Grace Dent shocked ITV viewers when she became the first celebrity campmate to leave I’m A Celebrity earlier this week.
Food critic Dent, 50, chose to leave the jungle on a mutual agreement with bosses after she struggled during her time on the show. In dramatic scenes on Monday night’s show (November 27), Dent’s departure was confirmed by the broadcaster, who had removed her from the camp on “medical grounds”.
A statement from I’m A Celeb bosses when Grace left read: “Unfortunately Grace Dent has left the show on medical grounds. She has been a great campmate and will be missed by her fellow celebrities and viewers alike.”
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A letter she had written into camp following her exit detailed how she was “heartbroken” to leave camp, though she admitted it was the right thing to do. Towards the end of her time in camp, fans watching the show had remarked how she had sunk into herself and called on producers to step in for her well-being.
(Image: ITV)
Now, having returned to the UK following her jungle stint, Masterchef star Grace has broken her silence following her exit. Writing in a hefty statement, she said that was “overwhelmingly sad right now” after having to leave the show.
Dent went on to add that she had tried to carry on to build on the “huge personal breakthroughs” she had discovered over the course of the show. “I spent 15 days without a phone or any contact with loved ones, living much of the time outdoors in a rain forest in very wet weather,” she wrote.
“It gave me a short, sharp glimpse into the pain some folk worldwide endure,” she continued. “Normal life, forever, will always feel beautiful.”
(Image: ITV)
Reflecting on her time on the show, she confessed she had underestimated her physical strength, saying that she was able to take on things she never thought she would. She added that she “hoped” she made viewers smile, before adding that how she had left was not how she “planned or wanted” to go.
Looking to the future, Grace said that she is still trying to “recover” from her jungle stint. In addition, she joked that “when the adrenaline finally ebbs away,” she will return to her normally lavish lifestyle.
Finishing off her statement, she described her perfect meal at the time of writing: “Three courses, extra potatoes – definitely pudding; I think I deserves it. I love you all and miss my jungle crew, Miss Grace Dent xxx.”
(Image: Humphrey Nemar)
Some of Grace’s 186,000 Instagram followers flooded Grace’s post with messages of support. Former Queen of the Jungle Vicky Pattison paid tribute to the star, writing: “You did brilliantly mate, welcome back.”
I’m A Celebrity airs every day at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
