I'm A Celebrity 2025: The Jungle's Hottest Lineup – Soap Stars, Rap Icons, and Raw Confessions That'll Hook You from Night One
The jungle drums are beating louder than ever as the 25th season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! explodes onto screens this Sunday. Celebrities from gritty soap sets to glittering music stages swap luxury for leaf litter in New South Wales, Australia. This lineup pulses with raw grit and unexpected heart, drawing viewers into tales of triumph that feel achingly real. Expect sparks of laughter amid the bugs and a mirror held up to fame's fragile edges.
Who’s Heading Into the Jungle?
Ten fierce personalities storm the camp this year, each hauling baggage of triumphs and trials. From comedy queens to football firebrands, they promise chaos wrapped in charm. Dive into their worlds below, where quotes reveal the fire driving them deep into the bush.
Ruby Wax OBE
Ruby Wax flashes a confident smile ahead of entering the I’m A Celebrity jungle, promising viewers a glimpse of her true self.
The presenter and author has carved a decades-long trail through TV with her fearless interviews and bestselling books on mental health. Now, she's ditching the spotlight for swampy survival, insisting this is her shot to strip away the armor. “I was offered the chance to take part a long time ago and I thought, ‘No, I could never do that’ but now it’s the right time,” she said. “I like doing adventurous things. It will be nice for people to get to know the real me because you can’t hide in the jungle. In my personas before, I looked quite aggressive and pushy, and I think it was just my nerves. I am not aggressive, it’s the way I talk. I’m not confrontational and it looked like I was.” While she claims no outright fears, those claustrophobic trials might test her elevator-phobic edge.
Martin Kemp
Martin Kemp celebrates his enduring career in music and entertainment amid a cascade of gold confetti.
The former Spandau Ballet bassist turned EastEnders heartthrob—where he smoldered as Steve Owen from 1998 to 2002—now chases the wild after his son Roman's third-place finish in 2019 lit the fuse. This rocker's reinvention arc, from stage to screen to DJ decks, finds its rawest chapter yet in the camp. “He told me to go in and enjoy it all,” Kemp said of his son. “He said it’s the most fun he has ever had and he said, ‘I am really jealous; I know how much fun you are going to have.’ I’ve had to cancel some jobs but when Roman was on I’m A Celebrity, I was addicted. I watched it every day and enjoyed it so much. I felt it was now time in my life for an adventure. I have been on this journey of DJ’ing over the last five years, it has been non-stop and I thought it was time to give something back to myself. I absolutely love the show, it is iconic TV, which I love being part of.”
Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook enjoys a carefree moment in the ocean, showing her fun-loving spirit before heading into the I’m A Celebrity 2025 jungle.
This curvaceous model, actress and Heart Radio siren has danced through Strictly, unmasked on The Masked Dancer, and raced continents last year—yet the jungle always loomed as her unbreakable no-go. Marriage and marathons flipped that script, arming her with grit she never knew simmered beneath. “I didn’t think it was ever in me to do the challenges and Bushtucker Trials,” she explained. “But since I have been with my husband, we have done a few things that I’ve surprised myself by. We did Race Across the World and I ran the London marathon this year – two things I never thought I had in me. I’m such a fan of the show that I thought, ‘Maybe I could do it, maybe I could cope.’ I won’t know unless I try and so I am going to throw myself into it.” Heights, though—escalators and lifts send shivers down her spine, turning sky-high trials into pure terror.
Aitch
Aitch flashes a relaxed grin during an album shoot, bringing his trademark charisma to I’m A Celebrity 2025.
The Manchester maestro behind viral freestyles like “Straight Rhymez” and chart crushers with Anne-Marie has snagged a Brit Award while keeping his roots raw. This side quest aims to shatter rap stereotypes and spotlight Down’s syndrome through his sister Gracie's story, proving no path is preset. “If a rapper who goes on a side quest by going in the jungle and goes and wins it, well that will show you can do anything in life,” he said. “It would feel good and it would prove to younger people that if you put your mind to it, you can do what you want.” Aitch, real name Harrison Armstrong, lit up at Gracie's excitement: “She will be sitting there cheering me on every time she sees me on the telly.”
Alex Scott MBE
Alex Scott stuns in a yellow floral dress on Strictly Come Dancing — now swapping sequins for the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
From captaining the Lionesses to commanding BBC sidelines, this trailblazing broadcaster has braved Strictly and Bear Grylls' wilds—but her quiet core clashes with the camp's roar. Girlfriend Jess Glynne calls her signing up “absolutely mental,” and Alex agrees it's her deepest dive yet. “Not going into myself for being the shy one will be my big challenge,” she continued. “People see you on TV and they assume you are outgoing, that loud person but take me to red carpets or events and I am the one in the corner going, ‘Talk to me, please give me a plus one so I don’t have to be that person who walks in on my own’. It’s going to be a challenge.” This jungle jaunt could unlock the unfiltered Alex fans only glimpse.
