The new series of I'm A Celebrity is now underway, with famous faces including Boy George, Chris Moyles and Sunderland football star Jill Scott already in the jungle and later arrivals including Matt Hancock expected to join them later.
Presented by Ant and Dec since 2002, the ITV show is now in its 22nd series - with hundreds of celebrities having gone Down Under (or to Wales) to endure life in the jungle and take part in Bushtucker trials over the years. But sadly, we have also lost a few stars along the way too.
From the first ever runner-up on the show to later contestants who became known for their iconic moments in the jungle, five former campmates are no longer with us. From Tara Palmer-Tomkinson to Eric Bristow, here's a bit more about each of these late I'm A Celeb stars.
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Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Socialite and TV personality Tara appeared in the very first series of I'm A Celeb back in 2002, finishing as a runner-up behind Tony Blackburn. The star sadly died in 2017 aged just 45.
Aged 30 during her time in the jungle, King Charles' god-daughter Tara made it all the way to the end of the competition despite having fiery tiffs with several of her fellow campmates and being terrified of snakes. Her love-hate relationship with I'm A Celeb co-star Darren Day was particularly memorable, with one of their most famous arguments concerning Tara taking issue with the actor passing wind - telling him: "Yuck, I don't want to be near you. I don't want to smell your insides 24/7."
Bobby Ball
Best known as one half of the iconic double act Cannon and Ball with Tommy Cannon who joined him in the jungle, comedian Bobby took part in the fifth series of I'm A Celeb in 2005 that was won by Carol Thatcher. Bobby died in 2020 aged 76, after suffering from Covid complications.
During his stint in the jungle, Bobby donned a pink catsuit as part of an impromptu fashion show in camp - one of the lighter moments of his time Down Under as he later said that he "endured starvation, sickness and spider bites". Bobby also admitted to finding it "very hard" spending time without his comedy partner when Tommy was voted out of the competition first, and said that he missed his wife Yvonne "like crazy" while in the jungle.
David Gest
Producer and TV personality David starred in I'm A Celeb in 2006, ultimately finishing fourth behind winner Matt Willis and runners-up Myleene Klass and Jason Donovan. David sadly passed away in 2016, aged 62, after suffering a stroke while staying in a London hotel.
The ex-husband of Liza Minelli kept his fellow campmates and hosts Ant and Dec entertained throughout his time on the show, particularly with his habit of screaming during Bushtucker trials. One of his most memorable anecdotes was about the unique name of his maid, Vaginica Seaman, telling his jungle co-stars: "Her mother loved her body part so much, that she decided if she had a girl, she was going to call her Vaginica - no bull."
Freddie Starr
Stand-up star Freddie took part in the eleventh series of the ITV show in 2011 which was eventually won by McFly's Dougie Poynter, but was unfortunately forced to pull out of the competition after just two days due to health reasons. Freddie died at his home on the Costa Del Sol, Spain, aged 76 in 2019.
Although his time in the jungle was short, Freddie still managed to fit in a Bushtucker trial in which he impressively ate a a fermented egg with no fuss. After being forced to leave camp, Freddie explained: "I was sorry to hear the news about what the doctors said - that I was allergic to something, to play it safe and best for me not to go back in."
Eric Bristow
Darts legend Eric finished in 4th place I'm A Celeb's 2012 series, in which EastEnders star Charlie Brooks was crowned Queen of the Jungle with Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts coming in second place and boxer David Haye in third. Eric sadly died of a heart attack in 2018 while attending a Premier League Darts event in Liverpool, aged 60.
During his time in the jungle Eric formed an unlikely friendship with Made in Chelsea star Hugo Taylor, with Hugo later saying: "I'm sure we'll be dear friends for the rest of our lives". However, he also had several run-ins with co-star Helen Flanagan, including reducing her to tears at one point after making comments about her skin.
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