Big star 'pulls out of I'm A Celebrity' for heartbreaking family reason

Jesy Nelson has reportedly withdrawn from a six-figure agreement to feature on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, with insiders disclosing the devastating reason behind the challenging choice. The pop star and former member of X Factor winners Little Mix made headlines last year when she delivered prematurely twin daughters Ocean and Story in March 2025.

Both of them were born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1, and neither of them are likely to ever walk.

Jesy garnered enormous support and fresh admirers as she openly chronicled her pregnancy, the arrival of the twins, and the challenges of raising two babies with SMA type 1.

Jesy successfully lobbied the government and campaigned to have all newborns tested for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) when her twin girls were diagnosed too late after irreversible nerve damage.

It's understood that the star had been anticipating using a stint on I'm A Celebrity to raise awareness of the condition but now, with mere weeks remaining until Ant and Dec's ITV reality programme returns to screens, it's emerged that she has pulled the plug.

A source said: "Jesy was so excited about joining I'm A Celebrity, mainly because it was giving her a platform to continue her campaigning for SMA. She has already helped change Government policy over testing newborns for the condition.

"I'm A Celeb was going to be where she could spread her message even further, and show a side to her the public may not have seen before. It's with a very heavy heart she has pulled out."

Nevertheless, the insider also revealed that programme bosses remain open to considering Jesy, who would have become the first Little Mix member to venture into the jungle, for a future series.

Speaking to The Sun, the source added: "Ocean and Story are unwell and there is no way Jesy would leave them. Her family are her priority.

"ITV have been amazing and are supporting her all the way. The door will always be left open for Jesy."

Back in September, producers were reportedly optimistic that Jesy would be putting pen to paper within weeks and were "thrilled" to have progressed so far, though the publication now reports that the singer informed bosses last month she was unable to commit to the programme.

It was understood that producers were eager for her to discuss her time in Little Mix and her decision to suddenly quit in 2020 once she had entered the jungle.

The 35 year old pop sensation rose to prominence after winning The X Factor in 2011 and formed part of Little Mix alongside Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall.

However, in recent years, the performer has endured a challenging period - parting ways with the group and recently separating from Zion Foster, the father of their twins, to whom she had been engaged for just under a year. The popular reality programme, which launched in 2002, typically runs for three weeks in November and sees Ant and Dec present live from Australia's Gold Coast.

Additional names speculated to have joined this year include footballer Wayne Rooney, ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova, cricketer Ben Stokes and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson among numerous others.

A spokesperson commented: "Any names suggested for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! are just speculation."