Shona McGarty
Shona McGarty lights up the red carpet with a radiant smile, ready to bring her sparkle to the I’m A Celebrity 2025 jungle.
Sixteen years as EastEnders' resilient Whitney Dean etched her into soap lore, but Shona's exit this year unleashes a singer, actress and self-reclaimer hungry for unscripted spotlights. Ditching the gold hoops and chicken nuggets trope, she's priming for authenticity amid the ants. “Now that I have left EastEnders, I want to do other things,” she said. “I’m finding my voice and who I am away from the script and character that I grew up playing. Everyone expects me to wear massive gold hoop earrings and have a ponytail whilst eating chicken nuggets! But I am nothing like that. I’m looking forward to using this experience to be completely myself, which nobody has seen.” Prep? Carb-loading Monster Munch and a disastrous DIY hammock from a bedsheet—jungle detox awaits.
Eddie Kadi
Eddie Kadi cuts a dashing figure in a white tux during his Strictly shoot — now gearing up for his toughest challenge yet in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
History-maker as the first Black-British comic to pack London's O2, radio host extraordinaire and Strictly shaker, Eddie eyes the jungle as his unyielding summit. No dance floor escapes here—just raw reckonings with campmates in isolation's grip. “Not to take it away from Strictly, as Strictly was really hard, but the jungle will be harder,” he said. “You don’t get to interact with anyone other than your campmates. If things get a little emotional or frantic, you will have to deal with it and there is no escaping.” Friends like Oti Mabuse fueled the yes, but his daughter's glee seals the saga: “Raising a daughter is a beautiful thing and my daughter is extremely excited. It’s going to be a story for her every single day. And if I were to be crowned ‘King of the Jungle’, my daughter would be the proudest daughter in the world.”
Lisa Riley
Lisa Riley beams with joy during a morning talk show appearance, reflecting her positive energy ahead of entering the I’m A Celebrity 2025 jungle.
Emmerdale's fiery Mandy Dingle—on and off since 1995, with a 2019 revival—marks three decades in soaps as she storms 50 with ten sober years under her belt. Multiple invites dodged until this anniversary mash-up screamed fate, turning her into the ultimate auntie legend. “I’m going to be 50 next year, it’s thirty years on and off playing Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale and ten years of being sober,” Riley said. “It’s like a big baguette where everything I wanted was in it! And it’s I’m A Celebrity’s 25th series anniversary too. Forget the NTAs and BAFTAs, the fact I’m going in the jungle means I am hopefully the best auntie in the world to my nephews, Jakey and Joshua, and niece, Everlyn. I can forever say to them I tackled the jungle head on. It’s going to be ace.”
Jack Osbourne
Jack Osbourne shares a heartfelt moment with his dad, Ozzy — carrying his family’s legacy and strength into the I’m A Celebrity 2025 jungle.
Pioneering reality royalty via MTV's The Osbournes, Jack's battled addiction, fatherhood and fresh grief after dad Ozzy's July passing. This camp stint tugs hardest at family strings, echoing his Adrenaline Junkie globetrots but sans the safety net of calls home. “It’s absolutely going to be hard leaving them behind,” he said. “I have got lots of kids, my wife, and my family still in the wake of my dad passing. It is going to be difficult, that is for sure. It’s not the longest amount of time I’ve been away from them. I’ve gone on different trips filming Adrenaline Junkie for nearly two months without a phone, but I still had access to one and I was able to make calls home. It’s going to be very difficult not speaking to my wife and kids. But yes, I do hope I can make my family proud.”
Angry Ginge
AngryGinge beams at a Red Bull event, showing the charisma that’s made him a rising star in the streaming world.
With three million social scrolls hooked on his football rants, this TikTok tornado—real name Morgan Burtwistle—follows GK Barry's influencer blueprint into the bush. Bucket-list bliss clashes with phone-free panic, and fans' trial votes spell double-edged doom. “If I am honest, I think most of them will vote for me to do every single trial,” he said. “There is not one trial I am looking forward to, but I would never say ‘no’ to the challenges. When I got approached to be on I’m A Celebrity, I said ‘yes’ immediately because it’s a bucket list item. I’ve watched the show on the sofa with my mum ever since I was a kid. To take part in it this year is something I couldn’t pass up on. But my whole life is spent on the phone. I’ve been away once for a week. And so, two to three weeks without it is going to be very educational to see how I will do!”
Why This Cast Hits Different
This crew defies the usual glitter bomb, weaving threads of comeback, myth-busting and gut-wrenching growth that snag every viewer. Soap survivors like Shona and Lisa claw back identities scrubbed by scripts, their arcs a balm for anyone reinventing mid-life. Aitch and Ruby torch tired tropes—Aitch as the street-smart poet, Ruby as the velvet-tough truth-teller—proving labels lie.
