As viewers watching the challenges on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, it’s easy to say “fuck, I could do that” from the comfort of our own home. Although the challenges and conditions are much harder than they look on TV, it turns out even the hosts Julia Morris and Robert Irwin feel some type of way when the contestants say those faithful words “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here” so they can escape the terrors of the jungle.
“I get bitter when anybody calls the words and leaves,” Julia Morris told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“They let me down.”
Although Julia notes that she has no idea how she’d fare in the rough conditions of the jungle, it’s a shame when they pull the plug on the experiences.
“I’m not even sure that I could do the jungle, so I love how I’m judging them but I just think that in most cases, all they need to do is wait a couple of extra days,” she continued.
“You’re just in the sugar detox! Just allow yourself to have the experience, and it will be as life-changing as it has been for every single celebrity who lasts through the series and finds out about themselves and discovers that they are much more resilient than they ever thought they would be.”
Although Julia was upfront about the quitters, Robert played it diplomatically by joking that his biggest disappointments were found in diva-like behaviour by the animals he works with.
“They were like, ‘I want my water to be at a crisp 14 degrees’. I was like ‘Mate, you’re a Burmese python’,” he quipped.
Although the hosts didn’t mention specific names of celebrities, there are only a handful of stars who have said the famous phrase.
All the celebs who have quit I’m A Celeb
Frankie Muniz, Season 10
Actor-turned-racecar driver Frankie Muniz called time on his stint in the jungle after he received a letter from his wife, Paige that made him terribly homesick.
“My current situation with my wife and son is…I’m guilty of not noticing what they do for me,” he said emotionally.
“Hearing my wife say that my son is sad that I don’t play trucks with him, I realise I’ve been home so many days, and when I’m home I’m not present. And I’m so ready to be present.”
Truthfully, when Frankie said the phrase “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here,” I wasn’t very surprised. I spoke to Frankie right before he headed into the jungle and he said his biggest worry was being away from his wife and his then-two-year-old son Mauz.
Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Season 9
Television personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley, who left the jungle camp after three days. Rumour has it that KAK was paid a whopping $180,000 AUD to appear on the show. However, once she landed in the jungle, KAK refused to participate in a food trial alongside Domenica Calarco, Woody Whitelaw and Ian “Dicko” Dickson.
Her refusal caused a big tiff in the jungle which saw the former Married At First Sight star call the TV presenter out for her behaviour.
After the trail, KAK decided to leave the jungle.
“I don’t see any point in eating a ball that could never have a result,” she told the camp.
“So at that point, Dom’s senses are a little heightened. The abuse was quite overwhelming. To be called the most self-centred bitch she’s ever met, and the contract queen time and time again.
“I would have finished, if she would have finished. It was never going to happen. That said, I’ve made a choice and it was a hard choice because I’d love to stay but it’s never gonna work.”
Beau Ryan, Season 8
Footy star turned television host Beau Ryan decided to leave the jungle after his homesickness became too hard to handle.
“My kids need their dad. My wife needs her husband. And I need to find myself back at the moment. I’ve got voices in my head saying ‘Don’t be a pussy,’ ‘Don’t give up’ … but I can’t gain anything else from this show,” he said.
“Call it what you like, but … my journey here’s over. I’m a celebrity, get me out of here, and I’ll see you on the other side.”
Mel Buttle, Season 7
Aussie comedian Mel Buttle called time on the show after spotting a snake near the campsite. With a huge phobia of snakes, she couldn’t get past the slithery little fuckers being present in camp, let alone having to do any challenges with them.
“I have a huge phobia of snakes. It’s not just a fear, I have a massive phobia and it’s a really bad, bad phobia. I’m not even afraid they’re going to bite me, it’s not that, it’s the image of them, even a photo of them,” she told her campmates.
“I feel like shit doing this but I have to go, unfortunately. I know I’m going to regret it, but I can always go on Bachelor In Paradise”.
Bring it back, just for Mel!!!!!
Bernard Tomic, Season 4
Tennis legend Bernard Tomic pulled the “I’m a celebrity…get me out of here” card after only four days in the jungle. Although his time was short but sweet, he said his four days helped him wake up and reconnect with what he wanted in life.
“I was hoping to find that something that could just wake me up. I think I’m positive that I’ve found it,” he said, per New Idea.
“Having these four days was one of the best things that could’ve ever happened to me because I found what I need to do and I really need to get back to what I do best.
“I wasted this whole last year of not playing a lot of tennis and being professional. I need to be competing and playing and what I do best and that’s why I’ve decided to leave.”
Anthony Mundine, Season 4
Although the former professional boxer is a bit of a tough guy, Anthony Mundine left a week after Tomic. He called it quits after surviving the dreaded viper room and I honestly don’t blame him for this one.
“I did all but one of the trails (which I couldn’t compete in because of my foot) and met some great people and went out with a band on an epic trial that you will see tonight,” he wrote on Facebook at the time.
Spicy, right?
Although it’s easy to dismiss the people who quit the show, I do want to stress that the challenges and conditions in the jungle are a lot harder than they seem on TV. Last year I spent 36 hours in the jungle and completed one of the same challenges the celebs did, and boy, it was harder than I thought.
You can read about my experience in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here jungle HERE.
I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! premieres Sunday 19 January At 7.00pm on 10 and 10 Play.
