Former The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins is said to be close to signing a big money deal which could see her return to the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle

Could The GC be returning to the I’m A Celebrity… jungle?(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

She’s the diva who’s never far from a headline – and Gemma Collins is set to grab some more as she prepares to head back into the jungle, nearly a decade after her famous early exit. This time, however, it’s a whole different ballgame and there’s serious money (and pride) on the line.

The 43-year-old reality star is said to be close to signing a deal to take part in I’m A Celebrity: All Stars, the spin-off series filming this autumn and due to hit our screens next year. Insiders say the offer is “too good to turn down”.

A source claims to new, “ITV bosses love Gemma because they know they’ll get plenty of drama and some fabulous diva moments. She might not last long – in fact, she probably won’t – but that will make it funny and unmissable viewing. They want her in there, they know the GC is a box office winner. Love her or loathe her, whether she cries, stamps her feet or has people in stitches, she’ll win viewers and that’s what they want.

Gemma’s brief jungle stint was in 2014(Image: PA)

“Gemma has been keeping a relatively low profile – by GC standards – so she knows this could be a real boost. There’s an awful lot riding on it. Following years of weight battles she has lost two stone recently, she’s in a good place. She’s feeling more confident than ever and has said she can’t wait to show off her body in a bikini on the show.”

But while the big payday may sound like a dream come true – her potential fee is rumoured to be £150, 000, a far cry from the £40,000 she was reportedly given for her first jungle stint in 2014 – there’s no denying it comes with a lot of pressure.

The jungle whispers come after a difficult time for the former TOWIE star, who revealed last month that she’d been forced to beef up security at her Essex home after being targeted by a stalker – an ordeal she described as one of the most “frightening” experiences of her life.

A big jungle return could be just the boost she needs. But can she go the distance this time?

Fans will remember her short-lived appearance in 2014, where she made her mark but faced criticism when she dramatically left after just three days.

Who could forget her helicopter meltdown, her flat-out refusal to eat jungle food and those teary confessions in the Bush Telegraph? It was peak GC and that’s why appearing on the All Stars edition, to be filmed in South Africa, could be a golden opportunity.

Previously sharing the real reason she quit back in 2014, she explained, “My time was short in the jungle and not many people know that I was robbed and physically attacked 24 hours before leaving for Australia. I didn’t want to let anyone down, so I still went in. However, I was in a terrible state and shock, as you can imagine, and couldn’t see it through.

Gemma Collins is engaged to Rami Hawash(Image: Getty Images for Pimm’s)

“I took lots of stick over it, but if you was robbed and attacked and then sent into the jungle, I’m sure you would have struggled, too. I would never let anyone destroy my dreams again.”

According to PR expert Lynn Carratt, Gemma will use a jungle appearance to reignite her TV career. “She hasn’t actually been on our screens since 2022, when she was in a segment on BBC ’s Springwatch. She also had a guest section on The Big Breakfast as an agony aunt.

“I don’t think she’ll be doing this for the money. She’s got over 2 million followers on Instagram and is doing lucrative brand deals every week. She’s just done one with Netflix for the series Too Much and she has an active sculpt collection at Debenhams.

“Reality TV, however, is Gemma’s bread and butter, from TOWIE to Dancing On Ice to her own reality show. That’s how she started and how she made her name. With the jungle, she has a lot to prove. She lasted three days last time. People are going to want to see her go through it. She’s dramatic, entertaining and unpredictable.

“Everything’s been a bit up and down for Gemma, but she’s looking great, she’s lost two stone and she’ll probably lose more before any filming begins. She might feel fitter and be able to handle jungle life better. It’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s a risk, but if she can prove herself, it could propel her back into the spotlight in a big way.”

Well, if the GC back in the jungle is on next year’s bingo card, we’re here for it!