I'm A Celebrity... South Africa viewers nearly fainted at the arrival of new contestant Gillian McKeith on Monday night's instalment of the new ITV spin-off show.
Gillian joined the first nine contestants Carol Vorderman, Shaun Ryder, Helen Flanagan, Janice Dickinson, Amir Khan, Jordan Banjo, Fatima Whitbread, Paul Burrell, and Phil Tufnell in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Both Shaun and Gillian took part in the 2010 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and the pair had a very explosive relationship during their time in camp. Speaking in the bush telegraph on Monday, Shaun said: “Gillian arrived in a box, she should have stayed in a box folks.”
But for those who aren't too familiar with the Scots nutritionist and her family backstory, let's take a deeper delve into her home life.
What does Gillian McKeith do?
Before arriving in the jungle the television personality and writer was known for the hit TV series You Are What You Eat. She is widely known for her promotion of health and nutrition and was the former host of the Channel 4 show from 2004 until 2007.
The 63-year-old claims she was raised on junk food, so now advises against the "typical Scottish diet," as she works to improve people's awareness of food health.
![](https://i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article6037290.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_CD25359849.jpg)
She revealed to the Sun: "We all know the kind of food I grew up with — a typical Scottish diet.
"We'd have meat three times a day. I certainly never ate a mango, and had no idea what macrobiotic meant."
Growing up in Bonnie Scotland
Gillian was brought up in a council estate in Perth and proudly went on to gain a degree in linguistics from the University of Edinburgh in 1981, before moving to the US, where she worked in marketing and international business.
She received an MA in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984.
![](https://i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article29803842.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/3_EMB-ITV-Plc.jpg)
The TV personality, who made her notorious first appearance on I'm a Celeb in 2010 with her 'fainting' episode, suffers from scoliosis (abnormal lateral curvature of the spine) and has said there is not a "moment in her life when she is not in pain" because of the diagnosis.
She sparked controversy over her Covid conspiracy beliefs since airing her controversial views in 2021, after becoming a very vocal outspoken anti-vaxxer on her social media platforms.
Is Gillian married?
Gillian married her partner Howard Magaziner, believed to be in his early 60s, who works as an American lawyer after they met in Edinburgh where he had been spending a year studying.
Howard ran a chain of health food shops in the US and Gillian became involved in running the business alongside her husband.
The couple now live in London with their two daughters Skylar, 26, and 21-year-old Afton.
The Brooklyn Beckham saga
Gillian's oldest daughter Skylar has become a solicitor while youngest daughter Afton works as an actor, with Afton having been crowned Miss USA Spokesmodel in May last year.
The eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn who is now married to Nicola Peltz, reportedly enjoyed a brief romance with Afton back in 2017.
A source told Daily Star: "The romance didn’t last too long but Afton definitely grew feelings for Brooklyn."
![](https://i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article29805427.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_afton-mckeith.png)
Despite being devastated by the split, a then 17-year-old Afton said: "I’m better off without him. I’m fine."
Afton even admitted she got to meet Brooklyn's famous parents during their brief time together, saying: "I got to meet his parents and they are very nice. Victoria is very protective over him."
Mum Gillian appeared to confirm the pair's fling and split while at a party with her daughter.
When Afton was asked if she missed Brooklyn, Gillian said: "No, she doesn’t. I’m actually glad he’s gone. No boyfriends now until she is 25."
I'm A Celebrity... South Africa continues 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
- I'm A Celebrity viewers complain just minutes into new 'weird' series set in South Africa
- Helen Flanagan reveals Coronation Street return was derailed by 'awful' illness
- Paul Burrell gushes over 'lovely and sweet' Helen Flanagan after bonding in I'm A Celebrity jungle
- Carol Vorderman and Janice Dickinson in heated row over the monarchy on I'm A Celebrity
- I'm A Celeb South Africa line-up in full as All Stars series kicks off