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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Katie Fitzpatrick

Joe Swash makes sweet admission about wife Stacey Solomon as it's revealed he's returning to I'm a Celebrity with fellow EastEnders star

The last episode of I'm a Celebrity… South Africa left viewers on a cliffhanger as it was announced that someone is going home. As we prepare to say goodbye, it's been revealed that two new arrivals are heading into camp in Tuesday's episode (May 2) of the I'm A Celebrity ...Get Me Out Of Here! all-stars spin-off in a bid to be crowned the first I’m A Celebrity Legend.

They are EastEnders stars Dean Gaffney and Joe Swash. Dean, 45, played Robbie Jackson in the BBC One soap from 1993 to 2003 and 2017 to 2019 and Joe, 41, played Mickey Miller from 2003 to 2008.

Joe, who is married to Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon, was the series eight winner in 2008. The former champion admits if it wasn't for his experience in the Australian jungle he would never have met his wife.

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The couple married last July in the gardens of their home Pickle Cottage. They have three children Rex, three, Rose, one and Belle who was born in February.

Joe went on to present I’m A Celebrity’s spin-off series a year after being crowned King of the Jungle and in 2010, he met former X Factor finalist Stacey, who had also just won the series, and the pair started dating.

Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon on I'm A Celebrity 2016 after neeting through the show in 2010 (ITV)

He said: "I’m A Celebrity holds a big place in my heart. I won it and I was lucky enough to go on to present the spin-off series on ITV2 f for 10 years.

"I met Stacey whilst I was out in Australia and me and Stacey have now married and we have had kids. Doing the all-stars series is closure. It finishes off the circle."

He said about Stacey's reaction to him taking part in the show, filmed last September: “Stacey is over the moon about me doing it. The jungle holds a big part in both our hearts. Without the jungle, we wouldn’t have each other. In a way, we owe it to the jungle to say goodbye.”

Dean Gaffney (ITV)

Asked if Dean is doing the South African series to win, he replied: "It would be a massive trajectory to go from ‘screamer of the year in 2006’ to go and win the thing." He added: “That would be unbelievable. But the camp will be fierce because everyone wants to be the first I’m A Celebrity Legend.”

Dean added: “My daughters were 10 when I did the Australian jungle and they didn’t care if I screamed or not. They are 27 now and I think if I was screaming they would be a bit embarrassed.”

Dean will be reunited with broadcaster and musician Myleene Klass in camp. He said about the 2006 camp: "Mine was one ofthe best series of people I have ever seen because we had Jason Donovan, Myleene Klass and her famous white bikini and the late David Guest 2006."

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