Gogglebox star Angie Kent hits back at ‘disappointed’ Foxtel boss

Gogglebox star Angie Kent has responded to her former TV boss who said he was “incredibly disappointed” she and Yvie Jones went on I’m A Celeb.

Former Gogglebox star Angie Kent was the latest person evicted from I’m A Celeb last night — and soon discovered she’d been at the centre of a real-life TV drama while she was in the jungle.

Kent, whose elimination leaves Gogglebox partner Yvie Jones as the sole woman left in the competition, made headlines last week when Foxtel’s executive director of television Brian Walsh said he was “disappointed” by the duo’s appearance on this year’s I’m A Celeb.

“From a promotional point of view the issue that upsets Foxtel is the exploitation of the Gogglebox brand to market and sell another program,” he told TV Tonight.

Speaking to news.com.au the morning after her elimination, Kent said she didn’t begrudge her former TV boss his feelings — but she shouldn’t be blamed for extending her time in the spotlight.

“I loved doing Gogglebox. I gave up four years of my life — eight seasons. We brought home three Logies. If Brian wants to be disappointed with us going into the jungle, that’s his choice. I still very much love Gogglebox and will always support it, but I’m a big girl and I wanted to spread my wings. When I’m A Celeb popped up, I thought why the hell not do something that Gogglebox couldn’t offer me?” she said.

Angie Kent (left) and Yvie Jones on Gogglebox. Picture: Channel 10.

Kent and Jones announced their departure from Gogglebox in December last year, leaving at the same time as fellow fan favourites Wayne and Tom. The show’s ninth season is currently airing across Foxtel and Ten.

The pair parlayed their Gogglebox fame into a stint in the jungle. Picture: Channel 10.

And was this two-time reality star satisfied with her pay cheque for her 32-day stint in the jungle?
“Yes. All I’m going to say is YES. But do you know what? I worked for that money. I didn’t sit on the couch and watch TV this time!” she laughed.

“There were a few times I said to Yvie, ‘Remember that time we kind of got paid for watching television and eating and drinking? Why did we decide to come in here and eat monkey’s anus instead?’”

And with Jones up against Richard Reid and Shane Crawford in Sunday night’s finale, Kent said she was backing her friend to win.

“She’s so shocked she’s made it this far. You should’ve seen her little face when I left. She really struggled in the beginning, so to see her shine through is fantastic,” she said.

The season finale of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! will air this Sunday on Ten — and for the first time in the show’s history, it won’t be live.

Fans of the show have until 7pm AEDT tonight, Wednesday May 13, to vote for who they want to win out of the three remaining contestants — Jones, retired AFL great Shane Crawford or entertainment reporter Richard Reid.

“We will be shooting the finale in a way that is consistent with comparable reality show finales so that we can reveal the winner on the night,” said a Network Ten spokesperson.

I’m A Celeb’s season finale airs this Sunday, 7.30pm on Ten.