcome while insisting she “never believed [the case] should have gone to court at such expense in times of hardship for so many people when the money could have been far better spent helping others.”
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, 17 November at 9pm
