I’m A Celebrity’s Sam Thompson reveals who could join him in Australia – and it’s good news for one campmate

I’M A Celeb star Sam Thompson has revealed his best pal Pete Wicks may join him in Australia if he is booted off Strictly.

Sam, 32, is set to host the ITV show’s returning spin-off Unpacked alongside former contestant Joel Dommett, 39, and Capital radio host Kemi Rodgers, 29.

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Former Towie star Pete, 36, met Sam in the jungle after he won last year’s series.

As well as a reunion with Sam, it could pave the way for Pete to support former Love Islander Maura Higgins, 33 – his latest love interest, who is set to appear in the jungle.

Asked who he will miss most out of Pete and his girlfriend Zara McDermott, 27, Sam deliberated and said: “Probably Zara because Pete is so stressed with Strictly.

“I’ve never seen a man so stressed with his dancing because he’s having to learn a whole new skill.

“I’ve got to say my girlfriend, I don’t want to get in trouble.

“Pete did say if he gets booted out of Strictly he might come out and see me. We’ll get to have another bridge reunion.”

Hinting at what to expect for the return of Unpacked – which discusses the events of the main show and which last aired in 2020 – Sam added: “During the show I might be roving around.

“I may not always just be on the sofa, and there may be places that are very close to the campmates, which is really cool.

“It’s going to be a different show to Extra Camp, which is really important to us.

“We want this to be something new, fresh and exciting. So watch this space.”

Comedian and presenter Joel, who was a campmate on the 2016 series, revealed his luxury item on the show was a framed picture of hosts Ant and Dec.

He said: “I didn’t get it in the end because I did it as a joke, but it got to the point where others were putting themselves through some horrible challenge to get it for me, and I was like ‘don’t worry about my one!’.

“There would be nothing worse than me getting a picture of Ant and Dec and them not getting a sentimental item like a pillow with their children on.

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“But obviously, I’d still have the photo of Ant and Dec as my luxury item.”

Kemi, meanwhile, said she would like to give I’m A Celeb a crack one day – but that she is terrified of spiders.

She said: “I’m so terrified of things but I think I would

“It’s a great personal challenge and hearing the guys speak about it so warmly.

“Sam and Joel both had amazing experiences in there. I think they would convince me to do it.

“I’m a bit of a scaredy cat, I’m not gonna lie. I’m a bit of a wimp, I’d be that contestant that’s absolutely screaming and shrieking my head off but I’d give it a good go.”

I’M A Celebrity… Unpacked airs on ITV2 and ITVX after the main show, which launches at 9pm on Sunday.

I’m A Celebrity 2024

As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun’s Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year…

Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.

Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.

Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.

Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.

GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.

Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.

Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.

Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he’ll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.”

Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.

Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.

Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”

Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”