Alex Scott reveals why she almost didn't make it to Oz for I'm A Celeb

by · Mail Online

She was the first I'm A Celeb contestant to be booted out of the jungle.

But former Lioness Alex Scott has revealed that she almost didn't make it to the Australian Outback after her girlfriend Jess Glynne's beloved mother Alexandra suffered a major stroke which left her needing brain surgery.

In an emotional interview with the Daily Mail, Alex, 41, revealed that it was singer Jess who talked her into going despite the devastating family news – but she did spend her time on the ITV show fearing that if her partner wasn't there to meet her at the jungle bridge then her mum's condition may have got worse.

Speaking after her exit from the show on Friday night, Alex said: 'It's been a tough time for us and obviously her family and it was a tough decision to come into the jungle.

'But then Jess never wanted me to step away from not doing it. I knew there was always a possibility of her not being across the bridge, if her mum hadn't got better or if things had been getting worse, which they have been.

'But it was a big decision for me to not pass this opportunity and Jess was the one who pushed me to be here.'

Alex Scott called her partner Jess Glynne who informed her that ITV had failed to show her 'fun side' in the final edit
Alex, 41, called Jess as soon as she left the Jungle to check in on how she was doing after her mother's brain surgery, the reason why her girlfriend was not there to greet her on the bridge 
The Football Focus presenter conceded she felt her stories were not 'worthy' in comparison to the 'big personalities' in the Jungle such as Martin Kemp and Ruby Wax
Alex's girlfriend, Jess, shared this post on Instagram moments after their post-Jungle phone call in which she informed the footballer her 'fun side' at not been shown as much as she thought it should have and wrote 'She didn't get the airtime to show how incredible she is'

The couple had kept their family sadness a secret while the BBC One Show presenter was on the reality show. But after she became the first to be voted off on Friday night and questions mounted why Ms Glynne wasn't there to greet her, as is customary for friends and family, the Hold My Hand singer broke her silence.

Taking to Instagram, she penned: 'I wanted to share something personal, over the last few weeks my mum suffered a major stroke and needed urgent surgery.

'It's been a really serious, life-altering time for my family, and I've had to stay close to home. Alex would always want me to be where I'm needed most. I can't wait to have her back by my side.'

Despite not being there, Jess, 36, and Alex spoke immediately after the former Football Focus presenter's interview with hosts Ant and Dec.

And in that phone call Jess told Alex that she didn't think she had much airtime – and lambasted the channel for not showing her 'fun' side.

Jess said in an Instagram statement: My woman might be out far earlier than she ever deserved, but I'm so unbelievably proud of her.

'She didn't get the airtime to show how incredible she really is.'

And Alex also spoke of how she was edited on the series, and revealed that it's because she thought she was too boring in the most candid of confessions.

Alex became the first contestant to be voted off this series of I'm A Celeb and she admitted she felt her stories were not 'worthy' in the camp but her girlfriend was 'proud' of her
Alex was greeted off the bridge by her friend as her partner, Jess, was unable to fly out to Australia because her mother had just undergone brain surgery after a major stroke
Jess, 36, told Alex that she felt her 'fun side' was not show in the final ITV edit [pictured together at the BRIT Awards after party March 2025]

The star told how she realises that her life stories were too dull to share about the camp fire which meant she didn't command as much attention as the likes of Spandeau Ballet's Martin Kemp and comedian Ruby Wax.

Alex added: 'Maybe I should have shared more stories or a bit more.

'There are so many big personalities, there were moments where people would be sharing stories, and I'd be like, 'Oh, I don't feel like my stories are even worthy at the level of, like a Martin Kemp or a Ruby Wax.

'I don't know what's been aired or shown, but I think I was the game's master, sharing laughter and I hope those bits came across not just me talking about football and that people saw the other side, maybe the fun Alex a bit more.

'Obviously Jess has seen what's gone out and I haven't, she said that she feels that maybe the fun side wasn't there as much as maybe that she knows it would have been for me, but we know it's a TV show and that's the edits.'

Ms Scott will wait for all of her campmates to leave the Jungle before she is able to jet back to her £1.5million London townhouse and be by her girlfriend's side next week.

She did, however, make a close confidante in Shona McGarty, 34.

The EastEnders star and her apparent budding romance with campmate Aitch, 25, has been the talking point of the series, after the rapper admitted he had a 'soft spot' for her.

Alex revealed all the campmates had a 'soft spot' for Shona who they watched overcome the insecurities and anxieties she had before coming into the camp after the split from her fiance, David Bracken 
Alex said she understood why Aitch, 25, said he had a 'soft spot' for Shona as they all did in camp as romance rumours between them continue to build 

But Ms Scott cleared up the rumours and explained, 'We all had a soft spot for Shona'.

She said: 'We all see this amazing person who came in so shy and full of anxieties and insecurities, each day coming out, starting to sing for the camp and starting to just crack jokes.

'So it's just like, we've all got a little soft spot for Shona because we feel like she's got through this amazing experience where she thought on day one that she wouldn't make it through.'

Ms McGarty split with her fiance of nine years, David Bracken, just weeks before entering the Jungle and admitted she has been struggling with the break up.