I'm A Celebrity... South Africa viewers have been left baffled by Gillian McKeith as she debuted a new look during her return to the show. The TV personality is among the memorable campmates chosen to take part in the first-ever spin-off series of the ITV reality show.
She was a late arrival in to camp at the end of the first episode on Monday night (April 24). Geordie duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who pre-recorded the series in South Africa last year, arrived saying they have a surprise announcement before . Gillian, 63, was then seen emerging from the container after being brought in by several men carrying a box.
She has since appeared to make amends with Shaun Ryder after the pair had a turbulent relationship during the 2010 series. "I was very surprised. I probably could have done without it being Gillian, yeah," Shaun admitted about her arrival in Tuesday's episode. While Gillian said: “How do I feel about Shaun Ryder being here? I said hello, he said hello, it was all very cordial. What can I say?”
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They were then forced to team up again for the series’ first "Chest Challenge". But despite campmates speculating over the outbreak of "World War Three", both Gillian nd Shaun appeared to get on very well – laughing and joking with each other throughout.
But later, Gillian complained about the state of the camp 'long drop' toilet and people 'widdling' on the seat. "It's disgusting." she moaned. But her complaint raised eyebrows for viewers who reminded that Gillian used to be seen on TV inspecting faeces on the Channel Four show You Are What You Eat in the noughties.
And during Wednesday night's edition of the show, Gillian will be seen telling the other celebrities that they "need to have a toilet talk". The 63-year-old said: “Every time we go in there, there’s widdles all around the edge. I’m having to clean up widdles of people I don’t even know."
Away from the toilet talk, I'm A Celeb viewers have been distracted by Gillian's new look as she's been sporting her hair in braids. @AmyKJohnson9 tweeted: "Considering penning a complaint to Ofcom about Gillian McKeith’s hair #ImACeleb."@AuntiePegg asked: "What are those braids all about it ? #ImACeleb #imacelebrity."
@friskyfriska posted: "Not Gillian McKeith with the braids #ImACeleb." @sarah_0004 shared: "I can’t get over Gillian’s braids. It’s giving Katie Price 2003 jungle vibes #imaceleb." @iDanLaurie added: "Obsessed with Gillian McKeith channelling Katie Price’s #imaceleb hair style from 2004."
But there's actually a painful reason behind her decision to wear her hair in that style. She told MailOnline before heading onto the show: "I was bitten by a tick back in 2010. I have quite thick hair and it burrowed under my hair at the neck, so I thought I'm not doing that again.
"The tick bite was very painful. It stuck its pincer into my neck under the hair. It was like being sliced with a razor sharp knife." She credited the show's resident medic Bob McCarron for removing the bug, and took every precaution to ensure history didn't repeat itself in South Africa.
She said "thank goodness for Bob" before saying that she didn't want to risk being attacked by another tic – hence her hair being in plaits.
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