Kennerley disaster a lesson for the Honey Badger on I’m A Celebrity Get Me out Of Here

Incoming I’m A Celebrity contestant Nick Cummins could learn a lesson or two from the Kerri-Ann Kennerley fiasco if he wants to avoid any drama in the jungle.

For a guy who got his fingers burnt when cast as The Bachelor, Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins is something of a glutton for punishment when it comes to reality TV, with I’m A Celebrity marking his third foray into the realm.

The former Wallaby is looking for “no drama” or “carry on” while on the show, which might be a challenge in itself given the Kerri-Anne Kennerley on-air implosion just days ago.

Cummins said he had wiped reality TV after The Bachelor, where he did not select a partner at the end of the series in 2018, but was tempted back by the extreme bootcamp that is SAS: Australia.

“I was not going to go back after the other show, but the SAS show was a really good thing for me,” he said.

The former Wallaby is looking for “no drama” or “carry on” while on the show. Picture: Supplied/Channel 10

“I got a lot out of that personally as well as just learning a bit about that kind of world and this one (Celebrity) is more fun. There is no drama, no carry on, just a couple of people putting their egos aside and putting themselves in situations they are not comfortable in, and doing it together and having a laugh along the way.

“I am not interested in any other carry on.”

Cummins said he was motivated by one specific fear.

“My biggest fear would probably be regret, so that would translate that if the opportunity was there to get a life experience and I didn’t take it, it would be the one experience you would regret when you get older,” he said.

Cummins said his team sport background had taught him that parking egos and working together made tackling any task easier. He hoped to bring some of that mindset to the jungle camp.

“You definitely got to know how to work with a group,” he said.

“There is time for leadership, there is time for following orders, there are sacrifices and discipline, all those things play into a group environment especially in unfamiliar territory like Africa.

“What we do find in every professional team is the motto of doing it for your team first. All the little ego things and personality differences, they all come second. If everyone sticks to that, you will go further.

“If you are divided you can be conquered.”

TV Queen Kerri-Anne Kennerley on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here was embroiled in drama. Picture: Channel 10

TV queen Kerri-Anne Kennerley pulled the wrong rein by going on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here, but the KAK disaster has potentially hurt the show more than it has damaged Kennerley’s brand.

When reality goes bad it can be messy.

I’m A Celebrity and Channel 10 have prided themselves in creating a show where everyone wins; where no matter what happens in challenges or around the campfire by the end of their time on the show the perception of the stars taking part is usually positive and the public feel warmth and fondness towards them. There is a lot of good will in this show.

Last year, nabbing former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley to be part of the cast felt like a moment that would open the door to other top tier talent finally agreeing to do the show.

The Buckley signing seemed similar to when Shane Warne signed on to Celebrity in 2016 for a whopping $2m.

If a big name says “yes” and has a good experience then inevitably other names of similar quality will feel confident that they too could gain, not go backwards, by being part of the show.

Ex-MAFS star Domenica Calarco became narky at Kennerley when she wouldn’t eat a kudu testicle. Picture: Channel 10

The Kennerley debacle, where she was verbally set upon by a mouthy ex-MAFS contestant who was narky that she would not eat a kudu testicle, was allowed to wear make-up, and would not dig around in sewerage for stars in filthy exploding portaloos, could well undo that good will.

Her horrible experience on the show, where she was called a “self-centred b---h” by Ms MAFS, and the nastiness directed her way on social media could see other veteran stars and TV favourites put a red line through offers to do Celebrity in future seasons.

You can hear the thought process now: “but look what happened to Kerri-Anne.”

Kennerley, 69, was the prize, headline act, signing for Celebrity this season, but she evicted herself after four regrettable days.

She made no secret that there were special concessions in her contract, one being that she could not do robust physical challenges after recently having two knee replacements.

She is smart, tough and a good sport, but as she flies back to Australia from South Africa she must be wondering why she said yes to the program.

The Kennerley experiment could have a lingering effect on the show well after the headlines and social media pile on subsides.