Viewers have been asking where they are since the spin-off series kicked off last week and now they're finally going to see Joe Swash and Dean Gaffney making their grand entrance into camp in I'm A Celebrity... South Africa. The arrival of the two former EastEnders stars, who competed on the ITV reality show in 2008 and 2006 respectively, was announced in the closing moments of Monday’s episode (May 1).
Actor and presenter Joe, 41, was crowned the winner of the eighth series of the regular show, and credits the experience for introducing him to his wife Stacey Solomon. "I’m A Celebrity holds a big place in my heart," he said before heading to the new setting of Kruger National Park, instead of the Australian jungle, in South Africa.
"I won it and I was lucky enough to go on to present the spin-off series on ITV2 for 10 years. I met Stacey whilst I was out in Australia and me and Stacey have now married and we have had kids. Doing the all-stars series is closure. It finishes off the circle."
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Asked about Solomon’s reaction to his return to the jungle, he added: “Stacey is over the moon about me doing it. The jungle holds a big part in both our hearts. Without the jungle, we wouldn’t have each other. In a way, we owe it to the jungle to say goodbye."
The I'm A Celeb spin-off, which landed on screens last week, sees prior memorable contestants on the regular show battle it out to be crowned the first I’m A Celebrity Legend. "Of course it would be amazing to be crowned the champion," Joe added before sharing the real reason for his decision to take part in the show, which was filmed last year.
“But I am mainly doing this programme to say thank you to the jungle and put a full stop at the end of the journey. My eldest son, Harry, was one when I did the jungle and he is 16 now!
"I want the kids to watch I’m A Celebrity… South Africa and for both of us to be able to tell them ‘I’m A Celebrity is where mummy and daddy met’. The jungle is always going to be a big part of our family."
Meanwhile, Dean, who is famed for having played Robbie Jackson in BBC's EastEnders, admitted he re-watches his infamous I’m A Celebrity live trial whenever he needs cheering up and that "my pain is everyone else’s gain". During the jungle spa trial, which included putting his head in a bowl for a hair wash with cockroaches while wearing a bathrobe, the actor could not stop screaming – providing viewers with one of the series’ most memorable moments.
“That live trial became folklore. Every year it gets wheeled out as one of the best moments, so even if I want to forget it I can’t,” he said. "People still stop me in the street and chat to me about the trial. And whenever I am having a bad day, I put the trial on and it makes me feel better. My pain is everyone else’s gain."
He continued: "It would be a massive trajectory to go from ‘screamer of the year in 2006’ to go and win the thing. That would be unbelievable. But the camp will be fierce because everyone wants to be the first I’m A Celebrity Legend."
And he hopes that he won’t embarrass his twins Charlotte and Chloe, 27. "My daughters were 10 when I did the Australian jungle and they didn’t care if I screamed or not," he said. "They are 27 now and I think if I was screaming they’d be a bit embarrassed.
"Every year, my trial gets wheeled out as one of the best moments. Even if I want to forget it, I can’t. I don’t know what to expect this time round. I’m just really looking forward to what South Africa is going to bring."
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