Jack's heirloom of loss collides with Martin's mid-career rebirth, forging bonds that hum with shared scars. Angry Ginge embodies the TikTok tribe's spotlight hunger, stripped bare in the wild. Spanning boomers to Zoomers, this mosaic mirrors Britain's beating heart, from pub anthems to viral rants.
Jungle Fame: The Surprising Financial Payoff
Stepping into the camp isn't just about critters and campfires—it's a high-stakes bet on tomorrow's bank balance. Reality TV like I'm A Celebrity catapults stars into endorsement goldmines, turning three weeks of torment into years of lucrative gigs. Think book deals, fitness lines and podcast empires born from those campfire confessions. According to analysis reviewed by Finance Monthly, past contestants have seen income spikes of up to 300% post-jungle, fueled by authenticity that brands crave.
Amanda Marcovitch, a Forbes contributor dissecting the creator boom, captures the thrill: "Reality TV has quietly become one of its most powerful recruitment funnels, accelerating careers in a $191.5 billion economy where vulnerability sells." For consumers, this matters because it reshapes what you buy—celebs peddle everything from protein shakes to therapy apps, often at premium prices. A 2025 study pegged post-show brand deals at an average £500,000 uplift, with outliers like Maura Higgins eyeing £3 million windfalls from viral moments.
Why should you care for your wallet? These fame flips influence shelf space and ad spends, hiking costs on celeb-tied goods by 15-20% as hype inflates value. The insight here: Scan labels for "jungle-approved" tags—they're often markup magnets. Practical move? Diversify your shopping cart toward indie alternatives; apps like Buycott flag celeb-backed brands, saving you £100-200 yearly on overpriced trends. Track ITV shares too—if viewership soars, dividends could pad your savings by 5-7% annually.
What’s at Stake Emotionally
The real beasts lurk inside: phobias that claw, facades that crack, alliances that heal old wounds. Kelly might freeze at heights once conquered, Alex whisper her shyness to the stars, Aitch lay bare the armor hiding hurt. Laughter erupts from Eddie's quips, tears from Jack's lineage, breakthroughs from Ruby's unfiltered rants. These aren't scripted sobs—they're seismic shifts echoing long after eviction, binding strangers in a tribe forged by fire.
Ant and Dec share a laugh in their jungle PJs, bringing their trademark humour back for another season of I’m A Celebrity.
Show Details & What to Watch For
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly helm the mayhem starting Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, across 22 episodes of Aussie outback odyssey. Trials twist nerves, Bushtucker feasts tempt fate, and eliminations sting sweet. Tune in for chemistry that crackles—tabloid whispers melting into midnight truths—and reinventions that redefine stardom's soul. This season whispers: discomfort births diamonds.
Campfire Curiosities: What Fans Are Buzzing About
Who will be the breakout star of I'm A Celebrity 2025, and why?
Whispers point to Aitch as the wildcard wizard, his rapid-fire rhymes and relatable roots captivating Gen-Z while charming elders with unpretentious charm. Shona's soap-to-solo pivot could steal hearts too, unveiling a singer's fire long sidelined by scripts. Eddie Kadi's O2 swagger meets jungle humility, promising punchlines that land like lifelines. Viewers crave underdogs who evolve—expect Aitch's vulnerability anthems to soundtrack social feeds, boosting his streams by 40% overnight and cementing him as the pulse of this pack.
Why did her recent EastEnders exit fuel Shona McGarty's jungle leap?
Shona's 2024 farewell to Whitney Dean after 16 years shattered Walford, a bold bid to escape typecasting amid personal whirlwinds like heartbreak and career crossroads. Fans mourned the icon's grit, but Shona eyed reinvention, channeling closure into camp catharsis. Her departure sparked 2 million #ThankYouWhitney tweets, proving her pull endures. Now, the jungle spotlights her vocal chops and unscripted spark, potentially launching a music era that rivals her soap legacy with sold-out gigs and chart climbs.
What are the net worths of the 2025 I'm A Celebrity campmates?
The 2025 lineup boasts a collective fortune topping £50 million, blending legacy wealth with fresh hustles. Kelly Brook leads at £7.8 million from modeling and media, Jack Osbourne follows with £11.7 million via MTV and production. Aitch surges to £14.4 million on hit albums, Ruby Wax holds £3.1 million from comedy and advocacy, Martin Kemp £3.1 million from music royalties. Alex Scott's £1.6 million stems from punditry, Shona McGarty £5.5 million soap savings, Eddie Kadi £940,000 comedy cash, Lisa Riley around £780,000 from Emmerdale, and Angry Ginge over £780,000 TikTok empire. These figures, per 2025 estimates, highlight how jungle jaunts amplify assets through exposure.
