Star quits I’m A Celeb a week in and flees Australia

A contestant on I’m A Celeb, currently filming in the Aussie bush, has quit the show a week in and immediately fled the country.

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Grace Dent has quit the show, filmed in bushland in New South Wales, and fled Australia.

The British food critic, 50, left camp on medical grounds shortly after she was voted to take part in her fourth bushtucker trial.

Wearing blue jeans and a black vest top, Grace was rushed from the I’m A Celebrity set in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, to Brisbane Airport shortly after her exit, reports The Sun.

She was seen checking in with a large case, seemingly desperate to put distance between herself and the jungle and return home to the UK.

A show source said: “She is feeling like s**t and just wants to get on the plane and sleep.”

When her exit from the program was announced, a show spokesperson explained: “Unfortunately Grace Dent has left the show on medical grounds.

“She has been a great campmate and will be missed by her fellow celebrities and viewers alike.”

Hosts Ant and Dec confirmed Grace and fellow contestant Josie Gibson had been picked for a trial in the most recent episode of the show, which airs in the UK.

Grace Dent has quit I'm A Celeb and left Australia.

Grace looked crestfallen, as Josie buried her face in her hands.

She decided to quit the jungle shortly afterwards.

It has been claimed Grace “lost all her energy” before leaving the program, a mutual decision between her and the broadcaster.

A source told MailOnline, “Grace decided to leave the jungle soon after it was announced that she would be doing the latest Bushtucker Trial.”

They added: “It was mutually agreed upon that she would stand down from the competition, it was clear that she wasn’t being herself, she had lost all energy when usually she’s witty and fun to be around.

“ITV’s duty of care and welfare teams had stepped in, and rightly so.”

Grace had been pushed to the brink after having to face a run of trials and her final effort proved one task too many and told producers she’d had enough.

Fans believe the exact moment Grace decided to quit came when she was voted to do her fourth trial at the end of last night’s show.

She had been criticised for putting in a “lack of effort” during a group trial.

Consequently, viewers opted to “punish” Grace by voting for her to do more trials, prompting her to threaten to quit.

Viewers were worried Dent seemed to have lost her energy as the show wore on.

Dent at a 2021 event. Picture: Getty

She confessed to Josie that she’d had her fill, saying: “I’ve had enough. I’ve completely had enough. I just want to go home.”

After that point it became clear Grace would struggle to recover and was destined for an early exit.

A source said: “Grace was having a tough time away from her family and struggled with the lack of sleep and good food. But more than anything she was really pushed to the brink by the gruelling trials this year.

“The Scarena series meant the celebrities were all taking part in more challenges than ever and Grace had just had enough.”

During her time in camp Grace took part in a number of tough trials, including the brand new twist on Walk The Plank called Pole Position – where she impressed – and the group Locker Shocker challenge where she all but gave up.

Fans were worried too about her health.

One viewer insisted: “Grace needs to see a doctor looking ill!”

A second commented: “Grace looks more and more ill every time they show her. Didn’t vote for her to do the trial as she doesn’t look well enough to stand up, never mind anything more energetic!”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.